rabbit_write_20 (mp3 download 3.1mb)
This is a talk I gave at the Jane Addams Hull House for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. Which began in 2003 (misspoke in the video.) If you want to learn more about sex workers rights, visit SWOP & special thanks to SWOP Chicago for having me!
2 Comments
Thank you for a well thought-out and considered piece on the role and attitudes of “Johns” in the Sex industry. As someone who over the years has visited sex workers, it’s heartening to hear someone understand hat we aren’t just the “dirty mac” brigade. In my case, I’m a single guy who for one reason or another has ended up single. Over the years, I’ve visited a number of sex workers. Some of my experiences have been good, some not so good. However I would like to think that I have always treated the sex workers I’ve encountered with respect. In fact, the one that I see regularly now I have known for a couple of years. Over the time, I would like to think we have become friends. When my father died last year, she was very supportive of me. At other times, we’ve kept in touch over mundane things like helping out with her internet, or her advising me on holiday destinations. We spend a fair amount of the time together catching up, chatting, having a laugh, etc. The bottom line is that she works independently, and we view our “relationship” as friends where I help pay her bills with a gift every so often.
By keeping the sex industry in the shadows through illegality, it means that abuse from both sides of the transaction are effectively let slide as the victim, be it the sex worker or the john, is reluctant to report the crime, as it opens them up to potential prosecution. It also mean that trafficking of women is more prolific that ever, as johns are effectively blocked from reporting if they encounter someone who may have been trafficked. It’s time for society to take a step back, and look at things rationally. If the sex trade were legalised, it would allow for the workers to ensure their own safety, not only from violence but also from STDs, etc. It would also give the workers recourse to the legal system should they encounter any co-ercion or violence in their day to day business.
Thanks again for your piece.
Fred,
Thanks for your thoughtful comment and for helping put a voice to sex buyers. We know from statistics that sex workers are everyone: every class, every race, every background. It is foolish to generalize. And what I learned in my research is that the same is absolutely true for the buyers.