UNIT#6: sexual subcultures, sexual pleasure, pornography and sex work Flashcards
(18 cards)
Class 18- main points
sexual life and desire occur within “sexual fields,” which are patterned communities comprising networks, institutions, and subcultures that collectively shape what is considered desirable based on various forms of “capital”. These fields are dynamic and influenced by factors like technology and broader social changes
- sexual life is organized within these patterned social contexts
class 18- example
leather community- specific sexual field establishes patterned valuations of attractiveness
- forms of capital being valued- what is considered attractive are those with capital (attractiveness/ certain traits, and knowledge within the community - potentially cultural and sexual capital)
- sexual subculture’s have collective self-definitions and sometimes institutions - how members interact
- evolving sexual fields- influenced by broader social and historical contexts - constitutive traditions, different sexual fields intersect and influence each other
- desirability is collective- one is desirable not solely based on individual attributes but on a shared understanding and appreciation within that specific sexual field
class 19- main points
These points collectively demonstrate the heightened vulnerability of youth to pornography and its association with a range of negative behavioral and attitudinal outcomes, serving as a strong example of the broader concerns raised in the sources
-pornography, particularly for adolescents, is associated with various negative consequences, including unhealthy sexual behavior, sexual aggression, mental illness, unstable relationships, reduced family formation, problematic sexual behaviors, lower sexual satisfaction, poorer relationship skills, increased acceptance of dangerous sexual practices, body dissatisfaction, and attitudes supporting violence against women
class 19- example
undeveloped pro-frontal cortex= adolescent brains are uniquely susceptible to porn’s negative impacts compared to adults
- problematic sexual behaviors is associated with exposure to explicit content in youth
- viewing and believing it is realistic is associated with sexual aggression - enacting sexual dominance in real life is associated with lower sexual satisfaction
class 20- sex work- main points
sex work
diverse regulatory frameworks- legalized, decriminalized (not regulated), partially decriminalized, criminalized(survival sex
agency constrained choices- Vietnamese women and laborious jobs
impact of legal frameworks on safety and reporting
purchasers of sex- dissatisfaction with sex life, less sex than wanted, frequent porn use, low income
Hennen, Peter. 2008. Faeries, Bears, and Leathermen: Men in Community Queering the
Masculine. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. “Feeling a Bit Under the Leather.”- main points
the leather comunity challnegs mainstream notions of sexuality
- queer subculutres provide spaces for alternative expression of gender and power
- the leather scene fosteres close-knit social and sexuall relationships
Hennen, Peter. 2008. Faeries, Bears, and Leathermen: Men in Community Queering the
Masculine. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. “Feeling a Bit Under the Leather.”- example
Hennen discusses how leathermen cultivate an alternative masculinity that embraces vulnerability and submission alongside dominance. One example comes from leather “titleholders” who engage in structured BDSM competitions, demonstrating that masculinity in this subculture is performative and ritualized rather than fixed. This contrasts with mainstream hypermasculine ideals.
Simula, Brandy L. 2019. “Pleasure, Power, and Pain: A Review of the Literature on the
Experiences of BDSM Participants.” - main points
BDSM invloves power negotiation, consent, and structed role dynamics
- paticipants use BDSM to challange and redefine traditional power relations
- the communtiy emphasizes mutual respect and explicit consent
BDSM participants navigate complex dynamics of power, consent, and pleasure, challenging conventional understandings of pain and agency in sexuality.
Simula, Brandy L. 2019. “Pleasure, Power, and Pain: A Review of the Literature on the
Experiences of BDSM Participants.” - example
Many BDSM practitioners describe “subspace,” a psychological state where submissives experience deep relaxation and euphoria. Simula highlights how this challenges the assumption that pain is inherently negative, showing instead how controlled experiences of pain can enhance trust and intimacy in BDSM relationships.
