Society & Culture / Sociology / Labor Relations & Labor Process

Sex Work Is Work: Why 'Saving' Prostitutes Is Just Another Form of Control

Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work

Melissa Gira Grant

Melissa Gira Grant's book 'Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work' flips the script on everything you think you know about sex work. This isn't a story about victims or criminals. It's about labor, power, and the people who control the narrative. Grant exposes how the 'prostitute imaginary' — the idea that all sex workers are either helpless victims or immoral deviants — is used by cops, politicians, and even some feminists to justify arrest, surveillance, and 'rescue' operations that often do more harm than good. She breaks down how police stings and anti-trafficking campaigns actually increase violence against sex workers, and why the push to 'save' them with sewing machines or forced rehab is a dangerous myth. Most importantly, Grant argues that the real solution is simple: decriminalization and letting sex workers speak for themselves. If you think you understand the debate around sex work, this video will make you think again.