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A review by whatjaimereads
Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work by Melissa Gira Grant
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Playing the Whore by Melissa Gira Grant is a brief examination of the politics, economics, and culture surrounding sex work. I was drawn to this for its discussions of what it is to do/advertise sex work online, and how the industry is changing through the evolution of technology.
Grant’s perspectives are invaluable, and she introduces a lot of the central themes and ideas that are being brought to the fore in the fight for sex workers’ rights. Sitting at fewer than 150 pages, her arguments and insights leave space for further reading without the reader being overwhelmed. This is a great starting point for a truly sex-worker inclusive approach to feminism, and Grant provides intersectional discussion of race and gender within that. The explorations of being a sex worker in online spaces, and what it means to have a platform turn its back on the industry is something that is all the more applicable 7 years on, and made for a compelling read.
My main issue when reading this is that there was no central argument as a driving force. The author does a great job of introducing her ideas, but about half way through I struggled to see what the point of it was. Playing the Whore leaves lots of room for discussion and deeper exploration of its themes, and gives us an insight into the discrimination faced by sex workers, but it is by no means a comprehensive text on the subject.
Grant’s perspectives are invaluable, and she introduces a lot of the central themes and ideas that are being brought to the fore in the fight for sex workers’ rights. Sitting at fewer than 150 pages, her arguments and insights leave space for further reading without the reader being overwhelmed. This is a great starting point for a truly sex-worker inclusive approach to feminism, and Grant provides intersectional discussion of race and gender within that. The explorations of being a sex worker in online spaces, and what it means to have a platform turn its back on the industry is something that is all the more applicable 7 years on, and made for a compelling read.
My main issue when reading this is that there was no central argument as a driving force. The author does a great job of introducing her ideas, but about half way through I struggled to see what the point of it was. Playing the Whore leaves lots of room for discussion and deeper exploration of its themes, and gives us an insight into the discrimination faced by sex workers, but it is by no means a comprehensive text on the subject.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Violence
Moderate: Trafficking and Sexual violence