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![Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work (Jacobin) by [Melissa Gira Grant]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41lAaSxt4PL._SY346_.jpg)
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Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work (Jacobin) Kindle Edition
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Melissa Gira Grant
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Format: Kindle Edition
Melissa Gira Grant
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LanguageEnglish
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PublisherVerso
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Publication dateMarch 11, 2014
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File size1066 KB
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Collectively as a society we've got a whole bunch of tangled, warped intuitions and policies towards the exchange of money for sex. Melissa Gira Grant does a remarkable job of rigorously teasing these apart and righteously scrapping those she finds wanting. Her work has been hugely influential in how I think about sex work and outright changed my mind on a number of points. She's a must read.”–Chris Hayes, All In With Chris Hayes
“An important contribution to debates around sex and work, and deserves to be read by anyone who wants to get beyond tired and damaging understandings of both.” –Nina Power, author of One Dimensional Woman
“Thoroughly researched, eminently readable...Keeping the focus on ideas instead of autobiography has an impressively unsettling effect, as we're forced to acknowledge the writer's boundaries, and our own voyeurism.”– Village Voice
"Gira Grant is one of the most interesting policy thinkers in the country when it comes to sex work, and this short book introduces and outlines her thinking on the matter." –Mike Konczal, Washington Post
“An informative and extremely worthwhile addition to the existing body of literature on sex work.” –Stoya, adult performer and Vice columnist
“Learn, listen, take heart—this is the real deal.” –Susie Bright, sex and culture critic, and founder of On Our Backs
“Well-researched and provocative … A vital text on an incendiary topic.” –Lily Burana, author of I Love a Man in Uniform and Strip City
“Gira Grant weaves her way through sanctimony and hypocrisy with wit, eloquence, insight, and a dose of necessary outrage.” –Laura Kipnis, author of How to Become a Scandal
“Makes precisely clear that a culture that polices, silences and marginalizes women who sell sex is
a culture that cares nothing about women. Period.” –Janet Mock, author of Redefining Realness
“As self-appointed saviors like Nicolas Kristof command mainstream media attention for their crusade on behalf of trafficked women, Melissa Gira Grant provides a sharp and powerful counternarrative, a layered, justice-minded critique of such interventions as well as a much needed skewering of ‘carceral feminism.’ An important, illuminating and engaging read.”– Liliana Segura, Senior Editor, The Intercept (First Look Media) --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
“An important contribution to debates around sex and work, and deserves to be read by anyone who wants to get beyond tired and damaging understandings of both.” –Nina Power, author of One Dimensional Woman
“Thoroughly researched, eminently readable...Keeping the focus on ideas instead of autobiography has an impressively unsettling effect, as we're forced to acknowledge the writer's boundaries, and our own voyeurism.”– Village Voice
"Gira Grant is one of the most interesting policy thinkers in the country when it comes to sex work, and this short book introduces and outlines her thinking on the matter." –Mike Konczal, Washington Post
“An informative and extremely worthwhile addition to the existing body of literature on sex work.” –Stoya, adult performer and Vice columnist
“Learn, listen, take heart—this is the real deal.” –Susie Bright, sex and culture critic, and founder of On Our Backs
“Well-researched and provocative … A vital text on an incendiary topic.” –Lily Burana, author of I Love a Man in Uniform and Strip City
“Gira Grant weaves her way through sanctimony and hypocrisy with wit, eloquence, insight, and a dose of necessary outrage.” –Laura Kipnis, author of How to Become a Scandal
“Makes precisely clear that a culture that polices, silences and marginalizes women who sell sex is
a culture that cares nothing about women. Period.” –Janet Mock, author of Redefining Realness
“As self-appointed saviors like Nicolas Kristof command mainstream media attention for their crusade on behalf of trafficked women, Melissa Gira Grant provides a sharp and powerful counternarrative, a layered, justice-minded critique of such interventions as well as a much needed skewering of ‘carceral feminism.’ An important, illuminating and engaging read.”– Liliana Segura, Senior Editor, The Intercept (First Look Media) --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
About the Author
Melissa Gira Grant is a writer and freelance journalist whose work has appeared in Glamour, the Guardian, the Nation, Wired, and the Atlantic. She is also a Contributing Editor to Jacobin.
Her website is melissagiragrant.com. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Her website is melissagiragrant.com. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Product details
- ASIN : B00F8EYVQ2
- Publisher : Verso (March 11, 2014)
- Publication date : March 11, 2014
- Language : English
- File size : 1066 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 137 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 1781683239
- Lending : Not Enabled
- Best Sellers Rank: #226,626 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
96 global ratings
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2015
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An interesting book that I highlighted a lot in. It’s about how police and many feminists, especially anti-prostitution activists, have no clue about sex work and cause more harm than good. What made it more than just a text book is its clear insider knowledge by the author. Grade: B+
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2017
Verified Purchase
Strong and passionate, and in my opinion, accurate argument on how women working as sex workers are mistreated by societal institutions that are made to protect them and everybody else. After the third or fourth chapter, the arguments get repetitive causing it to become a boring read. This is unfortunate because I think the arguments and topics are vital, but the delivery takes away from that.
