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A review by generalheff
Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work by Melissa Gira Grant
3.0
This is an interesting polemic on the reasons sex workers themselves should lead (or at the very least be involved in) discussions about the conditions of their working lives and the laws and institutions that, right now, marginalise them and make their lives more dangerous. The book does not delve into sordid details of "hookers' lives" so if you are after salacious details of that kind this definitely isn't the book for you. Rather it is an impassioned plea for those who make laws and speak on behalf of women who are engaged in sex work (from stripping, to working as a domme in a dungeon, to prostitution) to let those women speak for themselves.
This work made me much more informed about the subtleties of sex work. One such example is the similarities it shares with other service work and how those engaged in it view it in these terms and not as a mystical "other" form of employment - I think this is particularly necessary in light of other reviews here which seem to think that Grant should have "proved" sex work and other occupations are the same when I think that the burden of proof is that they are not the same (innocent until ...). The book also made me genuinely angry about how little representation sex workers get at conferences and other fora discussing the conditions of their own lives. My deep dislike for moralistic and privileged individuals dictating how others live their lives probably means that I was predisposed to relate to these kinds of arguments for full disclosure, but I think that points like this in the book represent Grant at her strongest.
Three key elements let the book down in my opinion. First the lack of statistical detail bothered me - I like to see numbers and facts quoted - even if just rough estimates - to round out the narrative (that's just the kind of person I am!). Getting a sense, say, of how big the various anti-prostitution organisations were or what their lobbying power really was would have helped get perspective on these organisations which I had never heard of before reading this book. More information on the scale of "saviour" movements (chapter 9) designed to "rescue" sex workers from their lives would have been interesting - again because I was so ignorant of this phenomenon before reading the book. Secondly, I would really have liked to hear what might be done in future and how the situation could change in the coming years, for better or for worse. And lastly, as many other reviewers have noted, the book is simply a bit confused, ranging from idea to idea and not really hammering home any one point with continued argument and discussion. This is ultimately what drove my review down to three stars despite agreeing with much of what the book said.
This work made me much more informed about the subtleties of sex work. One such example is the similarities it shares with other service work and how those engaged in it view it in these terms and not as a mystical "other" form of employment - I think this is particularly necessary in light of other reviews here which seem to think that Grant should have "proved" sex work and other occupations are the same when I think that the burden of proof is that they are not the same (innocent until ...). The book also made me genuinely angry about how little representation sex workers get at conferences and other fora discussing the conditions of their own lives. My deep dislike for moralistic and privileged individuals dictating how others live their lives probably means that I was predisposed to relate to these kinds of arguments for full disclosure, but I think that points like this in the book represent Grant at her strongest.
Three key elements let the book down in my opinion. First the lack of statistical detail bothered me - I like to see numbers and facts quoted - even if just rough estimates - to round out the narrative (that's just the kind of person I am!). Getting a sense, say, of how big the various anti-prostitution organisations were or what their lobbying power really was would have helped get perspective on these organisations which I had never heard of before reading this book. More information on the scale of "saviour" movements (chapter 9) designed to "rescue" sex workers from their lives would have been interesting - again because I was so ignorant of this phenomenon before reading the book. Secondly, I would really have liked to hear what might be done in future and how the situation could change in the coming years, for better or for worse. And lastly, as many other reviewers have noted, the book is simply a bit confused, ranging from idea to idea and not really hammering home any one point with continued argument and discussion. This is ultimately what drove my review down to three stars despite agreeing with much of what the book said.