Jose Rivera Neris – författare

The Facts, Ethics, and Culture of Strip Clubs goes beyond the stereotypes of stripping, skillfully unpacking the intricacies of labor and artistry incorporated in the performances. This book challenges readers to enter the world of strip clubs not for voyeuristic purposes, but instead, in order to understand and appreciate the humanity within.In this work, Rivera compiles cultural critique, personal reflection, and ethical reasoning, as well as historical context, philosophy, and interviews with dancers, to illuminate prostitution's moral complexities and debates surrounding power and autonomy. Rivera defines 'survival dancing' in juxtaposition with a society that monetizes sexuality while simultaneously condemning it. Stripping often straddles the thin line between exploitation and empowerment.The fantasy of the dancer and the reality of the dancer are oftentimes irreconcilable. Why do we consume these services, yet shame the labor?Such questions allow strata of exploration beyond the surface—dismissing the notion of objectification by offering the scantily clad women dignity, skill, and heart-wrenching narratives.The Facts, Ethics, and Culture of Strip Clubs is for everyone, a labor activist, a curious mind, or even a mere consumer of sociological literature. Urban neon lights often disguise deeper, darker truths, and this book seeks to unveil them. The narrative tackles not sex, but rather work and the lack of it.Very RespectfullyJose Rivera

For as long as there have been societies, sex work has been part of the underground economy—talked about quietly, banned, turned into novels, then scolded again. Laws people hoped would wipe it out only pushed it deeper into the shadows. Each time someone tried to stamp it out, it shifted and kept going. So if banning it has never worked, why do we keep trying?Consent, Commerce, and Control started with that puzzle. I'm not here to cheer sex work, nor to excuse every choice made within it. I'm here to lay out what actually happens—how people decide inside tricky social and economic traps, how laws that say they want to help often get in the way, and how fear-driven rules leave scars on flesh and spirit.Inside the chapters that follow, you'll meet people who fought to stay free, and you'll see findings from places that chose to regulate instead of criminalize. Those places traded the dark alley for an open door, and protection for secrecy. I'm not trying to dress it up, nor to pretend risks don't exist. My only goal is to say that respect, health, and choice should steer policy, not outrage.This book asks you to look at sex work the same way you look at any job: it's work, and workers deserve the same rights, safety, and fair treatment as everyone else. We've tried the old ways of trying to control this field, and they didn't work. Now, it's time to put the power where it belongs: with the people who've been talked about forever but hardly ever heard.Respectfully,José A Rivera Neris

The 51st State dives straight into Puerto Rico's tug-of-war over becoming America's next State, framing the talk around freedom, fairness, and the rights of everyday people. Mixing eye-opening facts with a libertarian twist, the book pushes back against the usual power gaps and heavy rules that come with being a US territory. It then argues for a tomorrow where islanders have full votes, richer job chances, and the same political clout that mainland neighbors enjoy. Supporters of statehood, backers of independence, and everyone sitting on the fence will find a fresh nudge to ask what real liberty means for Puerto Rico and the entire country.Very RespectfullyJose Rivera Neris