9 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2020
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Great book, thanks!
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2014
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One of the best books on sex work, views, lobbies, history and movements and politics of it. I am usually hesitant to read books on this subject since usually the books on area of sex work are fantasy tale of good and evil with erotic dressing. After reading the review of the book on Boston Review, I started reading the book. It is a very good read and educates the reader very well.
11 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2018
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As someone in the industry. I found this book to be - just okay.... I began to feel as if I was reading a daunting incoherent debate. Though she does make great points, her wording and the lack of flow throughout the entire book can be a bit - odd. Whether the arguments were not presented with enough clarity or information, or the lack of directed focus caused the difficulties I am not quite sure, but the promise was a far cry from the reality in this book.
6 people found this helpful
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Well-written but basic and unsourced. Don't spend the money unless you are looking for a primer on the topic.
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2014Verified Purchase
I bought this book expecting a well-sourced, thoughtful discussion of the history and present reality of sex work. It did not meet my expectations.
The author writes well, and she does a passable job of providing an overview of the issues raised by sex work, but it is only an overview. The book is surprisingly short and offers virtually no substantive analysis of the topics presented. Most disappointing for me, however, was the total absence of any citations to sources. It is simply inexcusable to present conclusions that are often antithetical to the majority views held by society and not provide any source for the conclusions.
There are much better sources of information on the topics presented available for free on the internet. It would be worth the price to read this capable author's in depth exploration of these issues (with footnotes, please), but the cursory treatment of the subject matter does not justify the relatively high purchase price.
The author writes well, and she does a passable job of providing an overview of the issues raised by sex work, but it is only an overview. The book is surprisingly short and offers virtually no substantive analysis of the topics presented. Most disappointing for me, however, was the total absence of any citations to sources. It is simply inexcusable to present conclusions that are often antithetical to the majority views held by society and not provide any source for the conclusions.
There are much better sources of information on the topics presented available for free on the internet. It would be worth the price to read this capable author's in depth exploration of these issues (with footnotes, please), but the cursory treatment of the subject matter does not justify the relatively high purchase price.
12 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2014
Verified Purchase
I don't remember reading a more consciousness-raising book before this one. Grant potently lays out the hypocrisy of anti-sex work folks and just how terrible the "Rescue Industry" is. It's appalling, as are the hypocrisies of the anti-sex work reformers when it comes to their complicity in the police brutality and sexual assault sex workers face as a result of criminalization and stigmatization.
Be prepared to have any previous assumptions, perceptions, or prejudices you may have about sex work and sex workers powerfully challenged. It takes a lot of courage to advocate for the rights of sex workers, particularly in a country like America, where our handling of human sexuality is ridiculous and slut-shaming can be a powerful deterrent,
Much thanks to Guardian columnist Margaret Corvid for referring me to this book.
Be prepared to have any previous assumptions, perceptions, or prejudices you may have about sex work and sex workers powerfully challenged. It takes a lot of courage to advocate for the rights of sex workers, particularly in a country like America, where our handling of human sexuality is ridiculous and slut-shaming can be a powerful deterrent,
Much thanks to Guardian columnist Margaret Corvid for referring me to this book.
18 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2016
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Thanks!
Top reviews from other countries

Tamsyn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic summary of the legal situation and societal attitudes around sex work.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2018Verified Purchase
Not necessarily new information for those already involved academia or activism in this area but definitely one of the most concise summaries I've ever come across, with great references to other resources you can follow up with in order to read in greater depth. It's also really accessible and easy to get to grips with for those who may not know much about the language or the politics around prostitution. Fantastic.
2 people found this helpful
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Tezza
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 29, 2016Verified Purchase
present for my daughter - her choice
2 people found this helpful
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jodie louise
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2015Verified Purchase
A book that everyone needs to read.
One person found this helpful
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Heather Number 1
5.0 out of 5 stars
like all work
Reviewed in Canada on April 5, 2017Verified Purchase
Sex work is work. Anyone who claims to be a feminist while ignoring this fact (and, like all work, it can include a spectrum of exploitation to mastery – see also: slave labour in garment factories to millionaire haute couture designers) has an agenda that will leave a lot of women hurt and dead.
3 people found this helpful
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C. Griffiths
4.0 out of 5 stars
as my priviledged middle-class male existence always needs a good shake. My significant other devoured the first few ...
Reviewed in Canada on October 27, 2014Verified Purchase
Heard about this book via Dan Savage's podcast. Seemed an interesting sociology to look into, as my priviledged middle-class male existence always needs a good shake. My significant other devoured the first few chapters and then seemed a bit "meh, nothing new".
2 people found this helpful
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