Social Construction of Sex Work

• Druk: Łódź, 2019
• Autor: Izabela Ślęzak
• Wydawca: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego

The book presents the social organization of escort agencies in Poland. The author focuses on analyzing the actions of female sex workers who are seen as active entities co-creating their working conditions. The author discusses the relationships between employees of the premises, namely the women providing sex services, the managers of the agencies and the security workers. Furthermore, she analyses the interactions between sex workers and their clients. The book is addressed to people who are interested in qualitative sociology, and those who would like to understand contemporary escort agencies in Poland. It will be also interesting for employees of organizations which work with people who provide sex services.

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• Język wydania: angielski
• ISBN: 978-83-8142-097-6
• ISBN druku: 978-83-8142-096-9
• Liczba stron: 252

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PREFACE	9

Chapter 1. RESEARCH PROJECT – ASSUMPTIONS, METHODS, CONTEXTS	15
1.1. Context of the research – indoor sex work in contemporary Poland	15
1.1.1 Escort agencies in Poland 	15
1.1.2. The provision of sex services in Poland and legal regulations 	19
1.2. Theoretical inspirations for the research 	20
1.2.1. Prostitution versus sex work 	20
1.2.2. The theoretical perspective of the research 	24
1.3. Methodology of the research 	28
1.3.1. Ethnographic research and grounded theory methodology – a synergy of methods 	28
1.3.2. Data collection techniques 	31
1.3.2.1. Observation in escort agencies 	32
1.3.2.2. Interviews with sex workers and other agency workers 	35
1.3.3. Ethical issues 	38

Chapter 2. MANAGING AN ESCORT AGENCY 	43
2.1. The organizational framework 	43
2.2. Strategies for selecting female workers for escort agencies 	45
2.3. Recruitment of female sex workers for escort agencies 	49
2.3.1. Additional actions by the bosses 	58
2.4. Management styles 	62
2.4.1. Oppressive management style 	62
2.4.2. A style based on excessive fraternization 	68
2.4.3. A style based on distanced professionalism 	70
2.4.4. A style based on kind professionalism 	71
2.4.5. Management styles – summary 	74
2.5. Strategies adopted by female workers in various management styles 	74
2.6. Summary 	79

Chapter 3. RELATIONS BETWEEN CO-WORKERS – RIVALRY VERSUS COOPERATION 	81
3.1. The process of reconstructing a hierarchy in a group of co-workers 	81
3.2. The development of relationships between co-workers 	88
3.2.1. The positioning of a new female worker 	90
3.2.1.1. Reconstruction of the biography of a new worker 	90
3.2.1.2. Evaluation of the attitude adopted by the new towards the other female workers 	93
3.2.1.3. Estimation of the erotic capital of a new female worker 	95
3.2.2. Minimum involvement strategy 	96
3.2.3. Hostile actions 	100
3.2.3.1. Conditions influencing the course of hostile actions 	104
3.2.3.2. Strategies of the new female workers towards hostile actions 	106
3.2.4. Pragmatic acceptance 	109
3.2.4.1. Rivalry control strategies 	110
3.2.4.2. Pragmatic alliances 	112
3.2.4.3. Maintaining polite neutrality 	113
3.2.4.4. The management of negative emotions 	114
3.2.4.5. Professional solidarity 	116
3.2.5. Peer groups, emotional relationships and friendships 	116
3.3. Teamwork and socialization for sex work 	118
3.4. Between rivalry and cooperation – a summary 	122

Chapter 4. WORK WITH THE CLIENT IN THE LOUNGE 	125
4.1. Strategies for choosing clients in the lounge 	125
4.1.1. Selective choice of clients 	126
4.1.2. The non-selective approach 	135
4.2. Techniques for choosing clients in the lounge 	139
4.2.1. Strategic seduction 	139
4.2.2. Working to discourage the client 	147
4.2.3. Strategic seduction as a group action 	148
4.2.4. Strategic seduction and groups of clients 	150
4.2.5. Incidents in the lounge – the breakdown of the strategic seduction	153
4.3. Summary 	157

Chapter 5. WORK WITH THE CLIENT IN THE ROOM 	159
5.1. Dimensions of work with the client 	159
5.1.1. Scope of the work with the client 	159
5.1.1.1. Working (with/on) the client’s body 	159
5.1.1.2. Parapsychological work 	161
5.1.1.3. Negotiating the scope of work with the client 	165
5.1.2. Negotiating the level of earnings 	167
5.1.3. Negotiating the duration of the meeting 	173
5.1.4. Work on the relationship 	177
5.2. Feeling the client 	183
5.3. Scenarios of relations with the client in the room 	184
5.3.1. Romance 	185
5.3.2. Erotic adventure 	188
5.3.3. Sexual service 	189
5.3.4. Mechanical sex 	190
5.3.5. Scenarios of relations with the client in the room – final remarks 	191
5.4. Summary 	192

Chapter 6. SECURITY AND SAFETY WORK 	195
6.1. Agency managers and the matter of safety 	195
6.2. Security guards and work safety 	198
6.3. Female workers and work safety 	203
6.3.1. Experiencing violence by sex workers in escort agencies 	203
6.3.2. Preventive and defensive actions undertaken by female workers 	206
6.4. Strategies of female workers towards aggressive behaviors of clients 	210
6.4.1. Passive strategy 	210
6.4.2. Strategy of active actions 	213
6.4.2.1. Gentle persuasion 	213
6.4.2.2. Confrontation actions 	215
6.4.2.3. Ultimatum 	217
6.4.2.4. Degradation of the client 	218
6.4.2.5. Emotion for emotion 	221
6.4.3. The strategies of female workers towards aggressive behaviors of clients – final remarks 	221
6.5. How to deal with difficult experiences 	222
6.6. Summary 	224

CONCLUSION 	225
REFERENCES 	231
A LIST OF FIGURES 	243
ANNEX 	245