Autonomy and Rights of Sex Workers - McElroy Analysis

The text analyzes the transition from an ideological understanding of autonomy to its institutional dimension within the pornography industry. The author argues that the formalization of work — through precise contracts, scripts, and a clear definition of the scope of activities — is not a limitation of freedom, but a tool for protecting the worker against the arbitrary power of the producer. By contrasting the improvisational model ('out law') with professionalization, the article indicates that agency depends not only on the psychological traits of the individual, but on organizational structures that limit information asymmetry and opportunism. In the context of sex work, where ongoing consent and bodily integrity are key, formalized procedures become a practical operationalization of autonomy, minimizing the risk of abuse and increasing the predictability of professional relationships.