The Political Economy of Sexual Labour and Its Commodification: Notes from the Field

This paper focuses on the political economy of sexual relations in a capitalist system, where the relationship is mediated, structured and regulated through four major institutions – the Family, Community, Market and State. These collectively control and consume women’s domestic and sexual services within the private and public spheres for smooth functioning of the capitalist system. Women’s labour plays an integral role in social reproduction processes and reproduces social hierarchies. The location of women within the economy is determined by their caste, class and religion. The productive and reproductive processes are intertwined with processes of growth and accumulation.