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Unveiling stigma in the digital age : Exploring attitudinal differences in perceptions of the exchange of sexual services for payment in the United States

Johansson, Isabelle LU and Hansen, Michael A. LU (2025)
Abstract
This chapter examines how people associate various sex work activities with the exchange of sexual services for payment. It considers both in-person activities, such as sexual intercourse, oral sex, erotic massage, and dancing, as well as remote, digitally mediated activities like webcamming and the production of pornographic videos and photos. Drawing on an original US survey of adults (n = 1,024), the analysis uses regression models to compare perceptions among those with and without personal experience in sex work. Respondents with sex work experience are more likely to associate all listed activities with the exchange of sexual services for payment. The gap between experienced and non-experienced individuals is especially wide for... (More)
This chapter examines how people associate various sex work activities with the exchange of sexual services for payment. It considers both in-person activities, such as sexual intercourse, oral sex, erotic massage, and dancing, as well as remote, digitally mediated activities like webcamming and the production of pornographic videos and photos. Drawing on an original US survey of adults (n = 1,024), the analysis uses regression models to compare perceptions among those with and without personal experience in sex work. Respondents with sex work experience are more likely to associate all listed activities with the exchange of sexual services for payment. The gap between experienced and non-experienced individuals is especially wide for digital forms of sex work. In contrast, perceptions of in-person activities show less variation. These findings suggest that people without sex work experience tend to rely on more traditional, physical definitions of sex work, overlooking newer forms that have expanded with the rise of information and communication technologies. The chapter draws on sociological theories of work and stigmatization to interpret these patterns. Overall, the results highlight how persistent stigma can obscure recognition of the changing nature of the sex industry and the legitimacy of emerging forms of sexual labour. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Transformations of Labour through the Lens of Sex Work : Navigating Digitalization, Precarity and Resistance - Navigating Digitalization, Precarity and Resistance
editor
Šori, Iztok and Hrženjak, Majda
pages
17 pages
publisher
Routledge
ISBN
9781003640837
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
ac6eaf9d-4fa2-458b-bf4e-446eab75830e
date added to LUP
2025-12-11 09:50:25
date last changed
2025-12-12 09:36:50
@inbook{ac6eaf9d-4fa2-458b-bf4e-446eab75830e,
  abstract     = {{This chapter examines how people associate various sex work activities with the exchange of sexual services for payment. It considers both in-person activities, such as sexual intercourse, oral sex, erotic massage, and dancing, as well as remote, digitally mediated activities like webcamming and the production of pornographic videos and photos. Drawing on an original US survey of adults (n = 1,024), the analysis uses regression models to compare perceptions among those with and without personal experience in sex work. Respondents with sex work experience are more likely to associate all listed activities with the exchange of sexual services for payment. The gap between experienced and non-experienced individuals is especially wide for digital forms of sex work. In contrast, perceptions of in-person activities show less variation. These findings suggest that people without sex work experience tend to rely on more traditional, physical definitions of sex work, overlooking newer forms that have expanded with the rise of information and communication technologies. The chapter draws on sociological theories of work and stigmatization to interpret these patterns. Overall, the results highlight how persistent stigma can obscure recognition of the changing nature of the sex industry and the legitimacy of emerging forms of sexual labour.}},
  author       = {{Johansson, Isabelle and Hansen, Michael A.}},
  booktitle    = {{Transformations of Labour through the Lens of Sex Work : Navigating Digitalization, Precarity and Resistance}},
  editor       = {{Šori, Iztok and Hrženjak, Majda}},
  isbn         = {{9781003640837}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  title        = {{Unveiling stigma in the digital age : Exploring attitudinal differences in perceptions of the exchange of sexual services for payment in the United States}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}