Reclaiming Agency: Understanding the Complexities and Redefining the Narrative of Women's Participation in the Japanese Sex Trade

Abstract

This master's thesis delves into the intricate contradictions characterizing the cisheteronormative sex industry in Japan. The research starts with an overview of the historical evolution of the Japanese sex industry that provides insights into the societal perceptions and the general acceptance of the industry, juxtaposed against the simultaneous stigmatization of the women engaged in this profession. The legal framework governing the industry is further investigated to reveal how contrasting societal perceptions are inscribed within the laws that regulate the sex industry where certain aspects are deemed legal, yet the workers remain trapped in a state of legal ambiguity and stigmatization. The thesis further investigates the motivations compelling women to enter the sex industry despite its stigmatization and legal uncertainties. A comparative analysis is drawn between the conventional corporate trajectory and the sex industry as an alternative path for women, that serves as a space offering higher incomes, an escape from poverty, opportunities for pursuing personal interests, and flexibility in working hours, in an attempt to move away from diffused ideas of the sex industry as a safety net for desperate women and to highlight the importance of women’s agency in employment choice. Connected to this exploration is an examination of the pervasive stigmatization that sex workers face and how they navigate and internalize this stigma. The study explores how women in the industry often perceive themselves as non-professionals or view their work as a temporary endeavour before reintegrating into mainstream society. This self-perception, however, inhibits their ability to assert rights and protections, particularly against violence from clients or exploitation by employers. Therefore, the final segment underscores the pressing need for reforms in legislation and societal perceptions to empower sex workers, allowing them the agency to protect themselves and their profession.