Sex Work in Contemporary Russia

Emily Schuckman Matthews

Sex Work in Contemporary Russia explores how the marginalized figure of the sex worker is, in fact, one of the most potent symbols of Russian cultural ideals and values. Readers interested in Russian culture, gender and sexuality studies, and cultural history will learn how the figure of the sex worker offers a uniquely powerful lens for understanding social upheaval, moral anxiety, and changing ideas of womanhood in Russia from the early 20th century to today.

NOTCHES: What drew you to this topic?

Emily Schuckman Matthews: The centerpiece of my work has been the application of gender and sexuality studies to the analysis of culture. I am particularly drawn to the lived experiences and cultural representations of marginalized figures in literature, film, and other media, as these figures often function as mirrors for societal anxieties, moral tensions, and debates over collective values. In the Russian context, perhaps no marginalized figure has proven as enduring or as symbolically charged as the female sex worker, who has long served as a canvas onto which artists, politicians, and intellectuals project competing visions of the nation. In recent years, sex workers themselves are increasingly asserting their agency, challenging dominant cultural norms and seeking greater control over their own narratives. For these reasons, I am drawn to—and compelled to write about—both the fictional and real women who engage in sex work in Russia. I continue to be interested in profiling and understanding the lived experiences of women who perform prostitution in Russia and their perceptions and representations of themselves. I am also interested in understanding more deeply the experiences of queer and male sex workers in Russia and the unique risks their work carries.

NOTCHES: This book engages with histories of sex and sexuality, but what other themes does it speak to?

ESM: While the book is framed around the figure of the sex work and explores the themes of sex and sexuality, the book is, at its core, about everyday realities for women in Russia. Through the lens of sex work, I explore themes of economic inequality, political and social volatility, LGBTQ+ identity, marginality, motherhood, evolving concepts of feminism, self-representation, inter-generational trauma and political activism.

NOTCHES: How did you research the book?

ESM: I spent more than a decade researching the book, using both primary and secondary sources. I include an immense number of films, television productions, short stories, plays and other works of fiction as well as paintings, protest art and social media posts. I was particularly excited to discover the script for an unmade film from the 1930s, “The Women” by Esfir Shub, one of the key figures in early Russian cinema. I was able to obtain this little-known script electronically from the Russian archives which was a really exciting discovery. The biggest challenge for me was to always make sure I was honoring the experiences of the women I was writing about whether they were fictional or living. It was important to me to bring both a critical academic lens and personal sensitivity to my subjects.

By the time I was ready to write the book I had a very clear idea of its themes, main ideas and essential chapters. I have been studying the topic for most of my career so I had a strong sense of the story I wanted to tell. I am really good at pre-planning before I write so once I actually sat down to write the book it flowed very easily.

NOTCHES: How did you become interested in the history of sexuality?

ESM: My first exposure to Russian culture was serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Russian Far East from 1999-2002. This was a very volatile time in the country and as I got to know my community and Russian culture, I was captivated by the gender dynamics and evolving sexual politics. Prostitution and other forms of sex work were relatively ubiquitous during this period and it was nearly impossible to not notice that reality whether in a small village or a large city. I became intrigued to learn more about the historical, social, political and cultural contexts for Russia’s flourishing sex industry and have pursued this research ever since.

NOTCHES: How do you see your book being most effectively used in the classroom? What would you assign it with?

ESM: This book is well suited for use in a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses. In addition to Russian and Slavic studies courses, it can be assigned in courses with a focus on gender and sexuality studies, cultural studies, or film and media studies. The book provides an accessible introduction to feminist and cultural theory and its interdisciplinary and historically expansive approach will allow students to make connections across varied contexts and time periods. Along with my book, I would assign the works of literature or film discussed in specific chapters and/or secondary resources on the gender and sexuality politics of the era. Students could also be assigned materials from other countries to examine transcultural similarities and differences.

NOTCHES: Why does this history matter today?

ESM: What readers will discover in my book is that many of today’s debates around gender and sexuality, and sex work in particular, are essentially the same as they were more than a century ago. Issues such as women’s economic independence, women’s bodily autonomy, sexual identity, the selling and buying of sexual services and women’s status in society are enduring points of debate, controversy, and struggle. Knowing this history helps inform the present day and gives context for everyday realities in the past and the present.

NOTCHES: Your book is published, what next?

ESM: I took a break from writing after the book was published and am just returning to my research. I will continue to look at the representation of marginalized figures in Russian culture, especially women and girls. I am particularly interested in exploring more about the ways social, emotional, political and physical trauma are manifested in the lives of women and how this trauma is projected through art.

Emily Schuckman Matthews is a Professor of European and Comparative International Studies at San Diego State University. Her research focuses on representations of sex work in Russian literature, film, and culture. Dr. Schuckman Matthews’ book Sex Work in Contemporary Russia: A Cultural Perspective was published in March 2023 with Lexington Books. She has also published several articles on issues of gender, sexuality, and Russian culture in journals such as Feminist Media Studies, The Russian Review, Studies in Documentary Film, and Studies in Soviet and Russian Cinema. Other areas of interest include human trafficking, late/post-Soviet Russian literature and culture, cinema, and feminist activism in Russia.