ON THE STROLL: FREE AGENTS AND BONDED LABOUR IN THE STREET PROSTITUTION INDUSTRY
Date
1989
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
This study analyzes the concept of alienated labour in
the practice of street prostitution in Canada's prairie
region and explores the relationship between profit-making
relations in street prostitution and the exploitation of
street prostitutes in this region. It begins with a brief
introduction to the themes of social control that dominate
within the Sociology of Prostitution and a discussion of the
sources and limitations of data employed. The basic
proposition that is drawn from this discussion is that the
exploitation of street prostitutes is secured in the
organization of the labour process of street prostitution.
The review of relevant literature is organized around
the basic themes of supply, demand and profit.. This
organizational scheme allows the evaluation and critique of
the loose application of economic concepts to the causal
analysis of prostitution. It concludes with the finding
that prostitution is the expression of a
profit-making
relation and establishes a basis for the analysis of the
appropriation of labour within profit-making relations. In
light of the focus on the regulation of working activity in
economic organization, Marx's theory and method of
historical materialism is identified as a fruitful
conceptual framework for the analysis of this relation.
The discussion of subjective interpretations of Marx's
theory of alienation is followed by a detailed discussion of
the
ontological continuity and epistemological focusing of
Marx's intellectual outlook. This leads into an
explication
of Marx's theory of alienation.
A detailed description of the street prostitution
commodity market and the street prostitution industry is
constructed around the producer's relation to the product
and activity of labour in the circulation and production of
commodified intimacy. This is followed by a
specific
analysis of the concept of alienated labour as it is
expressed in the social relations of production of the
street prostitution industry.
The conclusion that is reached is that two forms of
alienated labour can be identified within the street
prostitution industry in the Canadian prairie region. As
free agents, the working activity of prostitutes is subject
to regulation by the market and overall structure of the
street prostitution industry, and the appropriation of
labour is expressed in circulation. As bonded labour the
working activity of prostitutes is subject to regulation by
the social relations of production that are established
between male owners and female workers. As such, the
appropriation of labour is accomplished through relations of
dependency and domination that are expressed in the
production of commodified intimacy and the exploitation of
the prostitute is stripped of any appearance of freedom.
Description
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Citation
Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department
Sociology
Program
Sociology