Sandra Teresa Hyde’s “Selling Sex and Sidestepping the State: Prostitutes, Condoms, and HIV/AIDS Prevention in Southwest China”

I found this source extremely helpful in relating the economy with the works of prostitutes.  She describes that with the changing market economy men and women are not dressing the same anymore, therefore, there have been an explosion in sexual practices because of the change in visibility of the different sexes.  She discusses why prostitutes and their clients want to buy condoms on the market instead of receiving them free of charge from the state.  In many instances, prostitutes are not living in legal locations, therefore, they are able to protect themselves without aid from the state.  Even though, most prostitutes understand that condoms will protect them from STD’s and AIDS many will not use them if their client does not want them.

 The article also discusses the use of hair salons and massage parlors as places for prostitutes to give their services.  In many massage parlors, a massage is code for a hand-job, and in the hair salons, the owners will often ask a client if they want to go in back and have a private session with one of the girls.  However, many of the acts performed in the salons and parlors do not amount to full intercourse.  If a client wants sex, he must take the prostitute to a different location, and in many instances the prostitute has the right to accept or decline the offer, much to the dismay to the brothel owner.