Topic: prostitution

Prostitution Ban In The EU Would Be Bad News For Sex Worker Safety

Ugh. So anti- this proposal from European women’s groups calling for a prostitution ban spanning the European Union. The aim is to combat gender inequality and violence against women by making selling or paying for sex illegal, a campaign spokeswoman said. But further criminalizing female sex workers, making it impossible for them to earn a living or forcing them into deeper underground avenues seems like kind of a jackass way of helping, no? More »

Harlotry: Being In A Relationship While Being A Sex Worker

There are a lot of complicated aspects to sex work, but some of the most complicated are those not directly related to the work itself. There are countless pitfalls associated with coming out to family and friends, but perhaps the most difficult problem is how to maintain a monogamous romantic relationship. More »

Joan’s Awesomely Feminist Sexual Transaction On Mad Men

Say what you will about the larger sociocultural narrative, the morality, or implications of last night’s Mad Men episode: In terms of believability for the character—well, I bought it; of course this is what Joan would do, because Joan is awesome. And practical. And feminist. More »

Public Ad Campaign Says Sex Workers Deserve Health Care; I Don’t Want To See It

Wow, if over-protective moms got their panties in a wad over Schweddy Balls, imagine how they will react when they see ads for a health care clinic that caters to prostitutes running on the side of buses throughout San Francisco. The new ad campaign features smiling faces of local sex workers (which include those who make a living through prostitution, escort services, phone sex, Internet webcam sex, erotic dancing or pornography), their families and health care providers from St. James Infirmary whose message is that these professionals have a right to health care just like the rest of us. Which is fine, but I just don’t think it should be advertised in public. More »

Legalizing prostitution: Part of the problem or the solution? Studies of Swedish laws show that penalties against customers are effective, not penalties against sellers. (via The Guardian)