Manoeuvring in the city: geographies of exclusion and spatiality of female sex work in Hong Kong

M.Phil.The formation of places involves the construction of boundaries through which individuals are classified and non-conformists are excluded. Much of the geographical literature on sexuality focuses on marginalisation of homosexuals, ignoring the fact that certain forms of heterosexuality are socially stigmatized, as well. Applying the notion of 'in place/out of place' advanced by Tim Cresswell (1995) and 'strategies and tactics' by Michel de Certeau (1984), this thesis seeks to explore the spatial practices of female sex workers (FSWs) in Hong Kong under the stigmatisation of commercialised sex. Through 15 semi-structured in-depth interviews, I explore how Confucianism and Judeo-Christianity contribute to sexual modernity in Hong Kong where sex workers are marginalized through strategies based on laws, education and urban redevelopment. I then discuss spatial tactics deployed by FSWs to operate in a heteronormative society and perform multiple identities, with a focus on sex-working mothers and their spatial mobility. The thesis goes on to examine how boundaries and hierarchies are continuously constructed within the sex industry and how spatialities of sex work differ, with reference to types of working venues, mastery of languages and technological proficiency. I conclude that many social spaces are inherently exclusive but FSWs develop spatial tactics to minimise the impact of spatial strategies that exclude them. Their spatial practices vary in terms of the nature of sexual establishments, age, parenthood, marital status, cultural capital and how they value their bodies.地方的形成意味著邊界的存在，其中個體會按性規範分類，而不遵從者會被排除在外。有關性的地理文獻大多集中研究同性戀如何在社會被邊緣，忽略異性戀中某些性的表現方式會被標籤。本論文應用TimCresswell(1995)的in place/out of place概念，以及德賽托(1984)的strategies和tactics，分析香港女性性工作者在污名化下的空間實踐。透過15個半結構性訪問，我嘗試去閘述儒教文化及基督教如何影響香港的現代性，當中法律、教育制度和城市重建不斷邊緣女性性工作者。然後，我再討論性工作者們如何利用空間戰術去抵抗異性戀常規化對她們的壓迫，但同時在不同空間表現不同身分。我會以性工作母親以及其空間流動性加以解釋。接著，我分析在性工作這行業中，邊界和等級如何不斷被建構，女性性工作者的空間性又會因工作場所種類、語言及科技的精通程度變得不同。最後，我帶出社會空間有排除他者的本質。雖則如此，香港女性性工作者發展出空間戰術去減低性工作帶來的風險。她們的空間戰術並非單一，而會因色情場所的種類、年齡、母親身分、婚姻狀態、文化資本以及她們如何看待不同身體部位而異。Cheng, Ho Lam.Thesis M.Phil. Chinese University of Hong Kong 2019.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-114).Abstracts also in Chinese.Title from PDF title page (viewed on 15, December, 2020)