Governing Sex Work through Affects

Abstract

In recent years states have been described not only as an apparatus of rational decision-making but also as an arena of affective interaction between citizens, non-citizens and public servants. Hence, research focuses on how state policies are designed in an affective mode, how policies are implemented by street-level bureaucrats and how at the same time subjects and subjectivity are created. Policies on prostitution are embedded in specific affective contexts – of fear, of anger, of joy and of desire. Also, research on affective labour included the affective dimension of sex work. Moreover, research on social movements has shown that affects are important sources for mobilizing policy issues. In the case of sex work, creating moral panic is a way of mobilisation. This panel will focus on the governance of sex work and trafficking. Which affects impact on governing sex work and trafficking? How do affects modulate processes of governing sex work and trafficking in different countries? A special focus will be on policy-making challenging the rational idea of policy-making and showing how policy-implementation can be driven by emotions. Another focus will be the mobilization of shame and disgust is one dimension of recent abolitionist organizations against sex work and for the punishment of clients.

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