The supposition that all women…engaged in sex work…are the victims of trafficking and under the control of criminal gangmasters is, at best, delusional. – Paul Maginn and Graham Ellison
Dr. Marty Klein explains that it isn’t only women who are ill-served by the medicalization of sexual dysfunction:
As a sex therapist, I see men…who…describe themselves as having…erectile dysfunction. I say, “So, you don’t get erect when you want to. Let’s call it that.” Conceptualizing their situation as ED is frequently part of the problem. They think their penis is suffering some pathology; more often, the pathology is in their expectations…I ask these men lots…of questions…and…we [often] discover that their uncooperative penis is actually behaving in an understandable, fairly reasonable way…Sometimes Viagra is part of the problem—it reinforces the idea that there’s something wrong with their penis…but if there isn’t…Viagra can’t fix it…
What the Hell Were You Thinking?
Judgy Bitch asks why it’s OK to advise people on how to protect themselves from robbery or worse while travelling (“Pay attention to how you are dressed, Don’t be drunk, Don’t flash your valuables, Keep an eye on who is watching you, Travel with friends, Use your body language to let predators know you are not easy prey [and] If you sense a problem, get the hell out of there”), but giving the exact same advice to young women is “victim blaming”. Because obviously it’s far more important to sacrifice naïve young women on the altar of feminist politics than to actually help them protect themselves in the real world.
It’s sometimes amusing to watch the debutantes at Jezebel getting the vapors over sex work; this article by Madeleine Davies about sex workers coming to North Dakota in order to fill the woman shortage caused by an oil boom can’t make up its mind whether the men are “Neanderthals” and “criminals”, or the helpless victims of scarlet women “filtering in from across the country to profit off the needs of the desperate male residents.”
You’d almost think gossip reporters were historical ignoramuses who didn’t know that up until a century ago, the professions of actress and whore were indistinguishable:
Desperate for money, troubled actress Lindsay Lohan is…working as a professional escort, [said] her father…and other insiders…“The dates last for days, and the guys pay for everything…as well as jewelry and other gifts”… One of Lindsay’s most high profile clients is…Prince Haji Abdul Azim [of Brunei]…and wealthy…painter Domingo Zapata reportedly supported…[her] for months…
Super Bowl time, that is; this year it’s in New Orleans, and though the “authorities” haven’t quite learned not to humiliate themselves with ludicrous “gypsy whore” fantasies, you may have noticed there was a lot less hype about it than before:
…The NOPD…[arrested] two suspected prostitutes and their alleged pimp, while also rescuing [the] 4-year-old…son of one of the suspected prostitutes…Detectives say the group placed ads on…backpage.com, which…is expected to be buzzing with sex solicitation during the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras…[State] Trooper Melissa Matey…said…”We do know those human trafficking cells are attracted to those large scale events, where…there’s gonna be a lot of tourists and…a lot of money to be made”…
I literally laughed out loud at “human trafficking cells”; apparently hookers are equated with terrorists and revolutionaries now.
In reference to the “gypsy whores” myth, the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women asked, “What’s the Cost of a Rumour?” In the case of the London Olympics, we can now provide an answer:
Scare-mongering over an outbreak of sex trafficking during the Olympics resulted in half a million pounds being wasted…London Assembly Member…Andrew Boff said that just four cases of trafficking were discovered last year – despite an extra £500,000 being diverted to police…“a huge amount of time, money and resources was poured into this search, which turned out to be nothing more than tilting at windmills”…
Seekingarrangement.com has a clever advertising department; every so often they come out with a “press release” which announces that “more coeds than ever” are signing up as sugar babies. Of course, the only thing vaguely “new” about this is they’re doing it on a website, but people like to pretend otherwise. At least these two examples are refreshingly free of moral censure.
Alabama state Rep. Patricia Todd…is trying yet again to delete a particularly idiotic provision of Alabama’s sex education law…[which] requires…classes to teach…that gay sex…is a “criminal offense”…[though] that law was invalidated in 2003 by…Lawrence vs. Texas…
Another Small Victory (TW3 #18)
Many sex worker rights activists seem to have misunderstood the implications of the news that “the Supreme Court has agreed to review a First Amendment dispute over whether the United States can force private health organizations to denounce prostitution as a condition to get AIDS funding”; had the Supreme Court refused to hear the government’s appeal, the lower court’s ruling overturning the pledge would have stood. And while it’s certainly possible that the SCOTUS may leave the ruling intact or even expand it by striking down the ban for international organizations as well (which the first ruling did not), neither outcome is likely considering that this court has firmly established itself as the handmaiden and apologist for the excesses of the executive and legislative branches. One very odd aspect of the linked article is that the call for total decriminalization by WHO and other UN agencies is described as “support[ing] lesser penalties for prostitution”, which is rather like describing the eradication of smallpox as “lessening the symptoms of the disease”.
