I’ll start by saying that there are feminists who are very supportive of sex workers rights, but unfortunately, not all feminists are. Some anti-sex work “feminists” refuse differentiate between consensual and forced prostitution, even though this does nothing to decrease forced labor or help people who really are victims of forced labor in the sex industry or any other industry. This attitude promotes partrichacy and sexism, which I thought feminism was against. By denying that sex work can be consensual, these “feminists” deny the right to consent. They are promoting the partriarchal, condescending attitude that women are incapable of making conscious decisions just because they do sex work. I realize that some men also work in the sex industry, but I’m specifying women because these “feminists” emphasize how sex work is oppressive to women, while simultaeously expressing oppressive attitudes toward women in sex work by denying their right to consent. What hypocracy!
I support the right to work in the sex industry, the right not to work in the sex industry, and the right to exit the sex industry without being denied other jobs because prostitution is criminalized and on a person’s criminal record.
Filed under: Feminism, Labor, Law Enforcement, Politics |
Bound, Not Gagged 
here here and right on.
[…] Anti-Sex Work “Feminist” Hypocracy « Bound, Not Gagged “By denying that sex work can be consensual, these feminists deny the right to consent. They are promoting the patriarchal, condescending attitude that women are incapable of making conscious decisions just because they do sex work.” (tags: feminism hypocrisy sexwork important reference awesome crime) […]
[…] worldlygirl 4:31 am Anti-Sex Work “Feminist” Hypocracy « Bound, Not Gagged […]
right effing on.
So, picking one UK project recently rewarded by a large grant:
[Quote]
Women who become involved in prostitution do so through many avenues. For some women, entering prostitution is a choice…
[Endquote]
.. but..
[Quote]
We do not accept the notion that prostitution is ‘sex work’ and that women can be ‘sex workers’. This implies that prostitution is a legitimate form of employment, which individuals are free and able to leave as and when they wish. Prostitution is not a form of work or employment, it is the selling and buying of women’s bodies and sexualities by and for men, an institutionalised form of rape and control that commodifies women in much the same way as trafficking, pornography, and some advertising.
..
Within the context of prostitution, the rapist, or buyer of sex, has sexual intercourse with a woman against her will, ‘but subcontracts the intimidation and violence to another man, the pimp’ (Parker, 2004: 7)
[Endquote]
Personally, I think the more people who speak up and say this is crap, the better.
To be sure there are people who are exploited, but to say that this is everyone’s experience, and that it can be a choice, but one you mustn’t make(!) is deeply offensive, patronising and dangerous.
What is dangerous is prostitution. And by promoting it as a “choice”, you are misleading women about what it is really like.
Looks to me like the UK study got it right.
Way to go ladies.
I’m a flegling Canadian Domina. If I could, I’d have my own dungeon, but I’m not ready yet.
I don’t need a judgmental, Big Mother, puritanical feminist to tell me what to do. Women know if they are exploited or not. I’m an adult and I can make my own choices. I don’t need no neo-con to think for me. Sexuality is beautiful and healthy if practised with respect and honesty.
I think that sex work should be legalized. It would take it out of illegality.
Prostitution is not sex work. It should also be legalized so that these ladies could be out of the clutches of the mafia or biker gangs. Drug abuse and all the bad things associated with it could be controlled more easily.
Sex work is here to stay. It’s been with humanity since the beginning of civilization and will probably always be. Sex drive, desire, fun and kinkyness will not go away even if the Moral Majority wants to. And what neo-cons don’t realize is 1. they are obsessed by it and 2. if it’s forbidden it’s all the more attractive.
Down with hypocrites!