So yeah, an absolutely awesome way to ensure for myself that I begin the day completely bonkers and infuriated is to read anything to do with the sex industry in the mainstream media, and THEN to read the civilian comments section.
Civilian — anyone who is NOT, nor ever has been employed in the sex industry.
Having dated a stripper, webgirl, or escort once does NOT give you the slightest insight into what it’s actually, really like.
Living with or being MARRIED to one might. Maybe. Assuming she trusts you enough to be open with you.
Yesterday was International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers (as explained by Montreal’s Chez Stella.org) and in Vancouver “dozens of sex trade workers rallied outside the police station in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside on Saturday, asking for an end to violence on the job” as was covered in the following CBC article.
Vancouver Sex Workers Call For An End to Violence
What got my goat, of course, was the level of ignorance and viciousness in the moronic comments’ section — always chock full of bored internet trolls and religious nuts, and a mistake to read, but there are times I can’t resist. More fool I, I had to submit my own reply that I doubt like hell will be printed — pre-moderated, you know although anything that’ll spew hatred and judgement is perfectly ok by CBC standards — in the face of a general outcry of “Well, they’re criminals, they’re asking for it!” So I’ve taken what I (would have) said over there and have posted it here.
Disclaimer — I am NOT an escort or a prostitute, and I certainly don’t face the dangers those who are do. I work from the safety of my own home, solely over the internet, and am at zero physical risk from my clientele. But every woman in the business to any degree whatsoever deals with the inherent stigma due to the fact that we show our twats for PAY and this to me, is just a further extrapolation of that — however, it many cases, it’s almost a flat-out justification of violence against women in general, ESPECIALLY if they “dare” to be or come out as sex workers.
Many comments here illustrate perfectly WHY sex workers face such a constant risk of violence — society thinks they’re dirt.
Women aren’t attacked, beaten, raped, murdered because of a profession, what they were wearing or where they were geographically or whether it was dark.
Women are attacked, beaten, raped, murdered because some ASSHOLE decided to DO IT TO THEM. And it’s a lot easier for a man to justify violence when he knows that the rest of the world considers his targets garbage or to be “asking for it.”
Most of you probably think that psychotic (Robert Pickton) was a hero, if the viciousness of these comments are anything to go by.
“Why is this the public’s problem?” The public IS the clientele — doctors, lawyers, teachers, accountants, mechanics, soldiers, the guy (and/or his wife) who lives next door to you — their clientele could be and is ANYONE. Surprise!
Public perception indicates perfectly what the world thinks of them. In other words, YOU, the public, you are the problem. Every time you thought to yourself “Serves her right” or she was “asking for it.” Every last one of you.
Know why it should be legalized? Because then they’d be able to actually designate somewhere to work safely OFF the streets, OUT of your neighborhood, employ security, legally declare their income (without fear of prosecution for living off the avails of prostitution), PAY TAXES and report crimes against them without fear of being prosecuted or further brutalized by police. Police know the public thinks they’re garbage, thus they treat sex workers accordingly.
You, the public, are completely responsible every time a woman is attacked and left in a ditch. The so-called Highway of Tears is entirely your doing. The way society treats its most vulnerable members is the best indicator of the brutality of that society. Ours = FAIL.
Public perception and the way it incites violence, marginalization of and disdain for sex workers is the problem. The assumption that only the “lowest of the low” work in or partake of the services of this industry is the problem and the assumptions this viewpoint generates.
Even as a webmistress who presents what she does (when I disclose it at all) as “owning adult sites” without going into any detail, the immediate assumption I encounter is that I’m a “porn star” who’s a total freak (“You do all that freaky shit on the internet?” I was asked recently by someone I’d just fucking MET) and therefore a complete whore available to anyone who twitches a cock my way. We’d be here all fucking day if I got into every single incident of civilian presumption I’ve had to listen to but if it’s that bad for someone who appears ONLY with her husband, and ONLY over the internet with zero real-life-contact whatsoever, what in the name of hell must it be like for others?
I shudder to think.