Here’s another woman who does not see herself as supporting state control of women’s lives, bodies and choices:
…I recently told my hairdresser that I was a go-go dancer and she replied by telling me that she would have totally stripped if she were my age but that she “didn’t have the body for it”…Even people at…the club where I primarily work…will put money on my platform as if it’s going to get them a lap dance or something…I’m not trying to be condescending towards strippers…but I…take pride in the fact that while strippers are ultimately hired to give guys boners, I was at least semi-hired for my talent…I don’t deny…that it takes some level of sexuality to be a successful club dancer, but there’s a big difference between wearing a push-up bra…and shoving my tits in some grandpa’s face…
For one who’s “not trying to be condescending”, she sure does a good job.
Women With A Vision has purchased a new building to replace the office destroyed by arson, but it’s going to need “massive repairs” and renovation; that’s going to be very expensive, so please consider contributing to further their work in helping poor and marginalized women, including sex workers.
First They Came For the Hookers…
News on two of the ladies from this column who were fired for past sex work:
…Sarah Tressler…[lost] her reporting gig at the Houston Chronicle after…[being] exposed…[as the blogger] “Angry Stripper”…[but] she just landed a new job at The San Antonio Express-News as a breaking news reporter…Stacie Halas
, a California…teacher who was fired for her porn star past [and recently lost her appeal] was [also]…offered a new job…[by] Dennis Hof of…[the] Moonlite Bunny Ranch…
Even if Halas is interested in going back to sex work she could do a lot better as an independent escort than by allowing herself to be exploited by Hof or others like him.
A federal judge in California thinks it’s a wise use of public funds to lock up a 61-year-old filmmaker for four years for the “crime” of grossing out a cherry-picked group of a dozen people in Los Angeles. Future law students will marvel at the self-destructive absurdity of our era.
An Example To the West (TW3 #39)
In September, I reported that a Korean whore had submitted a constitutional challenge to her country’s prostitution law; it has now been accepted:
…Judge Oh Won-chan…filed the case with the Constitutional Court after accepting a petition from a 41-year-old prostitute on trial for violating the law…the judge’s request doesn’t question the part of the law that punishes buyers of sex. “We don’t punish a woman acting as a concubine or a wife for hire,” Oh said…[he] also questioned the effectiveness of the law, saying authorities should focus on punishing brothel owners and pimps…
Let’s hope the Korean government doesn’t respond with Swedish-style legislation, which only makes the struggle for rights more difficult.
The Course of a Disease (TW3 #42)
Criminologist Graham Ellison has written another excellent editorial against criminalization in Northern Ireland, this time with the help of Dr. Paul Maginn of the University of Western Australia:
…The…proposals…are…premised more on ideological and religious beliefs…than a concrete evidence-base…History tells us that prohibition is an ineffective policy remedy…a few simple facts…dispel the stereotypes about sex work…only an exceptionally small proportion [are street workers]…there is no evidence to suggest that sex workers’ drug dependency is greater than the general population…[they] come from all manner of social class and educational backgrounds…the majority…are there because…the pay is…better than what they could get in other occupations…If Lord Morrow is sincere about his intentions to help women
involved in ‘prostitution’, he should consider decriminalisation.
The French edition of Chester Brown’s Paying For It has been chosen by the Angoulême International Comics Festival as an official selection, which will undoubtedly give it more well-deserved attention. Congratulations, Chester!
A judge has granted a preliminary injunction against the narrow portion of California’s tyrannical CASE Act which was challenged by the EFF and ACLU:
…Prop 35 is…beset with problems. The biggest was its requirement that registrants turn over a list of all their Internet identifiers and service providers to law enforcement…the court found that there was a clear chilling effect on speech because registrants would have to disclose their identity either before they speak, or within 24 hours after speaking somewhere online…Allowing the government to monitor and record a wide swath of innocent Internet activity…is a dangerous trend that can easily expand, as law enforcement’s inevitable thirst for information fails to be quenched…
Unfortunately, there is as yet no organized challenge against the aspects of the law which criminalize a wide variety of normal sexual behaviors and virtually any association with sex workers.
Tyranny By Consensus (TW3 #51)
A leading adult film producer has launched a lawsuit against Los Angeles County over a…measure requiring porn actors to wear condoms, saying the law infringes on first amendment rights and was driving the industry out of Southern California. Vivid Entertainment, which was joined in the lawsuit by porn stars Kayden Kross and Logan Pierce, claims the mandate was both an unconstitutional prior restraint on freedom of expression and a financial burden that studios could not bear…lead plaintiffs’ attorney Paul Cambria said…it was not economically feasible to digitally remove the condoms in post-production because the studios were competing with rivals elsewhere who had no such restrictions.
It’s interesting that the lawsuit doesn’t bring up the very real physical harm condoms can inflict on actresses under porn-filming conditions.
The Course of a Disease (TW3 #52)
Those who wish to inflict the Swedish model on England and Wales have set up a fake “consultation” on the matter which is designed to trick the unwary into providing them ammunition via leading questions and outright lies about decriminalization. The survey is referred to as a “call for evidence”, but as Laura Agustín points out this is “a misnomer as they are just asking for opinions and feelings – no evidence at all.” Go ahead and respond to the survey (it’s fairly short), but follow Aspasia’s example by phrasing your answers carefully, since most are of the “have you stopped beating your wife?” variety. The deadline is February 4th at 16:00 GMT.
“a…measure requiring porn actors to wear condoms, saying the law infringes on first amendment rights”
God. Regardless of the rights and wrongs of this law as such, the idea of the first amendment is that a citizen should be able to make comment on the laws, the government, the operation of the courts. Making porn a freedom-of-speech issue – it’s a bit of a stretch.
Freedom isn’t restrictive, it’s expansive.
Perhaps, but it’s a good thing the courts decided it was because a large fraction of 1st amendment cases in the US have been tied to obscenity. If a government claims the right to censor published material that hurts nobody, that’s the first step toward the ability to censor anything else, especially when “national security” or “the public decency” are on the line. I wrote an article (largely) on free speech for Cliterati this week that you may find interesting.
Just read it. I can recommend this with a clear conscience.
“The district court clarified that the judge’s request doesn’t question the part of the law that punishes buyers of sex.”
The constitutional challenge of South Korea’s Anti-Sex Trade Law might appear as a step in the right direction but even if it were successful, moving from the ‘Korean Model’ to the ‘Swedish Model’ won’t do it. For as long as sex work remains criminalised, sex workers’ rights will be infringed upon.
Yes, that’s exactly my concern, that this case could impose a de facto Swedish system.
RE: It’s That Time Again:
This actually made me shudder; both for the fact that it occurred and that for most people reading the sentence, it will be considered a good thing.
RE: Neither Cold nor Hot:
There are a surprising number of people in this world who are seemingly compelled to view every matter through the lens of oppression. Nothing is ever just a simple voluntary interaction. One must be oppressing the other. Child-like thinking, really.
(Blink-blink) Could you expand on that a little? I’m not disputing the statement at all, but this is the first I’ve I can recall hearing of such and would like to hear an explanation. What is it about porn conditions and/or condom use that can cause physical harm, to the actress in particular? I can somewhat imagine a too-small condom doing harm to the male by cutting off blood flow, but I’ve never heard of them being harmful to women before. Limited lubrication perhaps?
Then again, I suppose I’ve only seen condoms used in Japanese porn before, which tends to be characterized by extensive (and sometimes very creative ^_^) foreplay. It’s not unreasonable to expect that aids the lady in being thoroughly lubricated by the time they eventually get around to coitus.
Condoms are extremely abrasive. That doesn’t come into play during normal intercourse because it doesn’t last nearly long enough, but in porn the intercourse can go on for hours, stopping and starting; because it’s work rather than fun-sex the actress may not be as physically ready as she would be in amateur sex, either. Even hookers tend to be very picky about the kind of condoms we use, and porn actresses go on for much longer per session.
Furthermore, condoms aren’t made to take porn-movie punishment and will break far more often than in amateur or even hooker use, thus exposing the actress to possibly-contaminated body fluids because very fallible condoms, rather than less-fallible testing, are regarded as the primary means of stopping transmission.
Maggie, I have absloutely no doubt about what you are saying about condoms. But are there articles, research, etc. that discusses this? I am feeling the need for a follow-up to my OpEdNews article from last year, “Making Sex a Crime,” and I think discussing condoms and LA’s little tightening of the screws might be a good subject for at least part of it.
It seems to me that several porn stars wrote about it when this started over two years ago; you might try Googling from that angle. I checked the ones I’ve linked on the subject but there’s no direct mention in them. I also suspect Comixchik might be able to confirm it from experience.
Thank you so much. You are a Goddess-Empress amongst bloggers. I am only in the initial research stages at this point. It will probably be late February or March before I get it done, but I will keep you infromed, and send an advance copy if you would like?
A porn actress talked about this on John Stossel’s show on Fox Business. The link follows:
http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/1457167903001/policing-the-porn-business/
I noticed that the ‘former’ prosecutor adopted the adversarial tactics of the courtroom where what is reasonable has no sway and the idea that consenting adults are actually capable of consenting and that harm reduction takes more forms than a government edict is an impossibility that the lawyer just can’t wrap her head around. I thought it was encouraging though, that the mostly young audience, including the women, were applauding the porn actress’s reasonable statements and were mostly oppsoed to the prosecutor’s outrageous assertions. But given that this is John Stossel’s studio udience I’m assuming that there is a lot of self-selection toward libertarians going on.
Thanks for the link.
A twenty minute scene can take hours to shoot. You’ve got to get different angles, and such. Now some of the gonzo stuff goes quicker. But it’s still much longer than what you finally end up seeing.
If the lining of the vagina gets irritated, well, if there’s abrasion, there’s an opening for any virus to get in.
Also, for lubricated condoms, that non-oxyol 9 stuff can really irritate the vagina and upset the natural chemical balance.
Not being a woman, I will take your word for it, although one wonders how porn star Houston accomplished her infamous 500+ men in a day stunt, not to mention Messalina in ancient Rome. I do know that “dry sex” is not pleasant for either partner.
But Comixchik, I am asking for help finding direct info on this. as Maggie will attest, I like to beat my opposition half-to-death with facts, not emotional outbursts. (Only half-to-death because I believe in mercy, even to my adversaries.)
I’ve done some sizable gang bangs, did one once that took over 12 hours. I’ve also done a sizable one with condoms. I had no issues, but every one is different. Some women are more sensitive to the latex than others, and to abrasion. Sorry, but I just can’t give you a one size answer. As far as I know, there’s been no scientific research.
Oh and one more thing. If you’re doing a multiple man scene, double penetration, double vaginal, the condom friction thing can be an issue. That goes for porn or escort. The sex can get vigorous.
I know Nina Hartley has written on the subject. Richard, you can also check the Blog of Pro-Porn Activism for articles.
I’d like to thank Hinoran for asking this question. Now I don’t have to.
However, it does make it clear why the lawsuit doesn’t make any mention of it: it isn’t generally well known.
Even before reading the critiques, I thought the all party group had decided on the Swedish model, and framed their questionnaire to suit their views — not an uncommon experience. Some years ago, a questionnaire was sent round here; one of the questions was:
“do you want to be treated by a generalist in your local hospital, or by an expert in a centre of excellence?”
Their agenda was very obvious; and they got their way.
Would you prefer
a) a seamless and professional move?
or
b) your possessions set on fire and raccoons running amok with you electronics?
I’ll take “B” for 10,000 Alex…
That was pretty funny, though.
If I were twenty years younger, or even ten years younger and a lot less arthritic, I’d certainly be heading for the Dakotas. What an opportunity!
I’m appalled by the court ruling against the California teacher. What it really sees to say is that as long as there’s any porn you’ve done on the internet you can’t have another career. If that’s the case, we’re all screwed. Stuff on the net lasts forever, so forget ever trying to have any other job if you’ve worked in adult entertainment. (And Maggie. I’m thinking this includes escorts who have had ads and websites, too. That stuff can be archived.) A lot of the stuff I did was pre-web, and even some of it is out there.
It’s all down to the way our society has such very sick, twisted ideas about sex. Why the hell do we have such problems with a pleasurable natural function? And why do we listen to those who do?
It certainly is a very twisted worldview, “You must leave the sex industry … of course we will do our best to deny you alternative work”.
It’s the “demand for perfection” we have here in America. It’s unrealistic and it’s hurting us. We demand politicians who have no skeletons in their closet … we demand teachers with a pious background … we demand athletes who aren’t on steroids …
Of course – we never GET any of that and we spend a lot of time cleaning up messes … and in the end, all we are doing is keeping skilled, value-added, people out of some important occupations.
FWIW: Lohan’s dad is now denying that she’s an escort. Not sure what to make of it. Her plastic surgery looks awful, though.
This is why I use a nurse practitioner. I quit listening to doctors over a decade ago when I finally realized they administer medicine to the “lowest common denominator”. It’s about getting you in and out of the office these days. One piece of advice I laugh at … “Never start any exercise routine without consulting your doctor”. I’m sorry – but I think 90% of the people out there are capable of deciding how far their tired asses can jog without the help of a doc.
Not only that – they just get things wrong. Busting on red meats, dairy products, and eggs. Cholesterol problems? Why here’s a muscle wasting statin drug you can take for the rest of your life!
Can’t tell you the number of YOUNG guys I’ve seen in online forums writing about how their doctor had to put them on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Low test? No problems dude, we’ll put you on weekly injections of test and you’ll feel swell – hey though, your nuts are going to shrink into raisins and you won’t be able to have kids and it might be difficult for you to climax when having sex – but this shit’s the bomb!!
They rarely, if ever, treat the CAUSE of the problem – only the symptoms.
My nurse practitioner is awesome. She listens to me with an open mind and we discuss things.
Maggie, how nice of you to notice the Angouleme nomination for the French edition of my book. I don’t know how it came to your attention, but if I win the award I’ll be sure to pass on the news to you. (I think it’s unlikely that I will win.) I’ll actually be in France for the ceremony.
I think someone mentioned it on Twitter. The festival is at the end of this month, isn’t it? I’ll certainly be rooting for you! 🙂
I think the festival usually takes place at the end of January, but this year it’s the first weekend of February. Because comics are more respected in Europe, and Angouleme is the continent’s biggest festival devoted to the medium, winning the award would be a big deal.
I know that manga are a big deal in Japan, encompassing everything from textbooks to repair manuals to porn, but this is the first I’ve read that comics are more respected in Europe. I think the only European comic I’ve read is an English translation of Barbarella.
The things I learn here!
Hope I never need Viagra, or Cialis or the others. But I am getting older, so I’m glad to know it’s there if I ever do need it. But yeah, if and when the day arrives, maybe I should see the shrink first. BTW, my spell checker recognizes “Viagra,” but not “Cialis.”
The fact remains that, no matter how stupid I am when my car gets stolen (left the door unlocked, no alarm, left the key in the ignition, a bumper sticker reading “OPPOSE LOJACK”), the guy who steals it is still a thief, and reciting my dumb acts won’t convince a jury that what happened wasn’t really theft. I agree that women should be careful, and that saying so is no more “victim shaming” than saying that you shouldn’t leave the key in the ignition. But after the crime happens, one victim’s stupid acts will be used to say no crime even happened, and the other victim’s stupid acts are just stupid acts.
Turns out the Neanderthals weren’t so dumb.
I hope Lohan finds more peace in her current profession than she did as an actress.
The line that make my skin crawl is this: “while also rescuing [the] 4-year-old…son of one of the suspected prostitutes”. If the kid was “rescued” from anything other than having a mom who is a prostitute, then God, what a thing to have to happen.
In particular, with the cost of a college education skyrocketing, should anybody be surprised that students aren’t satisfied with flipping burgers?
Good on Rep. Patricia Todd!
I hope that SCOTUS does the right thing, but yeah, I wouldn’t bet a lot of money on it.
This is the first time I’ve ever read that go-go dancers aren’t supposed to give guys boners. This is like the actresses who trade on a sexy image and always seem to wind up in their underwear or a bikini, but are somehow so much better than those apparently lesser actresses who go topless.
Good luck with the new building, Women With a Vision.
You can’t be (legally, sometimes they find a way) fired because of your race or religion, and in many states firing somebody for being gay isn’t legal. But hey, you used to be a stripper? A HOOKER!?! Out the door with you!
God, sometimes we human beings can be pretty stupid.
Well, it sure grosses me out. But the prosecutors wouldn’t want me on that jury, because I don’t believe that grossing me out deserves prison time.
This thing in Korea does carry a hint of the Swedish Model, doesn’t it? Well, we shall see.
Good on Graham Ellison. The more countries which decriminalize (or even legalize), the better.
I’m glad comics are getting recognition as more than “silly kid stuff” or a seduction of the innocents.
Every little bit helps. But yeah, we need a little bit more.
California eventually got rid of Prop. 8, so why not this? Doesn’t mean that it will happen, but it could.
I quit beating my wife some time ago. Also, I’ve repented of my witchcraft, and have decided that the Communist Party isn’t really for me.