The intimacy of the gift in the economy of sex work

Abstract

This article explores the intersection that exists between the economy and intimacy through an exploration of gift exchanges between Latin American sex workers and regular clients in London. It engages with scholarship on sex work and intimacy to explore the social dimension of gifts embedded in affective commodified relationships. It explores the ways in which gifts create socioeconomic and emotional spheres of speculation that contribute to the achievement of women's migration dreams. Tracing gift exchanges in sex work offers an opportunity to examine the development of relationships that emerge from intimate sexual transactions and to look at the ways in which gift exchanges in sex work constrain or enable women's social, economic, and emotional aspirations for the future.

Rethinking Dignity and Exploitation in Human Trafficking and Sex Workers’ Rights Cases

“…Scholars increasingly see sex work as a type of emotional or affective labor that has significant affinities with, for example, hair stylists, maids, bartenders, caregivers, and tour guides. For each of these, the workers and clients navigate performative and authentic intimacy that shifts over time; see, for example, [38,39].…”

“…Nonetheless, the overwhelming majority of expert reports recommend decriminalization (for overviews, see [40,41]), and a large number of empirical studies find that the criminalization of sex work, including the Nordic model that only punishes the buyer of sex, has deleterious effects on sex workers and others [42]. Criminalization reduces sex workers' agency in their relationship with clients, as they are driven underground and are less able to negotiate the conditions of their employment [39]. The evidence from New Zealand's full decriminalization model shows that it reduces social harm, provides greater autonomy and empowerment, reduces stigmatization, and improves the relationship between sex workers and law enforcement officials [43,44].…”

“…The evidence from New Zealand's full decriminalization model shows that it reduces social harm, provides greater autonomy and empowerment, reduces stigmatization, and improves the relationship between sex workers and law enforcement officials [43,44]. In short, contra the cases discussed above, decriminalization increases the dignity and reduces the exploitation of sex workers [39].…”