Chapter 11: Commodification of Sex
international brokerage marriage (IBM) industry
A internet site that lists and market women as mail-order or internet bride for Wealthy men seeking marriage. men seek brides online because there is a shortage of women in their areas due to migration or son preference, which can lead to practices of prenatal sex selection and a shortage of female births.
militarism
Countries where war or armed government forces have a strong presence are described living under this system. Many describe this as global militarism. Defined as a set of values rooted in heteropatriarchal gender constructions, in which violent masculinities are idealized and misogynistic, homophobic, and transphobic behaviors are normalized.
romance tourism
Implies women are primarily interested in an emotional relationship on these excursions. "beach boy" is a companion and "boyfriend" who only accepts gifts for sex, rather than money.
Pornified
U.S. mainstream culture has become inundated with sexual themes and explicit imagery. They argue that we no longer have to purchase pornography because we increasingly live porn in our daily lives.
sex trafficking
a form of modern sexual slavery in which someone uses force, fraud, or coercion to cause a commercial sex act with an adult, or anytime someone causes a minor to commit a commercial sex act.
Feminist porn
a genre of pornography that explores alternative representations of beauty, desire, pleasure, and power and is committed to gender equality and social justice. It attempts to be ethically produced porn, which means that performers are paid fairly and that their consent, safety, and well-being are considered in the production process.
obscenity
a legal term for materials that are socially offensive by generally accepted standards of decency. For example, sex with animals or children is generally considered obscene in our culture.
Commodification
a term that means to turn something into a commodity, or a marketable product or service to be bought and sold. In capitalism, a commodity is sold on the market at a certain price, generally based on supply and demand.
Globalization
a term that refers to the worldwide integration of economies through free trade and free flow of capital; and the cultural exchange of ideas through the transnational migration of people, information, and consumer culture.
sexual economy
a term that sociologists call when sex and sexuality are commodified and become saturated in the economy. Currently, large market and social forces shape the identity and value of sex commodities more than the subjects involved.
Postcolonialism
a term to describe the process of decolonizing the world, which began in the mid-twentieth century as more and more former colonies began adopting democracy and capitalism, while still dismantling the residual political, socioeconomic, and psychological effects of their colonial history.
Neocolonialism
a term used by sociologists to describe the continuation of the exploitive economic model of colonialism after a colonized territory has achieved formal political independence. This can come in the form of using capitalism or cultural imperialism to influence a country to adopt practices that primarily benefit the more dominant powerful country or normalize the more dominant culture's beliefs.
Heteropatriarchal
a term used to describe the expected social arrangement of heterosexuality with the father or male as head of household with primary power over women and family.
Sex tourism
a term used to describe travel to a foreign country with the intent to engage in sexual activities with a sex worker. Is a significant contributor to the global tourism industry.
child pornography
any visual depiction involving the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Visual depictions can be in the form of photographs, film, or video. Sexually explicit images means actual or simulated sexual intercourse, masturbation, or images of the genitals or pubic area.
sex worker
describes someone who works in the commercial sex industry. Some prostitutes prefer the term because it refers to income-generating work and a legitimate profession rather than a class of immoral women.
sexually explicit websites (SEWs)
evidence that exposure to, significantly increases adolescent attitudes and behaviors about sex has been found in several studies. In one study, youths who sought out pornography also reported instances of delinquency and substance abuse in the prior year. Adolescents exposed to frequent SEWs were more likely to have multiple lifetime sexual partners, to have had more than one sexual partner in the last three months, to have used alcohol or other substances at their last sexual encounter, to have higher sexual permissiveness compared with those never exposed, and to have engaged in anal sex.
Porn Wars
feminists came down to a "for or against" debate about pornography. Radical feminists against pornography argued that not only is porn inherently sexist, but it is a primary source of oppression and violence against women. Those in favor of pornography, or anti censorship feminists, believe that pornography does not cause women's subordination.
sex positive feminism
feminists in favor of pornography maintain that sexual freedom is an essential component to women's overall freedom. This side argues pornography actually opens up discussion about sex and sexuality and can be an education tool for women.
cybersex
having imagined sex, in real time, with a partner or partners in the chat room. In addition to web cams, the everyday use of digital video cameras and cell phones with video capability enable ordinary people to record their own sexual activities and post the results via their computer on a dedicated website.
debt bondage
in which her labor is repayment for the incurred debt. Interest is accrued for food, shelter, and clothing, and often the victims are never able to get out of debt.
Commercial sex acts
include prostitution, pornography, or sexual performance in exchange for anything of value including money, shelter, food, clothes, and more.
pornography
sexually explicit material, such as videos, photos, or words, designed to be sexually arousing to the viewer. It has been in existence, in some form, for centuries and finds popularity in almost every culture on the globe.
sexting
sharing sexual images and messages. For sexually consenting adults, it is legal and a form of sexual expression and connection.
Prostitution
the act of engaging in sexual activity for some form of commercial payment. It is one of the oldest occupations, tracing back to ancient civilizations, and one of the most controversial.
commercial sex industry
the economic enterprise that offers adult sexual entertainment and services, including pornography; all forms of prostitution, from street prostitution to massage brothels; strip clubs; phone sex; and more. An in-depth sociological analysis of the legalities, social debates, and societal impact of both pornography and prostitution is provided.
ethnosexual
the intersection and interaction between ethnicity and sexuality. Defined and shaped by specific cultural constructions of race, ethnicity, sex, and power that are built into and around commercial sex tourism enterprises all over the world. Tourists looking for "exotic other"
commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC)
the sexual abuse of a child by an adult and remuneration in cash or kind to the child or a third person. CSEC can take the form of sex trafficking, pornography, or child sex tourism.
Child sex tourism
the sexual exploitation of children by an adult, or pedophile, who travels in order to have sexual contact with children.
Colonialism
varies throughout time and across regions, but it is understood as an exploitative system of rule in which a dominant, powerful country occupies another and controls land and resources in that country.