Dissertation Help!

[Faenixie]

Hi!

My name is Phe and I am an ex-camgirl and current university undergraduate student at the University of Edinburgh. I study anthropology and am looking into the current shifting trends in online porn and online sex-work and how the workers themselves feel about the industry, their bodies, etc. I've been reaching out for the last few days looking for cam models who would be willing to undergo a 45 min interview, or who would be willing to let me observe their rooms so I can accurately represent the relationships formed. However, I'm so aware that it's kind of a running joke with university kids coming to ask cam models a bunch of monotonous questions about whether camgirls are exploited, if they're under risk, if they're feminists etc. and I'm also aware that people have definitely posed as researchers just to get free access to sex-workers time.

All this being said:

Basically what I'm asking is, what can I do to 1. reassure people that I'm not attempting to scam them and really am just wanting to observe and 2. not bore anyone to actual death with my research questions? (My research genuinely is not asking about exploitation, risk, feminism etc, it's about how people within the industry perceive their work and their bodies and their sexuality)

If I was approaching you about this, how would you want me to go about it?

Thanks for your time!

 

[DoD404]

do you intend to interview only girls ? ... Are you feminist or sexist, Phe ?

 

[SaffronBurke]

do you intend to interview only girls ? ... Are you feminist or sexist, Phe ?

That is not remotely sexism.

 

[Marceline]

Basically what I'm asking is, what can I do to 1. reassure people that I'm not attempting to scam them and really am just wanting to observe and 2. not bore anyone to actual death with my research questions?

1. Pay them for their time.
2. Pay them for their time.

If memory serves me correct, there has been other threads like this on here. Not saying you aren't who you say you are, but if you are an ex camgirl you know how valuable our time is and that 45 minutes spent answering someone's questions could be 45 minutes spent having one on one time with a paying customer. Also, having some sort of proof that you are actually a college student and not some random internet person just wanting to ask models very personal, possibly intrusive questions will probably definitely help out. And if someone does agree make sure you 100% have their consent to be used in your study.

do you intend to interview only girls ? ... Are you feminist or sexist, Phe ?

There was zero reference to gender other than their own. The term used was "cam models" not "camgirls".

 

[paige_orion]

do you intend to interview only girls ? ... Are you feminist or sexist, Phe ?

... I think you may have misread or misinterpreted the original post! I thought did OP marvelously in her use of gender-neutral and inclusive language, specifying CAM MODELS and cam-people, over and over again. Because she stressed the cam-MODELS several times, it seems pretty clear that she's interested in talking with any model, regardless of their gender identity. In fact, with dissertations, I'm sure that the more variety of models she can interview, the more material she will have to work with and explore in her paper. She also went out of her way to stress that feminism is not the point of her interview - the topic of human sexuality, and the models' relationships with their own.

Honestly, I think OP's original post was probably as LEAST-sexist as anyone can possibly get!!

 

[Lintilla]

1. Pay them for their time.
2. Pay them for their time.

Yeah, that. Unless I'm super convinced that the study will benefit cam models in some direct way (and probably even then), I would expect to be paid my regular rates for my time. Though I'd be alright with the low end of my block rates, since there's definitely nothing strenuous involved, and I probably don't need to worry about makeup or other prep

Unfortunately, it's this kind of expectation from some of us that probably leads to some skewed results. I wonder if anyone ever considers that.

 

[Dan Epstein]

You should look up Rachel Stuart from Kent University in the UK. She's also a member on Xbiz, and she also made a dissertation about a related topic. I hope it helps.

 

[AudriTwo]

You should look up Rachel Stuart from Kent University in the UK. She's also a member on Xbiz, and she also made a dissertation about a related topic. I hope it helps.

She was great.

 

[DoD404]

... I think you may have misread or misinterpreted the original post! I thought did OP marvelously in her use of gender-neutral and inclusive language, specifying CAM MODELS and cam-people, over and over again. Because she stressed the cam-MODELS several times, it seems pretty clear that she's interested in talking with any model, regardless of their gender identity. In fact, with dissertations, I'm sure that the more variety of models she can interview, the more material she will have to work with and explore in her paper. She also went out of her way to stress that feminism is not the point of her interview - the topic of human sexuality, and the models' relationships with their own.

Honestly, I think OP's original post was probably as LEAST-sexist as anyone can possibly get!!

Yes, NP, I got it and didn't misread it
It was kind of humor and was addressed to Phe

Phe just repeated twice like 'I won't ask you if you are feminists'. Why "not asking" this to male or trans models ? Why even mention it ? just unconsciously assimilate cam models to camGirls... as she is a girl ) Logic ? ; )
(I think she understood and hope she didn't felt attacked but got it in her research context : "take care to the observer")

 

[JigglesJane]

Yes, NP, I got it and didn't misread it
It was kind of humor and was addressed to Phe

Phe just repeated twice like 'I won't ask you if you are feminists'. Why "not asking" this to male or trans models ? Why even mention it ? just unconsciously assimilate cam models to camGirls... as she is a girl ) Logic ? ; )
(I think she understood and hope she didn't felt attacked but got it in her research context : "take care to the observer")

I'm 100% certain feminists can be and often are non-female humans.

