Sex Work in Asian/America (367-0-1)

Instructors

Raymond San Diego
Crowe 1-125

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-425: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

From karaoke bars to military bases, and from local dungeons to worldwide webcams, the landscapes of intimacy and labor are deeply interconnected. This upper-division seminar explores how these spaces—alongside international borders and digital networks—are woven together by power, control, and profit. Central to our inquiry is how Asian/Americans have navigated and negotiated these terrains, often becoming il/legible (both visible and invisible) to the state and the public eye.

In this course, we will attain the conceptual tools needed to distinguish between descriptive facts and prescriptive claims regarding sexual labor. Students will read an array of texts by and about Asian/American sex workers, including historical legislation, ethnographic studies, and first-hand accounts from those practicing BDSM, digital pornography, and consensual sexual services.

This course approaches sex work through the lens of labor rights and political economy, moving beyond binary moral debates of "right vs. wrong" to examine how power, law, and resistance operate in the lives of Asian/American workers. This seminar invites a capacious approach to the concept of "work," challenging students to think critically, reflect deeply, and communicate thoughtfully about the web of power that defines the modern world.

Class Notes

Attendance at first class is mandatory

Please be aware some texts and media might be too explicitly violent, graphic, or sexual for some students. Such films and readings are used to demonstrate the power and diversity of the lived experiences of Asian/American sex workers.

Class Attributes

Ethical and Evaluative Thinking Foundational Disci
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Registration is reserved to all ASIAN_AM students until the end of preregistration, after which registration will be open to all who meet the prerequisites.