Emba, Christine. 2022. “Straight People Need Better Rules for Sex.” - main points
consent is often misunderstood in heterosexual dating culture
- there is a power imbalance in many sexual encounters, leading to coercion
- ethical sexual norms require clear communication and mutual agreement
The current framework for sexual consent in heterosexual relationships is inadequate, as it focuses on legalistic “yes means yes” or “no means no” models rather than on ensuring mutual desire, respect, and well-being.
Emba, Christine. 2022. “Straight People Need Better Rules for Sex.” - example
Emba discusses the phenomenon of “gray area sex,” where consent is technically given but one or both participants feel uncomfortable, pressured, or unsatisfied afterward. She highlights cases where women report feeling obligated to engage in sex they did not truly desire, not due to explicit coercion but because of societal expectations and norms that equate male pleasure with successful sexual encounters. This example illustrates how consent alone is insufficient for ethical and fulfilling sexual experiences, prompting a call for new norms that prioritize enthusiasm and mutual respect.
Aleem, Zeeshan. 2015. “16 Years since Decriminalizing Prostitution, Here’s What’s Happening
in Sweden.” - main points
Sweden’s model of criminalizing buyers of sex while decriminalizing sex workers (the “Nordic Model”) has not eliminated prostitution but has made sex work more dangerous and stigmatized.
Sweeden’s model criminalizes buyers of sex, not sex workers
- this shifts power dynamics but does not eliminate the stigma of sex work
the policcy has mixed outcomes for sex workers’ rights and safety
Aleem, Zeeshan. 2015. “16 Years since Decriminalizing Prostitution, Here’s What’s Happening
in Sweden.” - example
Despite Sweden’s aim to reduce demand for prostitution, many sex workers report that criminalizing clients forces them to operate in more isolated and unsafe environments. For example, sex workers cannot screen clients as thoroughly because buyers fear police intervention, leading to riskier encounters. This unintended consequence highlights the gap between policy intentions and real-world outcomes.
- Hoang, Kimberly K
Hoang, Kimberly Kay. 2015. Dealing in Desire: Asian Ascendancy, Western Decline, and the
Hidden Currencies of Global Sex Work.- main point
The global sex industry in Vietnam reflects shifting economic power dynamics, where local Vietnamese elites and wealthy Asian businessmen are replacing Western men as dominant clients. This change demonstrates broader geopolitical shifts in wealth and influence.
Hoang, Kimberly Kay. 2015. Dealing in Desire: Asian Ascendancy, Western Decline, and the
Hidden Currencies of Global Sex Work.- example
Hoang examines high-end hostess bars in Ho Chi Minh City, where Vietnamese women strategically cater to different types of clients. Western men, who historically dominated these venues, are now seen as “declining patrons,” while wealthy Asian businessmen—especially from China, Japan, and South Korea—are increasingly valued for their economic power and ability to provide financial stability. The women adapt their performances of femininity and exoticism depending on the clients’ cultural expectations, showing how gender, race, and global economics intersect in the sex industry.
Raguparan, Menaka. 2017. “‘If I′m Gonna Hack Capitalism’: Racialized and Indigenous
Canadian Sex Workers’ Experiences within the Neo-Liberal Market Economy.”- main point
Indigenous and racialized sex workers in Canada engage in sex work as an economic strategy to navigate systemic barriers while resisting state-imposed morality.
racialized and indigenous sex wokrers navigate economic and legal barriers
- sex work is often framed as a strategic economic choice
- state policies marginalize sex workers rather than protect them
Raguparan, Menaka. 2017. “‘If I′m Gonna Hack Capitalism’: Racialized and Indigenous
Canadian Sex Workers’ Experiences within the Neo-Liberal Market Economy.”- example
The study highlights the experience of a Métis sex worker who frames her work as a form of financial independence and resistance against colonial economic structures. By “hacking capitalism,” she subverts traditional labor markets that exclude Indigenous people, demonstrating the agency and resilience of marginalized sex workers.
class 20- sugar relationship
financial or material exchange bluring the lines of sex work
- sugar prositutions- explicitily selling sex
- compensated dating- money/gift for time spent
- sugar dating- gift/money for time usually including sex
- sugar FWB unstructured exchange
