An intimate and original look at the lives of Nevada's legal sex
workers through the voices of current and former employees, brothel
owners, madams, and local law enforcement
The state of Nevada
is the only jurisdiction in the United States where prostitution is
legal. Wrapped in moral judgments about sexual conduct and shrouded
in titillating intrigue, stories about Nevada's legal brothels
regularly steal headlines. The stigma and secrecy pervading sex work
contribute to experiences of oppression and unfair labor practices
for many legal prostitutes in Nevada. Sex and Stigma engages
with stories of women living and working in these "hidden"
organizations to interrogate issues related to labor rights, secrecy,
privacy, and discrimination in the current legal brothel system.
Including interviews
with current and former legal sex workers, brothel owners, madams,
local police, and others, Sex and Stigma examines how
widespread beliefs about the immorality of selling sexual services
have influenced the history and laws of legal brothel prostitution.
With unique access to a difficult-to-reach population, the authors
privilege the voices of brothel workers throughout the book as they
reflect on their struggles to engage in their communities, conduct
business, maintain personal relationships, and transition out of the
industry. Further, the authors examine how these brothels operate
like other kinds of legal entities, and how individuals contend with
balancing work and non-work commitments, navigate work place
cultures, and handle managerial relationships. Sex and Stigma
serves as a resource on the policies guiding legal prostitution in
Nevada and provides an intimate look at the lived experiences of
women performing sex work.
