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.
The exploitation of women as sex objects is also easy to find. Both works contain extreme i...
With prostitution still arising and thriving in present day America the Argument and war waged on it by media has changed from an advocated perspective, to being seen as present day slavery among women. Especially with modern practices of forced trafficking and drugged prostitution. the views have changed from one of a women's private and personal freedom of choice, to one of "the ones who weren't lucky enough to get away from being drugged, kidnapped and forced into slaved prostitution."
Governed under the principles of male supremacy and superiority, it is comprehensible as to why female sexuality has been coined a “dangerous mechanism”
”The History of Sexuality” is a three-volumes book, published around 1976 and 1984 by the french historical philosopher Michel Foucault. The three volumes are “An Introduction” (which later is known also as “The Will of Knowledge”), “The Use of the Self” and “The Care of the Self”.
Rubin, Gayle. “Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of the Politics of Sexuality.” in Pleasure and Danger: Exploring Female Sexuality. ed. Vance, Carole. Pandora: London, 1992.
In our first world consumer culture, there is a superficial understanding of sex as as synonymous to goods. One that understands sex as simple self–s...
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.
In the article “An Anthropological Look at Human Sexuality” the authors, Patrick Gray and Linda Wolfe speak about how societies look at human sexuality. The core concept of anthology is the idea of culture, the systems of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors people acquire as a member of society. The authors give an in depth analysis on how human sexuality is looked at in all different situations.
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 from 18-59 years in age, is largely African-American, and that most have completed high school. As these women reveal more about themselves, it becomes apparent that there is a spectrum of opinion regarding controversial topics such as drug use and safe sex. Many women admitted to not having used a condom with a partner who they were aware had HIV/AIDS.
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
Barry, Kathleen. The Prostitution of Sexuality: The Global Exploitation of Women. New York: New York University Press, 1996. Print.
Sanders, Teela, Maggie O’Neil, and Jane Pitcher. Prostitution: Sex Work, Policy, and Politics. London: SAGE, 2009. eBook Collection. Web. 17 Oct. 2015.
When Max Weber looks at the conflict within power and class, Feminist sociologists usually look on power and gender. Many Feminist believe the men or women coming into a sexual transaction are as bad as the prostitutes themselves because of the part they play. Feminist argue that most societies teaches boys to have control and or dominate girls and women, and they are expected to keep continuing this well into their adulthood. Society also teaches the girls that being submissive to the boys and or men is the way, and to continue these thoughts into adulthood. The jest of prostitution and a male centered society support each other very well. That’s because prostitution supports and encourages ideas that women should be considered to be lesser than a man or be
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...
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.