Mainstreaming the Sex Industry: Economic Inclusion and Social Ambivalence

Abstract

This paper seeks to analyse the expansion of commercial sex through processes of mainstreaming in economic and social institutions. We argue that cultural changes and neo-liberal policies and attitudes have enabled economic mainstreaming, whilst social ambivalence continues to provide the backdrop to a prolific and profitable global industry. We chart the advancement of sexual consumption and sexual service provision in late capitalism before defining the concept of`mainstreaming' applied here. We use the case studies of Las Vegas and Leeds to identify various social and economic dimensions to the mainstreaming process and the ways these play out in law and regulation. While social and economic processes have integrated sexual services into night-time commerce, remaining social ambivalence fuels transgression and marginalization of the industry which in fact assists the mainstreaming process. Finally, we project some implications for gender relations, work, and inequalities as a result of the integration of sexual services into the economy.

The Challenges of Belgian Prostitution Markets as Legal Informal Economies: An Empirical Look Behind the Scenes at the Oldest Profession in the World

“…The latter confirms Brents and Sanders' (2010) argument that middle-class women with educated backgrounds also find their way into sex work as it is perceived as profitable and convenient. Furthermore, as argued by some researchers (e.g., Aronowitz 2014;Huisman and Kleemans 2014;Saunders 2005), these stories illustrate that prostitution cannot simply be equated with sex trafficking or forced prostitution.…”

“…First of all, in line with international literature (e.g., Benoit et al 2005;Brents and Sanders 2010;Kingston 2014), several experts and sex workers point to the fact that there still exists a taboo around sex work, that sex work is stigmatized and argue that many people have a mistaken view of it.…”

Students selling sex: marketisation, higher education and consumption

“…Despite degrees of persistent social ambivalence, stereotyping and stigma, the commercial sex industry has become relatively mainstreamed into modern-day western culture and economic structures. Brents and Sanders (2010) argue that the expansion of commercial sex has been enabled through economic processes (such as 'upscaling', gentrification and diversification), neo-liberal policies and a mellowing of social attitudes towards commercial sex to some extent. Sexual consumption has flourished in tandem with changes to the shape and nature of sexual services as they have altered, expanded, been modified and become entirely accessible on a local and global level.…”

Over ‘Sexed’ Regulation and the Disregarded Worker: An Overview of the Impact of Sexual Entertainment Policy on Lap-Dancing Club Workers

“…Furthermore, it is suggested that there is little acknowledgment of the sex-workers' narratives in existing policies (O'Neill, 2007). Rather, policies serve to further marginalise and stigmatise sex-workers (Brents and Sanders, 2010), which is part of a 'process of creating binary distinctions between sex-workers and others (that is, "normal" women, children and so on)' (Phoenix, 2009: 13). The stigmatisation associated with sex-work is something sex-workers are cognisant of, as reflected in the narratives of, for example, lap-dancers (Colosi, 2010b;Scott, 1996), prostitutes (Sanders, 2004), and even their clients (Sanders, 2008).…”

“…The contradictory treatment of sex-work/ers is highlighted by researchers who draw attention to the strong association of this mode of work with deviancy and immorality (Sanders, 2004;Colosi, 2010b). It is argued that legislation regarding sex-work is morally motivated (Phoenix, 2009;Sanders et al, 2009;Brents and Sanders, 2010;Colosi, 2010b;Carline, 2011); despite the clear association between morality and law (see De Marneffe, 2010) in the context Report of sex-work, it has been argued that the two should remain distinct (see the Wolfenden Report, 1957). Prostitution, in particular, is constructed 'as a crime against morality' (Sanders et al, 2009: 111), opposed by the 'moral majority' (Sagar and Croxall, 2011), which is further fuelled by media sensationalism (Hanna, 2005).…”