Brothels as Sites of Third-Party Exploitation? Decriminalisation and Sex Workers’ Employment Rights

Abel, Gillian; Ludeke, Melissa

doi:10.3390/socsci10010003

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(64 reference statements)

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“…Within the New Zealand context, sex work which is carried out indoors, working by appointment and at a low-volume is often constructed as the ‘best’ or most acceptable way of working (Easterbrook-Smith, 2021a). In many cases work perceived as more socially acceptable is still in managed brothels, despite observations from researchers in New Zealand that managed work can still be a site of exploitation, while private (self-managed) work permits greater autonomy and ability to decline clients (Abel and Fitzgerald, 2012; Abel and Ludeke, 2021).…”

Section: Existing Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In media coverage, the owners of what I term low-volume brothels sometimes emphasise their workers see fewer clients than workers in other establishments (McCarthy, 2015; Meadows, 2014). Low-volume agencies typically charge more per appointment or period of time, and often advertise an all-inclusive ‘girlfriend experience’ service for this comparatively higher price, while at other brothels, workers are more likely to negotiate extra services with individual clients (Zangger, 2015; Abel and Ludeke, 2021; Easterbrook-Smith, 2021a).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Stigma, invisibility and unattainable ‘choices’ in sex work

Easterbrook-Smith

2022

Sexualities

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Sex work in New Zealand was decriminalized by the Prostitution Reform Act 2003. News media is one of the key sites where stigma against sex workers is reproduced, negotiated and can be resisted. Depictions of sex workers in New Zealand vary significantly according to where and how they work. News media texts which discuss modes of sex work constructed as less acceptable sometimes call for sex workers to change how and where they work, typically to modes of work which would make them less visible, in the sense of removing them from public space or of making them invisible as sex workers. The ‘solutions’ for these sex workers are typically proposed by outsiders to the industry, who generally do not acknowledge the benefits, drawbacks and barriers which sex workers perceive to be attached to different ways of working. The demands placed upon sex workers to make the correct ‘choice’ about how and where to work recall neoliberal discourses of entrepreneurialism and further marginalize women who fail to engage in sex work in the ‘correct’ manner. This article examines these media discourses with reference to theories of neoliberal postfeminism, to establish how these discourses function to establish a mode of sex work most accessible to white, middle class, cisgender women as more ‘acceptable’. The concomitant effect of these discourses is to blame sex workers who disproportionately suffer the effects of stigma and harassment for their own ill-treatment, invoking ideas of ‘personal responsibility’.

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Section: Existing Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Stigma, invisibility and unattainable ‘choices’ in sex work

Easterbrook-Smith

2022

Sexualities

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“…The initiators exploited female managers by negatively targeting their social status, personal life, relationships and physical appearance. The superiors were found to exploit female managers through social media by professional discredit and emotional bullying creating abusive work conditions (Abel and Ludeke, 2021).…”

Section: Negative Use Of Social Media Against Female Managersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inclusive organization: inclusion by reducing female managers' vulnerabilities through social media

Irfan

Bhatti

Öztürk

2022

JEAS

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PurposeFemale managers have numerous vulnerabilities related to their reputation and career progression in addition to social, sexual and discriminatory vulnerabilities. In organizational settings, antagonized subordinates, peers or superiors can exploit their vulnerabilities through negative use of social media. For optimal performance and inclusion in organizational activities, it is essential to protect female managers against exploitation. Social media can be used for this purpose and dictates an investigation into it as an agent to reduce vulnerabilities and enhance inclusion of female managers.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data collected through 25 in-depth semi-structured interviews from respondents belonging to five different organizations has been used in this exploratory study. Thematic analysis was done to reach the underlying structures of subjective responses of female managers.FindingsThis study finds that positive use of social media is effective in reducing vulnerabilities and female managers feel more included and protected against exploitation in inclusive organizations. The study presents a holistic view of vulnerabilities of female managers, various forms taken by negative use of social media, mechanics of positive use of social media and pathways to inclusive organization through reduction of vulnerabilities.Research limitations/implicationsAvailability of limited time, resources and a single cultural context were few limitations. The study highlights an important area for further research indicating psychological trauma of victimized female managers forcing them to feel excluded from the organization.Practical implicationsThis study will enhance understanding of practitioners about vulnerabilities of female managers and its likely accentuation through negative use of social media. In addition, they can learn the use of social media for reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing inclusion of female managers. This study also shed light on methodology to handle the situation in the face of all forms of negative use of social media.Social implicationsFemale managers are highly vulnerable to exploitation through use of social media by antagonized groups and individuals who can easily attack their reputation and image. This study is an effort to reduce vulnerabilities of business women. Additionally, it is also aimed at enhancing inclusion of females in organizational activities to counter their isolation and discrimination on the basis of gender.Originality/valueThe issue of negative use of social media has not received attention of scholars. Being a research gap, exploratory study based on qualitative responses has been conducted to explore different facets of the issue. In-depth interviews have been conducted to collect primary data.

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“…(Sophie) This experience described by Sophie echoes the findings of other recent research with sex workers who work in managed environments. Abel and Ludeke (2021) found that while challenges certainly remained for brothel-based sex workers, decriminalisation has provided an environment in which there is increased scope for sex workers to experience working conditions that are safer and more supported than they are when aspects of sex work are criminalised.…”

Section: Autonomy Harms: Freedom and The Power To Choosementioning

confidence: 99%