In this essay I conduct a close reading of Hakim’s thesis which considers the correlation between sexuality, power and gender inequality. I suggest that Hakim’s work merits attention as it reflects the current debate concerning women’s sexuality and power within the sex industry. Using prostitution as my main argument, I will outline her central theme erotic capital—is overstretched and downplays structures of race, class and age that largely effect women’s access to socio-economic capital. Furthermore, I communicate ways that Hakim might counteract her critics, but conclude her theory as being indefensible.
The central thesis of this book builds on Bourdieu's analysis of the forms of capital –economic capital, social capital and human capital. Hakim proposes another asset: 'erotic capital'. Erotic capital consists of six distinct elements - beauty, sexual attractiveness, social ability, liveliness, sexual competence and social presentation. Erotic capital has developed progressively in the sexualised culture of affluent modern societies and is closely linked to characteristics of a market economy. Just as any capital asset in a competitive market has transactional value; Hakim argues that women should seek maximum return in exchange for their services. Hakim maintains that in general, women posses more erotic capital than men based on the fundamental fact that they work harder on the soft skills. She proposes that due to the large discrepancy between men and women in terms of sexual interest; women are well positioned to exploit their erotic capital.
The notion of the male sex deficit is essential to Hakim’s thesis. She argues that male sex deficit refers to the strong innate sexual desires of men. To prosper in a mal...
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...s thesis has pivoted erotic capital into an asociological arena and fails to consider that individual behaviour has wider repercussion on society as a whole. Moreover, whilst the relationship of sexuality to gender inequality is as relevant today as when radical feminists took up the issue three decades ago (Munford, 2007; Waters, 2007); Hakims thesis fails to take into account social constraints which effect the accumulation of women's socio-economic capital. Although erotic capital may prove to be beneficial for particular aspects of social life such as marriage, I have shown thatHakim neglects the inequalities it reinforces in other domains of life which is apparent in the sex industry. Hakim’s manifesto does however call for further research on the different types of sex work which are present in society filling in the gaps missing in contemporary sociology.
Governed under the principles of male supremacy and superiority, it is comprehensible as to why female sexuality has been coined a “dangerous mechanism”
In this book, leading theorist on sex and gender Sandra L. Bem discusses how hidden molds in our cultural discourse, social institution, and individual minds support male dominance while oppressing women and sexual minorities. She explains her lenses of gender, which shape perceptions of social reality and also more physical things – like unequal salary and insufficient daycase – that establish social reality itself before she presents her theory of how cultural gender lenses are shaped and influence either the adaptation of conventional gender identity or the resistance of conventional gender identity. She then presents evidence for reframing the discussion on sexual inequality so that it focuses not only on the variances between men and women, but on how androcentric dialogue and societies transform gender differences into female disadvantage.
It 's no secret that humans like sex – a lot. If there was ever any question as to just how much, all we have to do is look at our online viewing habits. Porn sites like PornHub and YouPorn get more visitors each month than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter combined. The drive and motivation to achieve great power and fame is almost always connected with the primal urge to commit the sex act – usually with as many people as possible. It’s not surprising then to learn that the creativity that spurs achievement is actually closely connected to sexuality.
Prostitution, as stated by Flemming, is known as a form of sexual activity, a kind of sexual style or category, and a form of economic activity, a way of making a living through the provisions of certain services, by behaving in accordance with, or falling into such a category (39). This definition, though, is controversial. While conducting research for this project, we found that most topics regarding prostitution and its affiliates were controversial. Each author gave a differing interpretation for the same data. Due to this, our project centered on the female prostitutes, even though there is evidence of male prostitutes.
Sterk enters the field with the objective of studying and attempting to understand the lives of prostitutes on the streets of Atlanta and New York City. She tries to investigate the reasons why these women are in the profession, their interactions with their ‘pimps’ and customers, their attitudes towards safe sex in light of the AIDS endemic, and above all, prostitution’s link to drug use. Her basic thesis revolves around these women’s thoughts and feelings regarding prostitution and the effect it has on their lives. Through her research, Sterk uncovers a demographic that ranges...
Lucy Stone orates, “Is it a wonder that women are driven to prostitution?” (382), as an attempt to show that because females are restrained from high paying jobs favored by men, they are put in conditions that force them to ignore morality. The female’s values are being thrown away to gain money and support their families. These values that have been set by society can get pushed to the side as well because they are prioritizing their families first. Still, none of that would occur if they had the rights to pursue a specific career and earn a place in the workfield. Lucy Stone’s audience acknowledges the self esteem and state of mind women share when deprived of their rights. They realize how horrific it is for a woman to be forced to sell her intimacy simply because she is not allowed to work. Pushing aside her morals and values because she does not have the rights she should have since birth, will make her feel futile and helpless. Lucy Stone’s appeal to pathos convinces the audience to hold sympathy and feel for the women resorting to
In Sigmund Freud’s “Sexual Morality and Modern Nervousness”, contained in Sexuality and the Psychology of Love, the writer presents separate roles for men and women as it relates to sexuality, even referring to a “double code of morality” (22) for the genders. In his paper the former often takes the role of the subject while the former becomes the object. In fact, women are described as the “true sexual guardians of the race” glorified, it seems, instead of truly studied. However, in one particular section of the essay, Freud turns his focus onto the female sexuality. In specific he references the various factors that, in his eyes, can influence the female sexual formation. The primary influences being that of the society, primarily the institution of marriage, and that of the family, which would include both a woman’s parents and children. After discussing these elements, Freud then
The issue of prostitution has sparked different reactions from societies around the world, with each culture defining it in their unique way. However, most communities agree on the definition of prostitution as the act of directly engaging in sexual activities for financial gains. The practice has been in existence since time immemorial, although, the reaction of people in the society differs. Various theoretical approaches have tried to explain the concept of prostitution considering the principal causative agents and the sociological impacts and responses. This essay will describe the theoretical approaches relating to prostitution and the sociological understanding and effect of the practice to the society.
