Tuesday 7th April - 06:00 PM BST
Cashing Out On Erotic Capital
Should cashing out erotic capital be recognised as a legitimate feminist tool?
Since the 1970s, many feminists have argued against marriage, seeing it as an economic selling of one's freedom and sexual value to a man. Traditionally, in return, the man gave opportunities and resources, reinforcing patriarchal power. But now today, some feminists champion the economic monetizing of sexual value through sex work as being anti-patriarchal. Sexual subscription platforms such as OnlyFans, with over 300 million registered users worldwide, enable large-scale digital monetization of sexual content and many creators claim financial agency and newfound empowerment. The commodification of intimacy and sexuality, once criticised by feminists in marriage, is now celebrated as entrepreneurial control over one’s so-called sexual, 'erotic capital'.
Should sex work be held up as an alternative to marriage, a way to empower women outside of a still patriarchal marriage system, and a way to make money outside of a patriarchal jobs market? Or should sex work be criticised, and even banned, for embedding patriarchal systems and the objectification of women further still? And ultimately, should we seek to separate economic exchange and sex, or, with sex work often called "the world's oldest profession", is it even possible to do so?
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Norma Jean Almodovar
Norma Jean Almodovar is an American sex worker activist, author, and former police officer known for advocating for the rights and safety of sex workers. She has been a prominent voice challenging laws and social stigma surrounding sex work and has drawn attention to the impact of policing and laws on the industry.
Almodovar is the author of Cop to Call Girl, a memoir about her time in the LAPD and her shift to activism. She continues to write and speak on sex worker rights and criminal justice reform.
Jess Carbino
Jess Carbino is an American sociologist and dating expert known for applying social science research to modern relationships. She previously served as in-house sociologist at Tinder and Bumble, where she analysed user data to understand patterns in attraction, matching and online behaviour. Her work focuses on how technology is reshaping courtship and partner selection, and she is a regular media commentator on dating culture.
In recent years, Carbino has continued to consult for technology companies and speak publicly about the impact of apps and algorithms on intimacy. She writes and appears widely in the media, offering research-driven insights into contemporary dating and relationships.
Carrie Jenkins
Carrie Jenkins argues that romantic love is both biological and socially shaped, challenging views that treat it as purely natural or purely cultural. Her work explores polyamory, relationship norms, self-knowledge, and how imagination shapes intimate life.
