Sex as Work: Decriminalisation and The Management of Brothels in New Zealand

This book explores how brothels are managed in New Zealand under decriminalisation, focusing on how operators position their businesses, seek legitimacy, and manage their workers under neoliberal norms.

Format: Hardback
Length: 262 pages
Publication date: 23 November 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate management of brothels in New Zealand, a trailblazer in decriminalizing sex work. Following the Prostitution Reform Act of 2003, New Zealand became the first country to legalize and regulate the industry. The decriminalization approach treats brothels as regular businesses, fostering improved working conditions for sex workers. However, our knowledge of how brothels operate in this unique context remains limited. Through in-depth interviews with brothel operators and sex workers, this book uncovers the intricacies of law understanding and implementation, the strategies employed by brothel operators to position their businesses, and the challenges they face in seeking legitimacy within a historically stigmatized sector. Furthermore, it explores the rules and norms governing brothel management, examining the interplay between neoliberal norms of work and the expectations of managers who demand professionalism, responsibility, and productivity from sex workers. This insightful exploration sheds light on the complex dynamics at play in the management of brothels in New Zealand, providing valuable insights into the experiences and perspectives of those involved in this industry.

Weight: 488g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031192593
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023