Week05_Slides_Psychology_of_Sex_Work

The Psychology of Sex Work

Professor Introduction

• Prof. Belinda Brooks-Gordon

• Email: b.brooks-gordon@bbk.ac.uk

Course Aims

• Explore psychological theories regarding sexuality and sex work.

• Understand the influence of psychological concepts like:

  • Emotion

  • Erotic capital

  • Intersectionality

• Analyze the interaction of these concepts with legal and structural factors.

• Apply psychosocial theories (e.g., ‘emotion work’) to sex work.

• Study the psychological effects of structural constraints, including:

  • Social status

  • Choice

  • Social capital

  • Disability

  • Race and racism

• Gain insights into the presentation assessment process using past examples and FAQs.

Key Questions

1. How is emotion 'managed' in commercial sexual labor?

Managing Emotion in Commercial Sexual Labor

• Concepts:

  • Emotional Labour as defined in ‘The Managed Heart’ (Hochschild, 1983).

  • Facework: Impression management (Goffman).

  • Emotion is enhanced, faked, or suppressed to create desired public displays.

• Two Main Approaches:

  • Surface Acting: Regulating emotional expressions without changing internal feelings.

  • Deep Acting: Modifying feelings to correspond with outward expressions. Requires effort and can lead to emotional estrangement and burnout.

Theoretical Perspectives on Emotional Labour

Ashforth & Humphreys (1993)

• Focus on observable behavior related to emotional labor rather than internal emotional management.

• The importance of emotional labor is downplayed in terms of affecting personal health and stress.

• Emphasizes routine aspects of emotional labor rather than stressing it as a source of anxiety.

Differences Between Ashforth & Humphreys and Hochschild

• Focus on observable behavior instead of feelings.

• More concerned with task effectiveness over individual health.

Morris & Feldman (1996)

• An interactionist approach highlighting:

  • Emotional expressions determined by social environments.

  • Four Dimensions of emotional work:

    1. Frequency of interactions.

    2. Attentiveness (emotional intensity & interaction duration).

    3. Variety of required emotions.

    4. Emotional dissonance (difference between felt and required emotions).

• Links to job dissatisfaction and emotional exhaustion, though mechanisms remain unclear.

Emotional Regulation Theory in Emotional Labour

• Emotional Labour defined as:

  • Emotion management combined with profit motive.

• Commonalities with Hochschild and Ashforth & Humphreys:

  • Acknowledgment of individual's ability to modify emotions.

  • Recognition of broader social settings influencing emotional expression.

• Critique: Lacks comprehensive definitions of emotional labor components (e.g., frequency, intensity).

• Gross's (1998) Emotional Regulation Model:

  1. Antecedent-Focused Regulation: Modifying situational perceptions to manage emotions.

  2. Response-Focused Regulation: Implementing deep or surface acting to adjust emotional responses based on cognitive reassessment.

Various Methods of Managing Emotion in Sex Work

• Types of work discussed:

  • Webcamming

  • Chatlines and phone sex

  • Full-service work (direct contact with clients)

  • Specialist roles (e.g., dominatrix)

  • Escorting, GFE/BFE experiences

  • Increasing prevalence and nuances in sex work markets (street work, sex parties may be declining).

Reasons Why Middle Class Individuals Choose Sex Work

• Based on Bernstein (2007):

  • Ability to leverage technology within the industry.

  • Online commerce opened doors, creating income opportunities.

  • Trend toward autonomy in professional life and escape from corporate structures.

  • Impact of gender inequalities in technology-driven sectors.

Understanding 'Erotic Capital'

• Definition (Hakim, 2010): The social value derived from sexual attractiveness, affecting economic value across various fields.

• Elements of Erotic Capital:

  • Attractiveness (beauty, social appeal)

  • Vivacity and energy

  • Presentation and sexuality

• Links to Bourdieau’s cultural and social capital concepts.

Psychological Models of Behavior and Sex Work

Key Components:

• Stereotyping: Influences intergroup differentiation.

• Schemas: Mental frameworks guiding the processing of new information (Bartlett, 'War of the Ghosts').

• Stigma (Goffman): Impact of societal perceptions on individuals.

• Self-Esteem: Influenced by perception of self-worth and realized potential (Maslow).

• Risk-Taking and Addiction: Examining their relationship with sex work motives and decisions.

• Discuss the implications of these concepts for creating supportive interventions for sex workers.

Role of Stereotypes and Prejudice in Sex Work Stigma

• Influencing Factors:

  • Social influences and personal prejudices (Allport).

  • Discrimination and biases (correspondence bias, fundamental attribution errors).

• Differentiating types of stigma:

  1. Enacted stigma: Direct discrimination by society.

  2. Felt stigma: Internalization of shame and anxiety regarding discrimination.

Relationship Between Sex Markets and Psychological Health in Sex Workers

• Critical considerations:

  • Access to various sex markets and their implications for a worker's erotic capital.

  • Issues surrounding physical safety and emotional labor in different work environments.

Surveillance, Discrimination, and Stigma in Sex Work

• Variations in experiences based on:

  • Visibility of the worker.

  • Ability to 'pass' or conform to social norms.

  • Multiple layers of stigma and moral judgment associated with deviance.

• Implications for internalized shame and fear of discrimination based on labeling theory.

Presentation FAQs

• Individual work required for presentations.

• Podcast requirements must consider ethics committees.

• Flexible topics can be chosen as long as they relate to the course and are evidence-based.