Studying at York
Crime, Justice & the Sex Industry - SOC00045H
- Department: Sociology
- Module co-ordinator: Information currently unavailable
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: H
- Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
- See module specification for other years: 2021-22
Module summary
The module will critically examine the historical, legal, social and cultural dimensions of the sex industry within the context of the major theories of crime and deviance. Students will develop an understanding of the current politics of prostitution reform, at both local and global levels and evaluate research studies on crime, justice and the sex industry in the 21st century.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Spring Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
The module aims are to:
introduce the major criminological approaches to sex work, including feminist theories;
develop a critical understanding of criminological theories and concepts relating to the local and global sex industry;
understand and evaluate the history of the sex industry in the UK, in the context of contemporary issues of globalisation, the global sex trade, and legal reform;
understand and critically evaluate legal, social and cultural dimensions of the sex industry;
design and undertake criminological research in order to analyse crime, justice and the sex industry;
appreciate the value of criminological enquiry into crime, justice and the sex industry and demonstrate learning through the digital essay form (Wiki)
Module learning outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge:
On completion of the module students should be able to:
- demonstrate critical understanding of the major themes in the study of the sex industry (historical, legal, social, political, and cultural);
- demonstrate critical understanding of the impact of theoretical criminology in relation to both historical and contemporary dimensions of the sex industry;
- critically assess related social policy issues, with particular reference to the politics of contemporary prostitution reform (globally and locally).
- critically communicate in appropriate formats analyses of crime justice and the sex industry (ie using digital technologies)
Subject-specific Skills
On completion of the module students should be able to:
- think critically about recurring and transforming themes and issues in sex work;
- critically evaluate criminological theory in relation to historical and contemporary dimensions of the sex industry;
- critically evaluate and interpret information, evidence and explanations of sex work from a variety of sources and theoretical perspectives.
Key skills
On completion of the module students should be able to:
- engage in critical reasoning and informed debate;
- synthesise arguments drawn from a variety of sources;
- communicate arguments effectively in writing;
- carry out independent study and further reading using traditional and electronic sources;
- manage their time and workload;
- demonstrate effective study and learning skills (note taking; avoiding plagiarism, gathering and using information, constructing a bibliography, referencing)
- demonstrate good IT skills in word processing, using the web, using a virtual learning environment (i.e.VLE and through developing a Wiki page.
Module content
- Histories of Sex Work and the Sex Industry.
- Crime, Deviance and Selling Sex: theoretical approaches and perspectives.
- Prostitution and the Law in the UK: legislation and policing. The contemporary politics of prostitution reform.
- Prostitution/ Sex work in the Media.
- Violence against sex workers and hate crime
- Contested Spaces of Street sex work: street sex work and communities in the UK.
- Male sex workers, gender and difference
- Children, Young People and the Global Sex Industry.
- Migrant sex workers and sexual trafficking
- The Sex Worker’s rights movement
Indicative assessment
| Task | Length | % of module mark |
|---|---|---|
| Essay/coursework Wiki |
N/A | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
- Weekly 2 hour lectures will introduce students to advanced concepts, arguments and theoretical debates related to criminology and sex work.
- Eight x 1 hour long seminars will allow students to apply knowledge of advanced concepts, arguments and theoretical debates to research studies that focus on the lived experience of those working in the sex industry. The seminars will involve presentations from students and the tutor will provide formative feedback. The seminar presentations will be developed and delivered in small groups/teams.
- A 4000 word Wiki will form the summative work.
Indicative reassessment
| Task | Length | % of module mark |
|---|---|---|
| Essay/coursework Wiki |
N/A | 100 |
Module feedback
- Weekly 2 hour lectures will introduce students to advanced concepts, arguments and theoretical debates related to criminology and sex work.
- Eight x 1 hour long seminars will allow students to apply knowledge of advanced concepts, arguments and theoretical debates to research studies that focus on the lived experience of those working in the sex industry. The seminars will involve presentations from students and the tutor will provide formative feedback
Indicative reading
Indicative Reading list
Abel, G. (2014) ‘A decade of decriminalization: Sex work ‘down under’ but not underground’ Criminology and Criminal Justice. 14 (5): 580-592.
Agustin, L. (2007) Sex at the Margins. Migration, Labour Markets and the Rescue Industry. London: Zed Books.
Atkins, M. and Laing, M. (2012) 'Walking the beat and doing business: exploring spaces of male sex work and public sex'. Sexualities, 15 (5-6), pp. 622-643.
Barry, K. (1979), Female Sexual Slavery. New York: New York University Press.
Bell, S, (1994). Reading, Writing and Rewriting the Feminist Body, Indianpolis: Indiana University Press.
Campbell, R.. & O’Neill, M. (2005) Prostitution Now, London: Willen.
