New Books Network Angela Jones and Barbara G. Brents, "Sex Work Today: Erotic Labor in the Twenty-First Century" (NYU Press, 2024)
Oct 5, 2025
Join sociologists Bernadette C. Barton, Barbara G. Brents, and Angela N. Jones as they explore the complexities of sex work in the digital age. They discuss how the internet has reshaped erotic labor, creating diverse markets like camming and sugar dating. The trio emphasizes the importance of recognizing sex workers' rights beyond empowerment narratives, advocating for labor-focused policies. They also delve into critical issues such as intersectionality, structural inequalities, and the impact of race and disability within the sex industry.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Book Born From A Course
- Bernadette Barton conceived the book from teaching a Sex Industry Perspectives course and assembling classroom materials.
- She recruited Angela Jones and Barbara Brents and developed the project through the pandemic.
Push For Labor Protections
- Advocate for broad labor protections and social safety nets rather than treating sex work as a special criminal issue.
- Work toward policies that reduce income inequality and consider universal basic income to improve sex workers' conditions.
Internet Reshaped Erotic Labor
- The internet fundamentally reshaped erotic labor by expanding markets and creating new digital forms like camming and OnlyFans.
- Platforms democratize access but impose administrative burdens and reproduce inequality through algorithms.
