Sexual Capital

This chapter examines existing scholarship on sexual capital with two main objectives. First, it distinguishes sexual capital from attractiveness, a distinction often overlooked in studies that conflate desirability with sexual capital. Second, it explores how contemporary capitalism, with its unprecedented commodification and public display of sex and sexuality, amplifies the role of neoliberal sexual capital in class-making processes. Drawing on a Bourdieusian framework, the chapter argues that sexual capital is not merely an individual resource for women who may use their appearance to gain professional or social advantages (though this can happen). More fundamentally, under neoliberal capitalism, where individuals are increasingly expected to leverage their personal experiences and subjectivities, sexual conduct itself becomes an asset. Sexual capital is tied to key employable skills such as agency, resilience, and well-being. In this context, the sexual realm, including attractiveness, sexual desire, and sexual experiences, has become more intertwined with market forces. The chapter also outlines three areas for future research: (1) more empirical studies on class hierarchies related to the accumulation of neoliberal sexual capital; (2) applying intersectional approaches; and (3) the potential effects of digital sex on sexual capital.