Belabored Podcast #44: The Work of Sex Work, with Melissa Gira Grant

Belabored Podcast #44: The Work of Sex Work, with Melissa Gira Grant

This week, Belabored talks to Melissa Gira Grant, whose new book Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work dismantles the myths surrounding sex work and challenges us to think about sex work in the same framework in which we put other kinds of labor. At the heart is the question: should workers have to love their work in order to be able to demand rights and protections on the job?

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This week, we are joined by author Melissa Gira Grant, whose new book Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work dismantles the myths surrounding sex work and challenges us to think about sex work in the same framework in which we put other kinds of labor. At the heart is the question: should workers have to love their work in order to be able to demand rights and protections on the job?

Michelle also brings us news of a win for labor rights for sex workers in New Zealand; we then take a look at the heated battle over charter schools in New York and nationwide, at the struggle for decent jobs as a local economy moves from manufacturing to care work, and the surprising news that McDonald’s might be raising wages after all. Finally, we wrap up with a look at what happened to the company town.

News:

Pittsburgh’s Largest Employer Draws Hundreds of Protesters Over Poverty Wages

Mayor Peduto steps in to UPMC protests

De Blasio and Operator of Charter School Empire Do Battle 

Success Academy school chain comes under fire as parents fight ‘zero tolerance’ disciplinary policy

Teachers Want More Accountability for Charter Schools

Cashing in on Kids

McDonald’s Saying Wages Could Rise

Michelle: Sex Workers Have Labor Rights Just Like Any Other Employee, Confirms NZ Court

New Zealand Prostitutes’ Collective

Conversation with Melissa Gira Grant about the work of sex work:

Excerpt, Playing the Whore by Melissa Gira Grant

Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work

Melissa Gira Grant’s homepage

For Love or Money, by Sarah and Melissa Gira Grant

Argh, I Wish I’d Written That!

Michelle: Heidi Moore, The Guardian: IBM fires small-town workers for Wall Street numbers. That’s the good part

Sarah: Bernadette Hyland, Contributoria: From factory workers to care workers