Annotated Bibliography: Sexuality Studies

This annotated bibliography explores various academic sources examining the complex intersection of sex work, gender roles, and global migration within Southeast Asia. It delves into themes of female agency, economic exploitation, masculine identity, and the lived experiences of sex workers in different contexts. The selected readings offer diverse perspectives on this sensitive topic, highlighting the social, cultural, and political dimensions shaping the lives of individuals involved in sex work.

Running head: INTRODUCTION TO SEXUALITY STUDIES 1
Annotated Bibliography
Name:
Institution:

Introduction to Sexuality Studies 2
Martin, L. (2015). Sex and sensibilities: Doing action research while respecting even inspiring
dignity. In H. Bradbury-Huang (Ed.), The SAGE handbook of action research (pp. 505–511).
London: SAGE Publications.
The main argument in this article is exploring the research of sex work mainly by women
who fall as the victims of sex in the sex industry. The article is relevant since the action study
practices and philosophies have been endorsed in the sex work and are also supported by the sex
working societies. Therefore, it examines women since they fall as sex victims due to the
inability to make wise decisions (Martin, 2015). The article investigates the radical feminist
study based on the public debates and the agendas which affect other people in the society. The
main conclusion is that action research is vital to the sex work hence the sex workers should as
well be engaged to demonstrate on the relevant research techniques.
Derks, A. (2008). Khmer women on the move: Exploring work and life in urban Cambodia.
University of Hawaii Press.
The main argument in this book concerns the Khmer Women who provide ethnography
of the young women in Cambodia who migrates to the urban region to work. The significance of
the book is that there is increased female migration as well as urban employments hence
Cambodia transforms to an open market from a closed socialist system of economy. Clearly,
Women impact and shape the processes which take place in the nation (Derks, 2008). A field
research is conducted amongst the women on the streets and prostitution to examine their
experiences and the gender roles which prevail. The main conclusion in the book concerns the

Introduction to Sexuality Studies 3
attractive ethnography which relates to the Khmer women in Cambodia who engage in
prostitution, hawkers, and who work in the garment industries.
Ford, M., & Lyons, L. (2011). Narratives of Agency: Sex Work in Indonesia’s Borderlands.
Indiana University Press.
The main argument in this article is that prostitution is viewed as the ultimate point of the
male governance. Therefore, the kind of prostitution conducted by males is viewed as a way of
sexual exploitation. From the argument, it is evident that the sex workers are not in the position
to deny that the sexual act is not harmful. The article is relevant since the narratives for Lia’s and
Ani’s show how sex is viewed as a way of exploitation (Ford & Lyons, 2011). It provides no
room for alternative views between the agency and the structure of prostitution based on how
women perceive the issue. The main conclusion is that the Lia and Ani’s lives demonstrate the
problems experienced by women who engage in sex work and later they wives their ex-clients.
Hoang, K. K. (2015). Dealing in desire: Asian ascendancy, Western decline, and the hidden
currencies of global sex work. Univ of California Press.
The main argument in this book takes women in the labor account as agents who focus on
their lives. It is evident that women are creative and the book explores their intimate
relationships with the males. The book is relevant since it presents the interactions between man
and women who have the sexual drives, greed in capitalism, and hope to achieve economic
stability as sex workers. The women make deals with the men to ensure their global fantasies are
attained (Hoang, 2015). For this reason, women travel from the villages to the urban areas in
search of work in the sex industry. The significant conclusion in the book is that the interviews

Introduction to Sexuality Studies 4
conducted on the sex workers in the book provide the sex workers with hope to minimize stigma
for their work and creating a social status through the income acquired.
Kitiarsa, P. (2012). 2 Masculine intent and migrant manhood. Men and Masculinities in
Southeast Asia, 41, 38.
The main argument in the article is that the social lives of the migrant employees revolve
around the migration of transnational labor, the ethno cultural foreignness as well as the social
marginalization. The article is relevant since the author argues that emotional and the personal
standpoint of a masculine worker dictates their achievements in their lives. Evidence is provided
based on the Filipino employees who indicate that the masculine recognition is viewed as a
migrant act across the workers’ limitations (Kitiarsa, 2012). The main conclusion is that the
masculine workers articulate through the intimate experiences hence there is need to restore the
masculinity to define the future for their families.

Introduction to Sexuality Studies 5
References
Derks, A. (2008). Khmer women on the move: Exploring work and life in urban Cambodia.
University of Hawaii Press.
Ford, M., & Lyons, L. (2011). Narratives of Agency: Sex Work in Indonesia’s Borderlands.
Indiana University Press.
Hoang, K. K. (2015). Dealing in desire: Asian ascendancy, Western decline, and the hidden
currencies of global sex work. Univ of California Press.
Kitiarsa, P. (2012). 2 Masculine intent and migrant manhood. Men and Masculinities in
Southeast Asia, 41, 38.
Martin, L. (2015). Sex and sensibilities: Doing action research while respecting even inspiring
dignity. In H. Bradbury-Huang (Ed.), The SAGE handbook of action research (pp. 505–
511). London: SAGE Publications.