Researcher, Consultant, Community Worker
About
Dr. Sophie Pezzutto (she/they) is a researcher, consultant, and community worker based on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country (Canberra, Australia). As a part of her PhD in economic anthropology at the Australian National University, Sophie lived in Las Vegas and conducted the first ever ethnographic study of the transgender pornography industry. Her key areas of research are online sales and marketing, personal branding, social media use, algorithmic governance, and research ethics. Dr. Sophie has published numerous scholarly articles in a range of peer reviewed scientific journals. Her research has been featured in The Conversation, Forbes, Buzzfeed, and Mother Jones. Driven by a desire for impact, she has taken her research skills and knowledge beyond the ivory tower and regularly speaks about a wide range of issues at universities and government departments. Today, Dr. Sophie works as a research consultant and community outreach worker for the Scarlet Alliance Australia, the Aids Action Council in the ACT (now Meridian), and A Gender Agenda (AGA). She is fluent in German, English, and French.
Education
PhD in Economic Anthropology, Australian National University
2017 - 2024
Ethnographic study of the trans* pornography industry in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Awarded:
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Passed without revisions.
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2018 Australian National University's (ANU) Vice Chancellor's Travel Grant.
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2017- 2020 Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) Scholarship.
BA (Hons.) Asian Studies
2015 - 2016
Thesis title: From Max Weber to Lee Kuan Yew: A discourse analysis of Confucianism and economic growth.
Awarded:
First class honours.
BA Economics, University of Western Australia
2009 - 2012
Majors: Money & Banking, Asian Studies.
Awarded:
2011 Sir Harold Bailey Memorial Prize in Asian Studies.
2011 Japanese Association of Western Australia Prize in Japanese Studies.
Expertise
Selected Academic Publications
“‘My brand is girl next door’: Branding, authenticity, and privilege among transfeminine porn performers”, In: Sex Work in the 21st Century (eds. Brab Brents, Angela Jones, Bernadette C. Barton. NYU Press) (forthcoming)
“Transgender pornography history”, In: Handbook of Adult Film and Media (eds. Patrick Keilty, Darshana Mini, Peter Alilunas. Intellect Press) (forthcoming).
“Introduction”, Transgender Studies Quarterly, Trans pornography issue (eds. Sophie Pezzutto, Dr. Lynn Comella), 7.2 (Spring 2020).
“Professionalism, Pay, and the Production of Pleasure in Trans Porn” co-written with Korra Del Rio, Transgender Studies Quarterly, 7.2 (Spring 2020).
“From Porn Performer to Porntropreneur: Online Entrepreneurship, Social Media Branding, and Selfhood in Contemporary Trans Pornography”, AG: About Gender, vol 8, No. 16, pp. 30-60 (2019).
“Confucianism and Capitalist Development: From Max Weber and Orientalism to Lee Kuan Yew and New Confucianism”, Asian Studies Review (04/2019).
Popular Press
"Trans Pornography 101", AdultTime Blog (2022).
“The rise of the ‘Porntropreneur’: even hustlers need side hustles in the gig economy”, The Conversation (2020).
“Why Adult Video Stars Rely on Camming”, The Conversation (2018).
Speaking Engagements
"The University of the Future". Panel + Q&A featuring Senator Mehreen Faruqi (NSW Greens), Dr. Tjanara Goreng Goreng (ACT Greens) & Dr. Lachlan Clohessy (NTEU) moderated by Dr. Tim Hollo (ACT Greens). 14th Feb 2022.
Conversations in Transgender Studies: Transgender and Work. University of Melbourne, School of Social and Political Science. 14th May 2021.
"The Transsexual Experience" Documentary Screening at the National Sound and Film Archive (NSFA) Panel discussion with Tate McAllister (AGA) + Q&A. 31st March 2021.
IDAHOBIT discussion panel, “Alliances through solidarity”, Australian Taxation Office. May 2018.
UWA Pride Week discussion panel, “Out in the workplace”, University of Western Australia. August 2016.
Featured In
"How subscription sites and social media are creating 'sexfluencers'", ABC Radio Perth, Jackson Worthington (2022).
"Meet the off-screen workers who keep the adult webcam industry running", Rest Of World (2022).
"A New Journal On Porn Reflects A Growing Academic Interest In The Adult Industry", Forbes (2020).
"Everyone Is Making Porn At Home Now. Will The Porn Industry Survive?", Buzzfeed (2020).
"My Ghost Stories: Hooking up while trans on the latest frontier of misogyny", Mother Jones (2020).
"PhD study of transgender porn industry a first in anthropology”, Australian National University (2018).