During the early 19th century and prior, women were hyper-sexualized as mediocre and suppressed by the male population. Men demanded authority by defining female roles and responsibilities in society. Although all women of time paid the price for male egotistical behaviors, mainly the middle and sometimes upper class were affected. Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s critically acclaimed story “The Yellow Wallpaper”, first published in the New England Magazine, in January 1892, is a narrative study of Gilman's own nervousness (Smith). The story analyzes the injustices women faced at the hands of their husbands. The main character is diagnosed with postpartum depression, a type of depression that develops in some women after birthing a baby; and she is put on the resting cure for the summer. Gilman, like the narrator of her story, sought medical help from the famous neurologist, Dr. Weir Mitchell but receive no useful help. Gilman writes of the woman trapped by her husband’s commands when he locks her in a room, forbidden to raise her children because of her “extreme condition” (Gilman 792). The unnamed protagonist remains locked in the room upstairs for weeks, progressively getting worse because she is forced to take prescribed medicine every hour of each day (Gilman 794). She begins to scrutinize the aging and repulsive yellow wallpaper of her room and grows clinically insane as each day passes way. Gilman uses this story to critique the position of women within the institution of marriage, especially as practiced by the respectable classes of the period.
Some ask why prostitution spreads like a wildfire through our cities and streets. This is an easy question for functionalists, prostitution flourishes because it satisfies sexual needs that are not able to be met elsewhere(Henslin 51). Prostitutes almost seem to serve as an outlet for sexually frustrated men. When a man is unable to find a partner he always holds the option of paying for sexual pleasure. A functionalist, Kingsley Davis, concluded that prostitutes provide a sexual outlet for men who: have difficulty in establishing sexual relationships, cannot find long-term partners, have a broken relationship, want sexual gratification that is defined as immoral, desire quick sexual gratification without attachment, are curious, and are sexually dissatisfied in marriage. From this it is shown that by meeting such needs prostitution functions as a form of social control over sexual behavior. This is beneficial because it brings men with sexual desires away from unwi...
Sex work is terribly profitable for girls, and plenty of girls might fancy work that permits them to creatively categorical their sexuality Sex work will enable individuals how to securely explore their sexual needs in ways in which they can not through the present social
Sexual objectification of women is viewing them solely as de-personalized objects of desire instead of as individuals of complex personalities, which is done by speaking or thinking of women solely by their physical attributes. Sexuality has been a controversial topic for a long time, and there have been many thinkers pondering on its effects on societies and cultures all over the world. The physical expression of sexuality is fundamental and universal. What differs is how cultures, religions and societies construe and influence both the setting in which sexual intercourse between men and women occurs and the type of relationships in which pregnancy is encouraged. The idea behind this form of controlled sexual behavior, which was enforced by culture and society, was to promote family health and welfare, and thereby create healthy societies for the survival and expansion of mankind. Prostitution, the practice of selling one’s body for the purpose of another’s sexual gratification, has existed throughout history in all parts of the world. Prostitution is considered by many a shameful, degrading, and abusive practice that fosters crime, exposes prostitutes to violence, increases sexually transmitted diseases and child prostitution, disrupts family values, and promotes sex trafficking. Legalization of prostitution has not only failed to empower the women in prostitution, but has strengthened the sex industry and the crimes associated with it.
Prostitution is often argued as a consequence of gender inequality (Hoffman 1997). MacKinnon agree that sexual liberation for women outside of prostitution is important in the fight for gender equality but it is crucial for the society to not replace one patriarchal view, for example that women should not have sex outside marriage or a relationship, with another similar oppressive patriarchal view. By accepting prostitution, a sexual practice that is based on a patriarchal construction of female sexuality, the society condemns sexual pleasure of women irrelevant and that her role during sex is to submit to the man’s sexual demand and control. Women become yet another submissive gender as she has to do what her customer tells her and her response or satisfaction is left neglected. Sexual liberation for women cannot be fulfilled as long as the society normalise unequal sexual practices where a man dominates a woman (Hoffman
How does 'sexuality' come into being, and what connections does it have with the changes that have affected personal life on a more general plane? In answering these questions, Anthony Giddens disputes many of the interpretations of the role of sexuality in our culture. The emergence of what he calls plastic sexuality, which is sexuality freed from its original relation of reproduction, is analyzed in terms of the long-term development of the modern social order and social influences of the last few decades. Giddens argues that the transformation of intimacy, in which women have played the major part, holds out the possibility of a society that is very traditional. "This book will appeal to a large general audience as well as being essential reading for those students in sociology and theory."(Manis 1)