Abstract
The concluding chapter explores the overarching questions that are presented in the introductory chapter as well as lessons learned. One benefit of examining aspects of HR in situ within the context of a so-called pariah industry is that we are better positioned to reflect upon another theme proffered here, specifically, one that considers the axiology of human resources: is HR amoral? In other words, the construct of HR, like with food, water, and oxygen is—prima facie—value-neutral; that is, until seemingly placed into a context where it risks being rendered guilty by association. In sum, we contemplate the question, Does “dirty work” equate to “dirty HR”?
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Notes
- 1.
To be sure, this would be the position of Gail Dines, professor emerita of sociology and women’s studies at Wheelock College in Boston and the founder of an anti-pornography group called Culture Reframed. Dines rejects anything related to pornography as ethical. She has said that something that exploits and commodifies and monetizes women’s bodies is not ethical, and this would presumably include anything (e.g., HRM) that facilitates that, as well.
- 2.
I also made this point regarding the social history of training, as well (Kopp, 2018).
- 3.
These companies consistently rank as having top human resource departments https://www.workforce.com/2019/04/25/2019-workforce-100-ranking-top-companies-hr/.
- 4.
For Arbor Day in 2014, Pornhub came up with “Gives America Wood” and planted a tree for a certain number of hits for one “related” video category. Pornhub sponsored the planting of over 15,000 trees, but to the embarrassment of the donee charity (Altman, 2014).
- 5.
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Kopp, D.M. (2020). Porn and HRM: Axiological Issues. In: Human Resource Management in the Pornography Industry. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37659-8_8
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