Citation

Tyler M, Jovanovski N. Womens Stud. Int. Forum 2018; 66: 9-16.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.wsif.2017.11.004

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article weighs arguments about individualised ethical consumption practices in the sex industry through an analysis of the narratives of men who buy sexual access to women in legal brothels in the state of Victoria, Australia. In order to consider claims of ethical consumption in the sex industry, a theoretical thematic analysis of 50 online brothel reviews is undertaken, focussing on potential expressions of "care and concern". We find significant narratives of unprotected sex and questionable sexual consent, and that there is an almost complete lack of care or concern shown for the women described in these reviews. This calls into question the ethical consumption assumption in the legislation, and raises further questions about the applicability of ethical consumption concepts to the sex industry more broadly.

Language: en

Keywords

Brothels; Ethical consumption; Prostitution; Sex industry; Sexual violence