Public Lecture, Queen's University, Belfast: 1st September

Hi everyone,

Just to let you know about this upcoming event, all welcome to attend:

http://uglymugs.ie/2014/08/17/public...r-all-welcome/

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The following event is taking place at Queen’s University Belfast on Monday 1st September 2014 at 4pm. The venue is QUB School of Law, 27 University Square, Room 27.101. All welcome.

No (Commercial) Sex Please, They’re Suburbanites: Regulating the (Sub)Urban Sexscape

Dr Paul Maginn
University of Western Australia

Transactional forms of sex (sex work/prostitution and stripping/lap-dancing) and commercial sex venues such as sex shops, adult theatres, strip clubs, BDSM dungeons, and brothels tend to be associated with the ‘inner-city’; what Parksian human ecologists referred to as the ‘zone of transition’. In many respects, this marginalized space was indeed the ‘natural area’ for commercial sex to take place as it was arguably the only space such activities could take root in the emerging modern metropolis. Relatedly, the zone of transition and commercial sex venues and spaces were generally located adjacent to male dominated spaces–the CBD and industrial areas—thereby offering a ready supply of customers and clients. This geography was no accident. History shows that efforts to regulate the ‘sex industry’ range from spatial containment to prohibition and eradication. In short, political and bureaucratic regulators have sought to prevent commercialized forms of sex invading the suburbs and subsequently contaminating suburbanites. A major reason for this is that the suburbs hold a special place in the heteronormative hearts and minds of politicians and bureaucrats. Suburbia has been framed not only in political but also popular cultural discourses as a heterosexual space, a space of domesticity and monogamy and a safe haven for women and children.

This presentation traces the broad historical, sociological, geographical and regulatory contours surrounding the ‘sex industry’ in western liberal democracies by drawing on examples in my forthcoming co-edited book, (Sub)Urban Sexscapes: Geographies and Regulation of the Sex Industry. It is contended that contemporary efforts to eradicate sex work/prostitution by ending demand and over-regulating other forms of commercial sex (e.g. pornography, lap-dancing) are misplaced and doomed to fail in their primary objectives. Policymakers can achieve greater regulatory success if they adopt a pragmatic approach and base their decisions on evidence as opposed to moral panics and involvement of the sex industry in decision-making processes.

(Upcoming book, (Sub)Urban Sexscapes, Geographies and Regulation of the Sex Industry.)

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Originally Posted by samlad

Hi everyone,

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:confused: Samlad, what in the name of god is a heteronormative? How would I know one if it was coming at me out of a hedge?

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Originally Posted by Larrii

:confused: Samlad, what in the name of god is a heteronormative? How would I know one if it was coming at me out of a hedge?

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Isn't Wikipedia wonderful?

Quote, "Heteronormativity is the belief that people fall into distinct and complementary genders (man and woman) with natural roles in life. It asserts that heterosexuality is the only sexual orientation or only norm, and states that sexual and marital relations are most (or only) fitting between people of opposite sexes. Consequently, a "heteronormative" view is one that involves alignment of biological sex, sexuality, gender identity and gender roles. Heteronormativity is often linked to heterosexism and homophobia."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heteronormativity

[But I still don't think I would know it if it at me at me out of a hedge]

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Originally Posted by SteveB

fitting between people of opposite sexes. Consequently, a "heteronormative"

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I still didn't get if it's a he-male or a she-male

:baby:




:D

Normative means that what is considered to be the usual or correct way of doing something. It infers that there is a normal way of doing something and so can also infer that anything different is either not normal or even deviant.

Heteronormative means that heterosexuality is normal (normative) and therefore suggests that anything else (or other behaviour) is abnormal or deviant.

In the context of the article [heteronormative hearts and minds of politicians and bureaucrats] it infers that the aforementioned politicians and bureaucrats are fixed and narrow-minded in their understanding, not only of heterosexual/other relationships, but of other aspects of sexuality, especially of paid sexual relationships.

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Originally Posted by SteveB

anything else (or other behaviour) is abnormal or deviant.

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So, are they any good at winding people up?




:rolleyes: