Posted by TJResearcher on December 14, 2000 at 12:44:31:
In Reply to: A question for TJ researcher. posted by Taxibob on December 14, 2000 at 07:10:50:
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Yes, I'm a gringa. Although my intention in coming to this board was not to provide commentary on your activities, because you asked, I'll answer. I don't think I'm very representative of most women my age - I'm certainly not representative of the women I know at Yale or anywhere else for that matter. So I'm not certain how much opinion is worth - except to myself :) Course, when I'm rich and famous I hope you don't quote me directly on this, as what I'm about to say is a little inflammatory to the public. :P Here it is: I don't have a problem with the sex industry, with sex workers or those who visit them. I don't think its perverted, socially dysfunctional, or engaged in by degenerates. In the ideal world that I dream up in my head, there would be a sex industry (for consenual adults - both male and female) alongside of a plethora of alternative industries and professions for both men and women. Believe it or not, some sex workers love their jobs. I've found that these women usually have a background where they've chosen that profession over other available choices - and they are satisfied with that choice. I DO have a problem with sex work being the only viable option for women. Thats a policy issue that enrages me to no end. Women have a lot to offer beyond their bodies (whether they be used for babymaking or sex), and some countries are just begining to recognize that. I came at this issue from looking at women in the maquiladoras in Tijuana (there are lots of books on the topic) - and I was like, well where are all the women who don't work for 30 bucks a week? Why isn't there ANYTHING written about them? Tijuana has been a "service" industry since the early part of this century, but apart from some local literature on the subject, no one in the academic world cares to study it (trust me, I've been looking for articles for about three years now). WHY? I think it's because not only are women in the sex industry stigmafied, but even doing research or talking about it is stigmafied. You should see the looks I get when I tell people what I'm doing. Most think I'm completely insane (I'm not) :P Back to your question - I'd like to give you a quote that means a lot to me... This is from "Whores and Other Feminists" (an excellent read by the way) "The existence of the overt economy of sex brings to light the greater economy of heterosexuality in general...forcing a closer examination of various modes of exchange between men and women...Testimonies by sex workers speak of having to compromise themselves sexually within the "legitimate" working world by putting up with many forms of sexism, from advances by male co-workers to regulations about proper female behavior. Sex work then becomes refreshing for its honesty." (pg76) I like that term "heterosexual economy". I'd been trying to convey this point to my friends and advisors for a few years now. The point is, economic exchange is an important part of all sexual exchanges -- in MARRIAGE, in casual friendships, dating, sex work. Sex work just makes this fact explicit, and it allows for a direct transaction at the point of exchange. The heterosexual economy is a part of ALL social/cultural groups around the globe. Women who consider themselves sex workers and who acknowledge what they're doing, are coming from a more well-grounded foundation when it comes to negotiating their boundaries, and avoiding risk for STDs. The phenomenon of what I call "informal" sex work is (in my opinion) a higher risk activity, because once a relationship becomes categorized as one of love/romance/trust, boundaries and risk reduction can go out the window. Informal sexwork might include what you guys call "girlfriend" sex, I don't know. From a woman's perspective, it would include things like dating, serial monogamy, boyfriends, etc. Why do I call it sex work, well - not a lot of women I know will associate with a man who contributes 0 to the relationship. This doesn't mean that she isn't also contributing, its just high time women are upfront about their expectations, etc. and stop seeing themselves as so very different from other (so-called) "kinds" of women. Sex, adventure, affection, and intimacy, self-determination and personal freedom, are part of what it means to be human. There just isn't anything perverse about it. What's perverse is a social system that doesn't recognize this fact, and thinks it needs to 'save' people from themselves. Prostitution should not be criminalized in the U.S. It makes sex work MORE dangerous, for both sex workers and their clients. There are also problems with Nevada's model (I think I may study there next) -- like not allowing women to journey outside the brothel they are contracted to work in --for ANY reason... Sex worker activism is something to pay attention to. These women, at great risk to their reputations, are fighting for the right to be treated as any other worker, entitled to the same benefits (health care, legal protection, freedom from harassment). It is a form of employment, not an identity. I think for the most part, you guys recognize that. I can go on but I'll leave it at that for now.
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