Sex work

[Yerda]

Should it be illegal to sell sex?

Would it not be better to concentrate resources on arresting and prosecuting the traffickers and pimps rather than the women?

 

[Riverwolf]

I'm in favor of legalizing fully consensual sex work. That is, a sex worker who chooses that job and is fully free to leave without any fear. IOW, the job as a job like any other, and treated as such by the law (with all the legal protections that come with such recognition).

But there definitely needs to be serious crackdown on the very real non-consensual sex trafficking business, which has far too much power.

 

[Valjean]

Just legalize it and eliminate the pimps and traffickers.

 

[BSM1]

Just legalize it and eliminate the pimps and traffickers.

Bal-Mart? (Sorry, Mods)

 

[MysticSang'ha]

I'm in favor of legalizing fully consensual sex work. That is, a sex worker who chooses that job and is fully free to leave without any fear. IOW, the job as a job like any other, and treated as such by the law (with all the legal protections that come with such recognition).

But there definitely needs to be serious crackdown on the very real non-consensual sex trafficking business, which has far too much power.

Agreed.

Sex workers need to have more protections in place were it to be fully legalized because of the disproportionate violence, assault, and murder that occurs not just by pimps and traffickers, but johns and people who are surveying prostitutes out of a fascination for the profession.

As a sex-positive feminist, I think when archaic sexual economics boil down to trading bodies for masturbation vessels and agreeing to a price point and valuation from them, it's necessary to re-think these archaic assumptions of what sex and sexuality is while we consider legalizing sex work.

Some circles of sex workers have already begun to re-evaluate how to approach these services without reducing the humanization of johns and prostitutes. Much of it is the conversaton about sex itself and what is valued. When sex is valued centering around a male's ejaculation, and which orifices are "open for business" on a body, the likelihood of de-humanization increases.

And when de-humanization reaches a certain point, the risk of violence and brutality sharply increases as well.

Small pockets of progressive sex workers and their collectives/collaborations have begun to highlight the valuation of sex with varying methods of humanizing all parties involved. Because of the higher value, the cost is higher, but there are greater protections against brutality. This isn't a simple one-step solution to reduce violence against sex workers. But it isn't impossible.

 

[Wirey]

I'll start. Who want $2 to touch my doodle?

 

[Mycroft]

Just legalize it and eliminate the pimps and traffickers.

Legalising sex work wouldn't necessarily eliminate such people. Rather, it would likely cause them to see out new forms of exploitation and sex-trafficking.

 

[Yerda]

Legalising sex work wouldn't necessarily eliminate such people. Rather, it would likely cause them to see out new forms of exploitation and sex-trafficking.

This is probably true but there are differences between legal work and sex slavery.

If a man was to force a group of women to work in a bakery, beat them when they failed to make enough buns, take their earnings and hound them every minute of the day - abusing them mentally and physically - he would be reported and arrested, prosecuted and jailed for a litany of crimes. No society that imagines itself as moral could tolerate such a thing. If sex work was treated legally as work would this not mean the same would occur in the case of a sex worker subjected to the torture that they are treated to every day?

There doesn't have to be laws against prostitution and solicitation to protect women. There are already laws against trafficking and slavery. They should be enforced without mercy.

 

[Mycroft]

This is probably true but there are differences between legal work and sex slavery.

You know, I've never met anyone who does legal sex work (Pro-Domme, etc) just for the funzies. They all have either mental problems, or money problems, or something. No matter how 'legal' you make it, people will always be choosing to do it because they're enslaved to something, even if that's just expensive taste.

 

[Riverwolf]

You know, I've never met anyone who does legal sex work (Pro-Domme, etc) just for the funzies. They all have either mental problems, or money problems, or something. No matter how 'legal' you make it, people will always be choosing to do it because they're enslaved to something, even if that's just expensive taste.

Well, by that logic, wouldn't everything we do be because we're enslaved to something?

I often feel enslaved to the economic fascism of the modern world, preventing me from living as I please. My own mental condition prevents me from holding any kind of 9-5 job.

Heck, isn't the only reason anyone gets any job money problems, or preventing money problems from occurring? The one time I did restaurant work, it certainly was not because of funzies. The stress was so bad that my paycheck was all but invisible, and I was treated well by the patrons and staff.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I'll start. Who want $2 to touch my doodle?

Doing favors for sailors rent-boy?

*Grin*

 

[nilsz]

Yesterday I saw a documentary about the British sex industry, Prostitution - What's the Harm?.

In Britain, buying and selling sex is legal provided that it is not done in public spaces. Public space does in this case not include the Internet, which has allowed for a booming sex industry online. It is not legal to operate a brothel, it is however legal to work in one.

Street prostitution is, according to the documentary, only around 10% of Britain's sex industry, and is the arena where sex workers are at most risk of violence. An interviewed senior police officer stated concerning brothels, that they will enforce the law if they believe organized crime is behind them, but may otherwise choose not to close down brothels under the awareness that brothels provide safer alternatives than street prostitution. He also stated that, in Australia and New Zealand, the authorization and regulation of brothels has been followed by a reduction in violence.

 

[oldbadger]

You know, I've never met anyone who does legal sex work (Pro-Domme, etc) just for the funzies. They all have either mental problems, or money problems, or something. No matter how 'legal' you make it, people will always be choosing to do it because they're enslaved to something, even if that's just expensive taste.

That just about covers everybody!
How many prostitutes have you known? Many many years ago I worked as a sales-closer. We had to spend so many hours each week in the showroom. The showroom cleaner (K) was a really brilliant character whose husband worked on the Dover Ferries. On the side she was a prostitute with a small portfolio of clients, one being our Managing Director (BJ)! She was so 'down to earth' and matter-of-fact. There was nothing wrong with her mental health. The Receptionist (P) was more withdrawn and quiet, but she was also a prostitute, working in the same way as K did. I remember that one of her clients was our Sales boss (DG)

It is legal for women to offer sex for reward here, and from those that I have known I can tell you that your portrayal of prostitutes as a generalisation is not accurate here.

 

[oldbadger]

I'll start. Who want $2 to touch my doodle?

My God.... Wirey!
You cheapskate!
I thought that you for one would be advertising your sexual services for big money!
I al'ays fort ya luved yerself!

 

[Penumbra]

I'm in favor of legalizing fully consensual sex work. That is, a sex worker who chooses that job and is fully free to leave without any fear. IOW, the job as a job like any other, and treated as such by the law (with all the legal protections that come with such recognition).

But there definitely needs to be serious crackdown on the very real non-consensual sex trafficking business, which has far too much power.

^This.