Charmed Circle of Sex and Sex Work within Civil Religion Lilly Richart

 

I decided to pick the 1984 image known as the “Charmed Circle of Sex” by Gayle Rubin.

In this image, the sexualities that have societal privilege are placed within the inner circle,

while forms of sexuality that are often viewed as in opposition to society are placed within the

outer ring. I decided to pick this image, and place it in conjunction with Bellah’s ideas of civil

religion. Within the text, Bellah defines civil religion as “the existence of God, the life to come,

the reward of virtue and the punishment of vice, and the exclusion of religious intolerance”

(Bellah 1967; 5). This circle depicts the ideas of the reward of virtue and punishment of vice.

Sexualities within the outer ring, while not always explicitly punished, are often viewed under the

lens of immorality, and can be treated as such within society. While on the other hand, sexualities

that are seen as virtuous are accepted, and even celebrated. There is also a direct allusion to

religion within the circle, that of married versus in sin.

This circle can also be applied to the arguments against sex work. Sex work falls into the outer

realm, specifically within free versus for money, but also can be seen in married versus in sin,

procreative versus non-procreative, etc. This photo is from a protest that is advocating for sex workers.

One sign says "Rights not Rescue," and another can be seen stating that Sex worker rights are women's

rights, labor rights, etc. This protest and these signs make it obvious that sex work is marginalized

within society, and is seen as non-conformist. This reminded me of "on the domestic scene, an

American-Legion type of ideology that fuses God, country, and flag has been used to attack non

conformist and liberal ideas and groups of all kinds" (Bellah 1967; 14). Sex work falls under the realm

that is being attacked, and is already part of civil religion as defined by Bellah as seen by its placement

within the Charmed Circle. This non-conformist group is being attacked and condemned.