The Rise of Digital Sex Work
$30+
from Bookshop
At first, Kurt Fowler seems like an unlikely candidate to write about sex work. As a researcher and instructor, he isn’t directly connected with sex work or even the general field of sexuality. However, as a criminologist, Fowler is in the perfect position to research and educate on something that is illegal, even if the topic is often overlooked by academia. Although I have opinions about our judicial system–including sex work’s illegality–I hadn’t thought much about criminology as a field before reading The Rise of Digital Sex Work, and doing so prompted me to consider it. Similarly, Fowler made no statements about his opinion on the legality of sex work. Although he clearly feels compassion and respect for the sex workers with whom he spoke, Fowler’s book is a platform for their voices.
From the very beginning, Fowler weaves his research into a narrative that includes himself. He’s a skillful writer, and this will be more engaging to some readers. Perhaps more importantly, doing so explains how he had to work to build trust with the sex workers whom he interviewed, including them screening him with his employer, and highlights the unique humanity of every single participant mentioned. For those who would rather read a more succinct paper with a more structured analysis of the research rather than relying on the narrative he crafted, this book might not be the perfect fit. But I think Fowler’s decision to write it this way makes it appealing to a wider audience, and that means more readers have a chance to understand the nuances of sex work.
Although the book’s focus is digital sex work in its various forms, physical sex work is mentioned multiple times. This was sometimes the case because sex workers did or had done both, including those who moved online because of COVID-19. It also naturally came up as sex workers discussed their privilege in relation to others, which happened frequently. Much like his participants. Fowler was very open about the class, racial, and even geographic privileges most of the participants experienced. They are whiter and more educated than sex workers at large, and their experiences and thoughts can only be generalized to other sex workers so much as risk is not experienced equally–one of the reasons Fowler suspected a more diverse demographic did not respond to his study. Yet he painted a picture of sex workers as generally thoughtful, intelligent, and compassionate people, something that may be overlooked or entirely denied by those who might oppose sex workers or the work itself.
In general, sex workers simply want to be allowed to do their jobs without the fear of criminalization, and more than one takes on arguments about selling their bodies by pointing out how this is true in many jobs. Multiple sex workers expressed a preference for the freedom and autonomy in these roles as opposed to traditional careers, some of which they’d left without ever looking back. Interference by police and politics was also a common thread in these discussions. In an ostensible effort to decrease trafficking, these people and organizations often set their sights on sex workers, who reasonably seem to think they understand the difference between sex work and trafficking better than those who make and enforce the laws. Similarly, the assessment that these efforts waste the time and resources of both the police and sex workers seems quite reasonable, and readers gain an understanding of the world’s attitudes and legislation through sex work.
Because this book focuses on digital sex work, Fowler dove into the use of technology used by sex workers, specifically screening and communication tools. The fact that workers must carefully balance communicating in an appealing manner with clients while minimizing the unpaid time spent doing so quickly became apparent. Like all of us in the age of smartphones, sex workers are expected to be perpetually available to those who want their attention, even when it is costly or detrimental. The workers expressed their annoyance with time wasters, including those who wanted free sexting and law enforcement setting up traps. However, the people Fowler talked to also showed their savvy when weeding out potentially dangerous or unpleasant customers, and the importance of community to accomplish this was acknowledged repeatedly. Furthermore, the sex worker community was repeatedly mentioned as a source of support for a group of people who are so often treated poorly–by clients, law enforcement, and society at large. It’s no wonder many sex workers do not reveal their jobs to protect their privacy and well-being. Online communities offer a place where sex workers can speak freely and reduce isolation.
It is easy to see how the Internet provides resources that keep sex workers safe like never before but also how the internet poses a risk and those resources have become harder to find due to legislation, which Fowler discusses. One sex worker whose work was revealed to her family and friends (aka doxxing) took extreme care to protect her identity when talking with the author because she knew all too well the risks that come with digital sex work, even though it usually doesn’t include violence against sex workers. As sex work has moved online (in part to avoid COVID-19), those who do the job have had to surreptitiously master online marketing and branding in addition to safety measures. Here, Fowler discusses some of the specific tools used to accomplish those goals. The author always respects digital sex workers as entrepreneurs or freelancers, whichever you prefer, and readers learn how much there is to succeed in the field, which shares many similarities with other digital work or arts that similarly require self-promotion and branding.
The timing of this book is prescient because so many people are more aware of digital sex workers because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the popularity of OnlyFans. However, Fowler found himself at a disadvantage because he wrote the majority of the book before the pandemic, which he commented on. If there were any area where the author could expand, it might be in discussing the increased competition and, potentially, visibility due to OnlyFans and the pandemic, which I have heard about. This would have required more time researching and writing, of course, and every project needs to end at some point. While the book stands on its own without a chapter dedicated to the changes in sex work ushered in by COVID-19, a dedicated chapter would be most welcome.
There is some room for improvement in the book’s organization, which could be streamlined. It is not pithy and is heavy on dialog. Aside from headings, there isn’t a lot of formatting, which could be used to draw the reader’s attention to or reify important information, potentially as chapter wrap-ups. I also wish that Fowler had been able to connect with a more diverse group of sex workers, but there is plenty of opportunity for him–or others–to expand on this work and accomplish that goal. While Fowler discusses specific technological tools or platforms in the book, an entire book could be written on the technology that is so pivotal in (digital) sex work, not to mention sex work advocacy.
The Rise of Digital Sex Work pulls back the curtain on a world that I am sure many people find intriguing. However, it could also be useful professionally, by sex therapists, law enforcement, or politicians, for example, to ensure sex workers are treated fairly and respectfully. It is a frustrating fact that people need constant reminding that sex workers are, in fact, human, and Kurt Fowler has done the legwork to produce a book with academic quality that can be used as a resource by anyone who finds themselves having to make that argument. I recommend it to anyone interested in the topic and hope to see more academics follow in Fowler’s footsteps.