Campbell , R. (2014) ‘Not Getting Away With It: Linking Sex Work and Hate Crime in Merseyside’ in Chakroborti, N and Garland, J (eds), ‘Responding to Hate Crime: The Case for Connecting Policy and Research', The Policy Press, Bristol.
Chapkis, W. (1997), Live Sex Acts: Women Performing Erotic Labour, London: Caswell
Coy, M. (2012). Prostitution Harm and Gender Inequality: Theory Research and Policy, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
Doezema, J. (2001) “Ouch! Western Feminists ‘Wounded Attachment’ to the ‘third world prostitute’”, Feminist Review Spring (67): 16-38.
Doezema, J. (1998). “Forced to Choose: Beyond the Voluntary versus Forced Prostitution Dichotomy”. In Kempadoo, K & Doezema, J, (Eds) Global Sex Workers: Rights, Resistance and Redefinition. London: Routledge.
Gangoli, G. Westmarland, N (2006) International Approaches to Prostitution. Law and Policy in Europe and Asia. Bristol: The Policy Press.
Jobe, A. (2010). “Accessing help and services: trafficking survivors' experiences in the United Kingdom”. In G. Wylie & P. McRedmond Human trafficking in Europe: character, causes and consequences. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillian. 164-180.
Jobe, A (2008). Sexual Trafficking: A New Sexual Story? In K. Throsby & F. Alexander Gender and interpersonal violence: language, action and representation. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 66-82.
Hester, M. Westmarland, N. (2004) Tackling Street Prostitution: Towards a Holistic Approach. Home Office Research Study 279. Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate.
Kelly, Coy and Davenport, 2009. Shifting Sands: A Comparison of Prostitution Regimes Across Nine Countries. Child & Woman Studies Unit, London Metropolitan University.
Kempadoo, K & Doezema, J, (Eds), Global Sex Workers. Rights, Resistance and Redefinition, London: Routledge.
Laing, M., Pitcher, K. and Smith, K. (2015) (eds.) Queer sex work. Abingdon: Routledge.
Levy J. and Jacobson, P. (2014) ‘Swedish sex work and on the lives of Sweden's sex workers’ Criminology and Criminal Justice “The Governance of Commercial Sex: Global Trends of Criminalisation, Punitive Enforcement, Protection and Rights” November 2014 Volume 14 Issue 5, p597.
Matthews, R and O’Neill, M (2004) [eds] Prostitution, London: Ashgate.
MacKinnon, C.,A. (2011). Trafficking, Prostitution, and Inequality. Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, 46(2): 271-309.
O’Connell Davidson, J (1998), Prostitution, Power and Freedom. Cambridge: Polity Press.
O’Connell Davidson, J. (2002) The Rights and Wrongs of Prostitution, Hypatia, 17 (2) 84-98.
O’Connell-Davidson (2005) Children in the Global Sex Trade, Cambridge: Polity.
O’Neill, M. (2001) Prostitution and Feminism. Towards a Politics of Feeling. Oxford: Polity Press.
O’Neill, M. (2010). “Cultural Criminology and Sex Work: Resisting Regulation through Radical Democracy and Participatory Action Research (PAR)”. Journal of Law and Society, 37(1), pp.210–232.
O’Neill, M. and Seal, L. (2012) Transgressive Imaginations: crime, deviance and culture Palgrave Macmillan
Pitcher, J. and Wijers (2014) ‘The impact of different regulatory models on the labour conditions, safety and welfare of indoor-based sex workers’ Criminology and Criminal Justice “The Governance of Commercial Sex: Global Trends of Criminalisation, Punitive Enforcement, Protection and Rights” November 2014 Volume 14 Issue 5: 549-564.
Phoenix, J. (1999), Making Sense of Prostitution, London: Macmillan.
Phoenix, J. (2012). “Violence and prostitution: beyond the notion of a ‘continuum of sexual violence”. In Handbook on Sexual Violence. Routledge
Sanders,T.O'Neill, M. and Pitcher , J.(2012 -2nd edition in process) Prostitution, Politics and Policy. London:Sage.
Scoular, J. (2015) The Subject of Prostitution: Sex Work, Law and Social Theory, London:Routledge
Smith, N. and Laing, M. (2012) 'Introduction: working outside the (hetero)norm? Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) sex work'. Sexualities, 15 (5-6), pp. 517-520.
Self, H. (2003) Prostitution, Women and Misuse of the Law: The Fallen Daughters of Eve London: Frank Cass Publishers.
Wagenaar and Altink (2012) ‘Prostitution as Morality Politics or Why It Is Exceedingly Difficult To Design and Sustain Effective Prostitution Policy’ Sexuality Research and Social Policy September 2012, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp 279-292
Walkowitz, J.(1980) Prostitution and Victorian Society Cambridge, Cambridge University Press
Weitzer, R. (2000) Sex for Sale. Prostitution, Pornography and the Sex Industry. London: Routledge.