Stigma and the Shaping of the Pornography Industry

Stigma and the Shaping of the Pornography Industry examines how stigma affects the contemporary pornography industry, and the effects on organizational and technological capabilities. It focuses on the ‘regular’ people in the industry, and looks at the effects of stigma on employees’ personal lives and future careers; the relationship between pornography companies and ‘mainstream’ firms; technological development; and the ways in which stigma is managed by individuals, businesses, and the industry as a whole.

The idea of ‘pornography’ is often employed to invoke titillation, anger, and disgust. Stigma and the Shaping of the Pornography Industry explores the effects that this stigmatized identity has on the pornography industry itself. From the video era to the emergence of the internet, to trade shows, white-collar workers, technological innovation, and industry-wide characteristics, this book looks beyond content production to explore how stigma has shaped the structures, practices, norms, and boundaries of the wider sector. By drawing on concepts such as dirty work, core-stigmatized industries, and outlaw innovation, this book offers rich insights into the ways in which stigma is socially constructed and managed, and the deep structural effects that it has on the industry.