"The Ugly Truth" About the Sex Trade

[ismnotwasm]

Hollywood has sanitized sex work by romanticizing it, as in "Pretty Woman," to a point that many people will wave off criticism of people who pay for sex by claiming that women "choose" to do it. While the feminist debate over sex work continues, there is no debate that much is wrong with the sex trade. An organization, End Demand Illinois has launched a campaign with these outdoor signs:


"The Ugly Truth" is a multi-media advertising campaign that seeks to raise awareness of the harm inflicted on women who are trafficked or prostituted, while calling the public to clear and measurable action on their behalf. Created through a dialogue with our partners at the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), who are currently working to pass critical anti-sexual exploitation legislation in Springfield.

Lynne Johnson, leader of End Demand Illinois and a colleague in the Chicago feminist scene, wrote an eloquent op-ed about ending the policy to charge those in prostitution with a felony:

It’s time to call it off. A 13-year-old experiment of charging prostitution as a felony in Illinois has failed. People in prostitution are being cycled through the criminal justice system without access to the help they really need, and the people causing the harm are going unpunished.

I'm looking forward to seeing all of the signs around the city. And hopefully having some constructive conversations with people who may have never thought of how to address the sex trade in Illinois.

http://www.vivalafeminista.com/2013/04/the-ugly-truth-about-sex-trade.html

[napoleon_in_rags]

1. I hope they really focus on exploitation and human trafficking.

The simple fact is, some people choose to do sex work. I've known sex workers, male and female, who it. The statement that there has never been a stripper who was in fact in a male or female exhibitionist reminds me of the Iranian statement that there are no gays in Iran. There are. There are men and women who choose sex work. If we tie the human rights cause of ending coercion and exploitation in sex work to the false idea that there has never been a woman who chose sex work, we delegitimize our arguments that human trafficking and exploitation exist at all, when they very much do.

[ismnotwasm]

2. Sure

My take on that is if there were other economic options, would they still choose sex work? And it's still, by far, disproportionately women who 'choose' sex work.


I've known a lot of sex workers as well, and my bottom line opinion, the one that trumps all else, is safety for sex workers. I can argue choice and agency, but that isn't making women safe right now.

I've left too many dead friends behind, and that is true for anyone familiar with the trade.

[napoleon_in_rags]

4. Define "other economic options". $150 an hour options?

That's what a self employed escort makes, and the vast majority of the work force has no such options. Unfortunately its these same high profits which drive the exploitation and organized crime element.

But again, there you go with the quotes around "choose". People do choose it. The normal psychological profile of a sex worker is that they fetishize their sex work FAR LESS than normal members of the population. Its like shaking hands or giving a hug. They can do it with very little psychological impact. Its like if some old lady fetishized your feet, and was willing to pay $150 an hour to massage them. Would you take it? I would. Its just an old lady touching your feet, just a physical act. Would I feel "dirty" for having done it? No, because I don't fetishize the touching of feet like she does.

But those who fetishize the physical act of sex ridiculously have had massive influence in society, and its been disastrous: The suppression of gays, endless sexual blackmail of politicians by sleaze based on photos of them being themselves, the entire psychology of rape-as-power all come from the ideology which fetishizes sex as this holy thing, this dark and shameful thing, this life-changing-everything thing... the one method of thinking sex workers are immune to.

I haven't lost any friends in the trade. Green river killer was quite a while ago here in WA... But that's just another example of somebody who made way, way to big of a deal about physical acts.

But I'm with you on safety, I'm with you on ending exploitation. How can the industry possibly be policed until people accept that a consent based version of the industry exists?

[ismnotwasm]

5. Oh I know.

And if it were that simple I'd simply agree, but for now--it getting too late for me as it is.

Let us agree that something must be done to protect sex workers. Starting with decriminalization, and very heavy penalties for abuse or exploitation of any sex worker. Laws with real teeth. That's the easiest way to start, and has at least a small hope of happening. Increasing international pressure against trafficking, although any 'rescue' of trafficked adults and children need to be accompanied by protections as well. Without economic options, even trafficked human beings can end up where they started from.

And first world countries need to quit pretending trafficking doesn't happen in their own backyard.

You've lost no one? You're very lucky.

[napoleon_in_rags]

6. The folks I knew made the choice. Too often the victims are the unknowns who didn't.

The disappeared ones. The ones who "went for a job in the US" and are never heard from again. It shouldn't surprise you that I don't know any of these people, their isolation is part of how they are controlled. The folks who tell tales to me in the bar about their time as a stripper/escort were never one of them, or they wouldn't be there.

But yes, I think we both agree that these protections need to be in place. And if its late for you, I hope you rest well.

