Exploring Audience Engagement and Critical Narrative Intervention With the Celling Sex Film

Abstract

Young women who trade sex experience high rates of stigma that exacerbate existing health inequities. The products of participatory visual methodologies show promising potential for challenging stigma. In total, 15 young women who trade sex created individual brief videos to share their experiences. Following a participatory analysis, the videos were edited into one composite movie to highlight key messages. Eight facilitated screenings (cohosted by participant filmmakers and research team members) were organized with diverse community and health organizations. Audiences were led through a series of interactive writing, drawing, viewing, and discussion activities. Sessions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and inductively analyzed to assess the impacts of the film on audiences. Audience reactions were categorized into four overarching themes to describe main impacts: consciousness raising, commitments to practice and organizational change, effectiveness of the approach, and limitations. Audience responses demonstrated that facilitated screenings can challenge harmful stereotypes and help viewers consider pathways to enact positive change in their personal and professional lives. However, changing deep-rooted patterns of stigma takes time, dedication, and accountability.

Keywords: audience/audiencing; cellphilms; critical audience engagement; participatory visual methodologies; pedagogical impacts; social change; stigma; trading sex.

Figure 1

Stills From the Celling Sex Film. (a) Top left: When the participant was looking to confide in her cousins she was met with the response, “You are such a slut, such a hoe. How could you be selling sex for material like that? Do you not have any self-respect? Do you not have any shame? What is wrong with you? Has the Western culture completely changed you?” Top right: One of the judgmental remarks that a participant received from her therapist. (b) Bottom left: “For every $500 date I would spend hours searching through profiles on Seeking Arrangement or messaging weirdly needy guys.” Bottom right: Advice to other people who trade, or who might consider trading.

Figure 2

Anatomy of a Screening

Figure 3

Audience Index Cards Describing a Selection of Definitions of Transactional Sex

Figure 4

Inside of the Youth Brochure Distributed at Screenings