Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public HealthVolume 31, Issue 5 p. 494-495 Free Access Call Girls. Private Sex Workers in Australia First published: 10 October 2007 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00128.xAboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat By Roberta Perkins and Frances Lovejoy . Published by University of Western Australia Press , 2007 . Paperback , 177 pages with index. RRP $39.95 . ISBN 9781920694913. Reviewed by Charlotte Seib School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland In recent decades there has been increased empirical inquiry into, and theoretical debate about, the lives and experiences of sex workers. However, many previous studies have relied heavily on opportunistic and street-based sex workers, who are often one of the least prevalent and most disadvantaged sectors of the sex industry.1-3 In contrast, Perkins and Lovejoy offer a glimpse into a sector of the sex industry that, despite its considerable size, is often overlooked. This book presents a basic descriptive analysis of research conducted in 1998 among brothel-based and private sex workers from New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland. The chapters follow a logical progression of ideas that explore women's decision to enter the sex industry and different facets of their personal and professional lives. Each chapter is followed by a series of personal stories from call girls based on transcriptions of in-depth interviews. Although these stories provide depth, it was sometimes difficult to draw similarities between the quantitative research findings and the narratives. Perkins and Lovejoy provide a thoughtful interpretation of results that draws attention to the extensive research experience of the authors. One of the central contributions of this book lies in the ways in which the authors provide a well-balanced exploration of the lives of Australian call girls. In so doing, the book refutes both radical feminist theories of sex workers as disempowered victims of patriarchy and also images of beautiful young women from wealthy backgrounds who are fascinated with the power of their own sexuality. ‘Making a House Safe’ (chapter 4) starts with a discussion about the sexual health of sex workers and draws on historical and contemporary literature from Australia and overseas. This chapter challenges notions of sex workers as reservoirs of infection and questions the currency of public health debate about the sexual health of this group. However, in several places the referencing in this chapter is inadequate and statements are not supported by cited empirical sources. In the final chapter, Perkins and Lovejoy focus on the laws regulating the sex industry and highlight the complexity of, and variance in, legislative controls in Australian States and Territories. ‘There's No Business Like Dough Business’ (chapter 9) critiques the legislative structure in relation to its inability to eradicate illegal sex work and suggests that laws influence the working conditions of sex workers. The public health significance of this text is in relation to the development of healthy public policy that supports, rather than hinders, the health of sex workers. Call Girls provides a rare insight into the lives of sex workers and into the ways in which women's working environments are shaped by legislative controls. This book makes a valuable contribution to debates about the health and safety of women (and men) in the sex industry. References 1 Harcourt C, Donovan B. The many faces of sex work. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2005; 81; 201– 6. CrossrefCASPubMedGoogle Scholar 2 Weitzer R. Flawed theory and methods in studies of prostitution. Violence Against Women. 2005a; 11; 7; 934– 49. CrossrefPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar 3 Weitzer R. New directions in research on prostitution. Crime, Law and Social Change. 2005; 43; 211– 35. CrossrefWeb of Science®Google Scholar Volume31, Issue5October 2007Pages 494-495 ReferencesRelatedInformation