Online sex work is a burgeoning field of study.
To provide a closer look at both popular and yet-to-be-covered research topics, Lindsay Blewett, Ph.D. candidate, spoke to the International Sexual Health & Wellness Research Institute (le Shaw) about her latest investigation into the state of online sex work research.
The initial findings from her ongoing research—proudly supported by Byborg Enterprises’ le Shaw—highlight the importance of sex worker-led studies to bridge current knowledge gaps, advance science, and improve wellbeing.
Advancing knowledge on sex work by sex workers
In the final year of her degree, Lindsay Blewett is a Ph.D. candidate at York University in the Gender and Women’s Studies Department. She lives with an invisible disability and, as a direct contact escort since 2007, is open about her sex work experience.
“It was on my application to grad school,” she said. “The landscape of sex work isn’t going to change to benefit sex workers unless people listen to us.”
Blewett’s research explores the experiences of disabled sex workers through the lens of labor theory and embodiment. She co-edited a special issue of Disability Studies Quarterly on sex work, which highlights the need for more research on this overlooked group.
Online sex work is also an understudied field, Blewett added, noting that most research focuses on in-person interactions with clients.
To gain an understanding of the current state of online sex work studies, le Shaw Scientific Director Simon Dubé, Ph.D., contacted Blewett to conduct a scoping review.
“To inform our work, we wanted to know what was the state of the literature—the gaps and future directions. This is a necessary first step to make meaningful scientific contributions and use this knowledge to help people. That’s why we reached out to Lindsay. Her expertise and insights made her the perfect researcher for this project,” Dubé said.
The method
To chart the unexplored territories of online sex work research, Blewett embarked on a scoping review using the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) method.
The goal of a scoping review is to provide an overview of the existing studies, identify research disparities, and highlight where further research is needed.
Specifically, Blewett sought to analyze the last decade of articles on online sex work. The selection criteria included peer-reviewed articles in English published between 2013 and 2023, excluding those focused solely on pornography or Internet marketing for offline sexual services.
Research themes
This review yielded 74 articles, nearly two-thirds of which were published after the pandemic began, signaling a growing interest from the academic community. A significant portion also focused on webcam modeling.
The interdisciplinary research zeroed in on six key themes related to online sex work: precarity, safety, performance, pleasure, stigma, and resistance.
Soon to be submitted to an academic journal, the findings of this research highlight the inherent risks and challenges of the profession and its potential for personal autonomy.
Challenges and benefits
The scoping review revealed both the hurdles and advantages of online sex work.
“It certainly isn’t easy money. It can be both rewarding and fulfilling; it can be draining and exhausting. Cam workers are subject to burnout, because they’re constantly trying to think up new ways to attract more clients to their shows and are often working long hours,” Blewett said.
“You have to remember this is all in the context of the gig economy,” she added. “All of it is platform-mediated meaning creators are beholden to often-changing rules and regulations; it’s insecure; it’s paid in piece rates. So, there’s this inherent precarity involved.”
Further challenges include doxing, stalking, blackmail, harassment, social isolation, and unauthorized sharing of content, all exacerbated by stigma and discrimination. These issues can restrict movement, social support, and access to services, impacting the ability to pursue alternative employment.
Despite these drawbacks, there are many reasons why online sex workers enjoy what they do.
For example, their jobs offer the potential for sexual pleasure, financial independence, and accessible work opportunities for diverse individuals, including those with disabilities. Compared to in-person sex work, online sex work carries lower risks of physical violence and sexually transmitted infections.
In addition, online sex work platforms often serve as safe spaces for exploring gender and sexuality. They may also provide health and educational benefits for both performers and clients, enhancing emotional and sexual wellbeing.
Gaps and future directions
The literature review highlights research gaps in online sex work, emphasizing the need for more diversity in studies concerning gender, race, language, and geography, moving beyond the typical focus on Western, white, cisgender women.
“The biggest limitation is probably the overwhelmingly Western focus,” Blewett said, pointing out the top five countries covered are the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
The bias stems partly from the focus on English articles, yet also the worldwide influence of the United States.
“Because most credit card companies are American, if a website wants to utilize Visa or Mastercard payments, they have to follow the US laws, regardless of where they’re located in the world. Moreover, US legislation, such as FOSTA/SESTA that holds websites liable for user-posted content related to prostitution, has a global reach and influences how camsites and adult subscription sites can operate. Thus, much of the research focuses on the impact of US legislation and the global reach of US ideology and thinking around sex work.”
However, there’s a wealth of data waiting to be mined by focusing on specific geographic contexts outside the Global North, including the effect of local legislation on sex work.
“How do local contexts, for example, influence migration into online sex work? Is there something about a local context that makes online sex work more appealing? What is the local economy like? What does the labor sector look like?” Blewett said.
Further areas lacking in research include gender diversity, racial and ethnic representation, the impact of stigma on mental health, and intersecting issues such as ableism, transphobia, and cissexism.
According to Blewett, most literature on camming focuses on tipping sites. Few studies delve into the distinct business models of private streaming sites where earnings are primarily made in private sessions.
She suggests researchers undertake comparative studies on different business models (e.g., premium vs. freemium or independent vs. studio), such as how earning strategies might differ between them. She also suggests a balanced exploration of the challenges and benefits of online sex work.
Putting sex workers first
The world of online sex work is filled with both rewards and obstacles.
Blewett’s insights and preliminary research findings on the state of online sex work literature reveal a small yet growing field of study. The full research findings are expected to be published next year.
While she points to current gaps in research and suggests future topics ripe for investigation, it’s critical these endeavors are led by or in close collaboration with sex workers.
As Blewett puts it:
“Make sex workers your collaborators. Treat them as your peers, not as objects of research in future studies, and that includes paying us, please, and thank you.”
Featured Image Source: AI-generated with DALL-E
