This chapter explores the contradictions and dynamics within the world of high-end hostessing, where women receive non-monetary compensation and symbolic value through their presence in clubs. It discusses the reasons why women willingly participate in this system of exploitation and the boundaries they must navigate to avoid being labeled as sex workers. The chapter also touches on the researcher's personal experience and the concept of girls as a form of capital.
Featuring Ashley Mears on her book Very Important People: Status and Beauty in the Global Party Circuit. Mears, a sociologist and former fashion model, explores the super-elite "models and bottles" party scene where beautiful young women and conspicuous consumption heighten the status of rich men.
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