ABSTRACT
This chapter is about the ways in which recent transformations in economic life – through the phenomenon of short-term apartment 'sharing' or renting – have placed some of the most intimate and private spheres for purchase: namely, the home and everything that comes with it: privacy, intimacy, candidness, and authenticity. The chapter looks at the sharing economy as part of the monetisation of private life. It focuses on the way in which the sharing economy encroaches upon the intimate sphere – specifically through its design choices and enforced homemaking practices – and places what was once 'the sacred' on display: ready to be rated, remodelled, and updated. It focuses on the way in which private sphere is being sold and marketed, and the practice and inherent complexities of 'hosting' via Airbnb, which is an online apartment 'sharing' marketplace.