PEace!

edit: Oh, and BTW I just like the line in that song. The isolation of the one you talk to with "nothing left to lose." Napoleon in Rags, the weirdo. I do really admire Dylan's poetry as well though.

[ismnotwasm]

3. Bob Dylan fan, or do you just like the song?

[redqueen]

7. Did you read anything at the link? The text, the posters, anything?

Let's check it out:



"more likely" "most"

Does that check out with you? Is that ok? Check out the rest. Same thing. No "false idea that there has never been a woman who chose sex work" ... no "delegitmizing".

Why pretend that you don't know?

Oh yeah, so you can parrot the same pro-industry garbage that is spewed in just about every discussion about this issue anywhere on the net.

It is sickening that on a progressive board, we cannot have one single discussion about human trafficking or the harms of prostitution without someone stepping up to defend the multi billion dollar trade in women's bodies. I always thought progressives were more concerned with speaking up for those whose voices are silenced.

Yes, we know very well that a minority of prostitutes chose to do it, and love it, and blah blah blah. We know it so well because the voices that insist on dominating every conversation about the industry, regardless of whether the reason to speak up for those poor, overrepresented few is rational, or genuine (it's not in this case, naturally, just more derailing), have the largest platform to speak, and the biggest bullhorn. Guess why. $$$$$$$$

[napoleon_in_rags]

9. You will NEVER enforce human traficking laws until you acknowledge the legit industry.

That's just how it is. An argument which says "all sex work is coerced" serves as a HUGE distraction from people who actually are being coerced, and focuses it on people who are fine.

we cannot have one single discussion about human trafficking or the harms of prostitution without someone stepping up to defend the multi billion dollar trade in women's bodies

I just posted twice AGAINST human trafficking. I can see you haven't read my words.

[redqueen]

10. An argument which says "all sex work is coerced" is not to be found in this thread, or at the link.

It's a red herring, introduced here for the same reason as usual: derailing.

And it was the entire focus of your first response to this thread.

It's so cute how you expect others to read your words (I did, duh), while failing to read anyone else's, let alone address them (don't want to answer my question? Gee, I wonder why...)

[napoleon_in_rags]

11. My first response to the thread was a response to the OPs use of quotes around "choose".

I pointed out that some people do choose to do it, so its critical to focus on actual coercion, and not get distracted by sexual morality questions. That's my point, its what it was, is, and will be. And its correct. Why? Because the underground industry is created in large part by an overly broad condemnation of the whole concept of sex work, and the fact that its underground is what makes it so criminal and dangerous.

(don't want to answer my question? Gee, I wonder why...)

Question? Which one...Must be this one:

Why pretend that you don't know?

Because I'm evil redqueen. I'm every demon you've ever imagined and more. I'm 'pretending not to know' because I know it makes you mad.

Is that what you want to hear? Seriously? The truth is I'm not evil, I'm appalled by this stuff. Most people are.

[redqueen]

12. Everything else in the OP, and at the link, was obscured by that word being in quotes.

It might be helpful to note that the reason it is in quotes is because they, in that sentence, are describing the situation as it is portrayed in Hollywood (and far too many online discussions) which highlights only the people who choose the work.

Not too hard to see, but of course that one word is zeroed in on, of course. Far too convenient of an opening for the usual subject-changing.

Your resorting to hyperbole and nonsense is telling.

[napoleon_in_rags]

13. This conversation is not productive.

Not too hard to see, but of course that one word is zeroed in on, of course. Far too convenient of an opening for the usual subject-changing.

What I'm hearing you say is that, I somehow attempted change the subject, I moved the focus away from the conversation about exploitation and human trafficking.

With a post entitled: "I hope they really focus on exploitation and human trafficking."

I'm sure your intent is good, but this thread is a waste of energy for both of us. If you have some ideas to raise awareness for those being abused or exploited, please post a link. I'll help as I can. Otherwise lets not waste time.

[redqueen]

14. They DID focus on exploitation and human trafficking, and if you'd have read anything

you'd know it.

Take care.

[redqueen]

8. So good to see this. We have to focus on demand.

Here's another article that is heartbreaking, informative, and interesting.

This girl is 11. She was born into a life of prostitution (as a devadasi, which means "servant of god&quot .

...

These small dreams mean their mothers believe it may be easier to put them to work in the fields and eventually as devadasis, she added.

“It’s not because our mothers are our enemies,” Bheemakka says. “The situation and the cost of daily life make them think that we shouldn’t be here… But it’s only for a short time and we can bring change because of our learning.”

Bheemakka says she hopes to become a teacher and help others enjoy their childhood and education.

“I’m expected to do the same as my mother and go down that channel,” she says. “But I’m going to break the chain.”

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/04/05/where-virginity-is-for-sale-in-india/?mod=irt