Katherine Frank

Katherine Frank is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and a faculty associate at The College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME. She holds a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from Duke University (1999). Her research focuses on sexuality, culture, and psychology, with specialties in sex work, monogamy, polyamory, feminism, and popular culture. She is the author of seminal works including Plays Well in Groups: A Journey Through the World of Group Sex (2013) and G-Strings and Sympathy: Strip Club Regulars and Male Desire (2002), and co-editor of Flesh for Fantasy: Producing and Consuming Exotic Dance (2006).

• Education: Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology, Duke University, 1999

Her research explores themes such as non-monogamy, gender dynamics in strip clubs, and the intersections of sexuality with cultural norms. She has contributed to peer-reviewed journals like Archives of Sexual Behavior, Sexualities, and Journal of Sex Research, emphasizing innovative ethnographic methods such as participant observation. She serves on the editorial board of Archives of Sexual Behavior and previously held roles with the Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities (CARAS).

Frank’s work bridges academic and popular discourse, appearing in outlets from Harvard Business Review to publications by sex workers. Her research challenges traditional frameworks around monogamy, masculinity, and sexual transgression, offering critical insights into contemporary social and cultural practices.