 

[Faenixie]

1. Pay them for their time.
2. Pay them for their time.

If memory serves me correct, there has been other threads like this on here. Not saying you aren't who you say you are, but if you are an ex camgirl you know how valuable our time is and that 45 minutes spent answering someone's questions could be 45 minutes spent having one on one time with a paying customer. Also, having some sort of proof that you are actually a college student and not some random internet person just wanting to ask models very personal, possibly intrusive questions will probably definitely help out. And if someone does agree make sure you 100% have their consent to be used in your study.




There was zero reference to gender other than their own. The term used was "cam models" not "camgirls".

Thank you so much for the advice! I've started sending people a photo of me with my student card to verify my identity and it's helped loads. I definitely understand how valuable everyone's time is and hopefully find some way of gaining funding for this. I've been using a consent form to make sure everyone is fully happy with my research. : )

 

[Faenixie]

Yes, NP, I got it and didn't misread it
It was kind of humor and was addressed to Phe

Phe just repeated twice like 'I won't ask you if you are feminists'. Why "not asking" this to male or trans models ? Why even mention it ? just unconsciously assimilate cam models to camGirls... as she is a girl ) Logic ? ; )
(I think she understood and hope she didn't felt attacked but got it in her research context : "take care to the observer")

I am 100% interested in hearing from any cam-model regardless of gender-identity! I only mentioned that I wont ask about feminism and exploitation because I did some research on this forum and found other threads where models had expressed some boredom and frustration of constantly being asked if they're being exploited, if they can be feminists and sex-workers simultaneously, and if they're at risk! I just wanted to make it clear that that is not at all what I'm researching. : )

 

[Faenixie]

I can't thumbs-up anyone's posts for some reason, but I wanted to thank everyone for their input and advice. I'm making changes to my research proposal as we speak. : )

 

[paige_orion]

Yes, NP, I got it and didn't misread it
It was kind of humor and was addressed to Phe

Phe just repeated twice like 'I won't ask you if you are feminists'. Why "not asking" this to male or trans models ? Why even mention it ? just unconsciously assimilate cam models to camGirls... as she is a girl ) Logic ? ; )
(I think she understood and hope she didn't felt attacked but got it in her research context : "take care to the observer")

Ah. Thanks to the interwebs erasing tone, NOOOOONE of that humor shined through at all. At least, not on my end. Even with a smiley face attached, it sounded simply like an accusation of sexism, which felt totally unfair and unjustified in this case and legitimately surprised me when I saw that it had come from you. I apologize if I came across as patronizing by saying you had misread it - I wasn't trying to make you feel silly. I think I was HOPING you had simply misread it, because I personally thought this was one of the most inclusive & non-sexist academic research request posts I've read in all the years I've been on ACF. And believe me, I've read some reaaaally biased requests over the years!

As for why she repeated the feminism point... It has nothing to do with assuming all cam-models are women and everything to do with the complicated relationship between many branches of feminism and their views on pornography. It IS a running joke about undergrad and grad students flocking here to study cam-models at a certain time of year, trying to do their academic research on camgirls. Yes, I said camgirls because a lot of the youngling students do seem to forget that there are models of ALL genders out there, which is unfair, and probably why Phe went out of her way to use inclusive language.

And, due to that super complicated relationship between feminism and pornography, studies involving cam-models & feminism can get pretty stiicky. I mean, when it comes to ANY academic researcher, I naturally feel wary. But I probably wouldn't ever participate in a study from a feminist angle, because the concept of pornography is SOO divisive, especially amongst feminists. It's hard doing an interview and trying to be helpful, only to discover that the dissertation candidate believes pornography is degrading to its actors and dangerous to society, and they're going to take your words to share their position with their colleagues and teachers. I am a feminist, but I would be SUPER DUPER hesitant to do an interview with someone who immediately said it was from a feminist angle (as opposed to a psychological angle), because there's a good chance they would use my words to support a stance and morals I don't agree with. Or, if they agreed with my career, there is still a good change they would try to paint me as a "victim" or claim that I am merely being exploited, views which only serve to enhance the stigma around our job. Again, not something I agree with. And I think a vast majority of the cam-models that I know feel the same way.

That is why she mentioned it. It wasn't to unconsciously assimilate anyone to think that cammodels must be camgirls, but to reassure all of the observers that she understands the nature of some of our hesitations, and explain that she isn't coming to the research from a feminist angle, so we shouldn't have to worry about being portrayed as exploited-victims or poster children for Why-Sexwork-is-"Bad". It seems like she has done her research on past ACF study requests, noted the hesitations voiced and the pitfalls that other requesters fell into, and is trying to be upfront & reassuring from the get-go!

 

[Capryce]

You should look up Rachel Stuart from Kent University in the UK. She's also a member on Xbiz, and she also made a dissertation about a related topic. I hope it helps.

I would really love to read it as well, but I can't find it, is there a downloadable file of her dissertation?

 

[Dan Epstein]

I would really love to read it as well, but I can't find it, is there a downloadable file of her dissertation?

I'll try to call her in on this thread, that will be the most beneficial for everyone if she joins in, I believe.

 

[Faenixie]

This is a long shot, but if anyone read this thread and is intrigued or would be interested in participating in my diss, please feel free to inbox me on here or tweet me @faye_nyxie for more info! Thank you so much everyone