the architecture of sex work: a research project

Please read and get in touch if inclined. 

This is a sign that I have propped up on top of a radiator at home. It was a practice at lettering for a t-shirt I made one International Women’s Day (safely relegated to pyjamas). I keep it because it reminds me every day to think about and question gender, gender identity and gender expression. To think about what it means to be female, female-identifying and non-binary. To think about all intersections of all those things. To remind me to speak out, stand by, stand up and be strong for myself but for everyone else too. 

On my walk to work on Friday I listened to a podcast as I always do. I tend to rotate between Cameron Esposito’s QUEERY, Radiotopia’s 99% INVISIBLE and Deborah Francis-White’s GUILTY FEMINIST. Friday was the turn of the Guilty Feminist and the episode was about sex workers rights. I was gripped. Hearing the stories of the women on the show and their fight to get sex work decriminalised. In hearing their stories I felt compelled to question a few things, namely how complicit we are as a society for the dangers these women (and men) face in their profession. I wondered what role my profession (architecture and design) might have played and still does play in the creation of their unsafe environment. 

So I decided it was time I did something useful with my white academic privilege - I am going to begin a research project. Perhaps a book, exhibition or similar that looks to acknowledge and analyse the contribution of architecture (and its associates) to the dangers faced and restrictions placed upon sex workers. But more importantly the possible solutions it might look to offer in the future that might be able to help with it’s decriminalisation by applying design thinking principles. THE ARCHITECTURE OF SEX WORK is born! And the ‘women’ sign in the photo will now remind me daily to fight for Sex Workers Rights too. 

If you think you might be able to help or contribute in any way please get in touch. If you can offer insight, publishing advice, reading lists, exhibition space, words of encouragement

etc I would be delighted to hear form you.