Portraits in Human Sexuality: The Business of Sex Part of the Series : Portraits in Human Sexuality

Phone Sex Business (04:01)
Lori recounts her experiences as a phone sex operator and manager. Her business puts the security of the operators first by establishing strict rules. Some people call just to talk, while others are fetishists or people who want to be dominated. Couples are often frequent callers too.

Phone Sex: Emotional Cheating (05:06)
Is having phone sex the same as having an affair? Lori sees phone sex as a way partners cheat on each other. Will there always be a need for phone sex? Many people are uncomfortable in social situations and always will be. On the phone they can be anonymous.

Cabaret Owner and Exotic Dancer (04:53)
Diamond Cabaret owner Michael is married to a former exotic dancer at his gentleman's club where the audience watches women dance in various states of undress. The job of an exotic dancer is to sexually stimulate men, but the man cannot touch the dancers.

Adult Cabaret: Cash Cow Business (04:39)
Typical customers of the cabaret are businessmen, athletes, married men, single men, and couples. Dancers are not paid by club owners, but earn their own money from patrons. The cabaret business is a very successful cash cow.

Exotic Dancer (01:40)
When asked why she became an exotic dancer, Margery says she entered the profession out of insecurity. The public accolades helped build her self-confidence and she felt more powerful. She and Michael now raise their 10-year-old son.

Adult Sex Shop Business (04:38)
The manager of an adult sex shop that specializes in sex toys, videos, and magazines reports weekly profits of $30,000-$35,000. The movie rental part of the business is highly successful with over 19,000 titles in stock.

Adult Sex Shop Customers (04:19)
Sex shop patrons come from all walks of life and include white-collar workers, women, young men, and couples. The most frequent customers are men who rent or buy videos. The shop protects the privacy of its patrons. Some people who are addicted to pornography visit the shop daily.

Sex Shop Manager (02:08)
Kelly, who has a college degree, reflects on her job as a sex shop manager. She is well-paid, works regular hours, is treated well by her employer, and finds the work interesting and avant-garde.