Posted by TJResearcher on March 21, 2001 at 21:40:05:
In Reply to: Re: "mejor para ambos" enlightenment posted by kendricks on March 21, 2001 at 15:01:47:
|
What do you have to loose... Yes, I totally agree with you that media attention about Zona Norte is not going to help anyone, and might in fact pressure city officials to further obscure, harass, and violate those who are making what I see as an honest living. Yes, it would make things less convenient for customers too, they might have to drive further into Mexico. I'm not here to grab any spotlight. Criminalization makes prostitution more risky to women and men. Women are less safe in alleyways, they are less safe when they get harassed by police, they are less safe when they aren't allowed to carry condoms for fear of being prosecuted. All this stuff happens in the U.S. You live in the U.S. If you hate what happens in your own hometown why not do something about it? Sex workers are. Some of them. In some cities. My politics are this: I'm hoping to provide a counter example to criminalization. I'm trying to describe what the scene is like. Why it makes sense. The fact is most working women don't become infected through customers (see my bibliography). They get infected through casual sex, boyfriends and husbands. Some working women do get infected, and where you work has something to do with it. No one is sure why yet though. What better place to find this out than Tijuana, a place with such a tawdry reputation? I can think of a lot benefits, I'm sure they would vary depending on the person. If nothing else, a thought provoking read once I'm finished. Ideally, something which inspires positive and constructive action on the parts of health researchers and workers. This isn't a "vacation" for me either. I mean, Tijuana has its high points - but its 3000 miles away from my family and its not exactly a beautiful resort. There is a lot of pain here - suffering, desperation, and strength too. Some, and I don't mean you in particular, of you are so dismissive. I mean if you don't like what I'm doing the best way to CHANGE it is to engage with me on a constructive level. Give me your opinions. Or don't if you don't have time. I know some of you will. And I don't think its because I'm female either. I think its because someone is listening, and someone cares about helping these women that most of you seem so damn fond of. Forgive me for saying so, but if helping them a little isn't enough encouragement I don't know what is.
|
|