If you are against Sex Work, you are a Bigot - Conner Habib

[SoniaSilk]

I just read this article and loved it. Of course I don't agree with it 100% ('cause that's the beauty of having your own brain, duh).

But for me, who found myself camming BECAUSE I'm a feminist and I wanted to try all this autonomy camming might give ("does it? does it not? I shall find out by myself") this is interesting.

I've read some articles about the story of Anti-Porn inside the feminist movement, written by RubyRich (my former stage name [I KNOW!! IT'S NOT A PROFESSOR'S NAME IT'S A STRIPPER NAME] which are also amazing. If anyone has any interest on it, I can scan and share.

SPOILER ALERT: anti-porn ones are, originally, the white straight academic [hence rich] feminists.

http://www.thestranger.com/features...36683/if-youre-against-sex-work-youre-a-bigot

 

[Poison_Ivy21]

Thank you so much for posting this! Loved it!

 

[aspoiledbrat]

I loved it! Thank you so much for sharing that!
I also started camming because I am a feminist (and perhaps the allure of rebellion aswell.)
4 years later I am more of a powerful woman than I think I would have ever become if I never took this path. The information I gained about myself and the world around me has only made me hold the title of feminist more dear to my heart. Sometimes it's almost amusing that people who use the same title feel that, that is the very reason I should be stripped of it.

Anywhoo, I would love if you scanned and shared if it is not to much trouble!

 

[Gen]

One interesting point to he brings up is one I find frustrating on both sides of the argument. He talks about cherry-picking voices and how anti-SW groups always want to talk about victims and exploitation. I notice that often, though, pro-SW groups/advocates do the same, speaking only about how empowering and amazing it is, and ignoring that it isn't (and shouldn't have to be) for everyone.

He does mention that in the article, and it is absolutely crucial to differentiate between trafficking and sex work, because they are (duh) not the same.

But I think, in my experience (less so with camming than other forms of sex work), there are grey areas of consent and exploitation that get ignored in favour of advocating one side or another. I hope eventually we get to the point where those areas can be acknowledged and discussed more.

For example, a woman I met was a former sex worker who was a victim of child sex trafficking. After she grew up, she was a survival sex worker for a long time until she exited (with the help of a "rescue" group that mandates you quit if you want their assistance). She is now an anti-SW advocate and she often talks about how, having grown up being trafficked, and living in a very poor area with no job options, was she really making a consenting choice to be an adult sex worker? And if not, at what point do we switch from survival sex work to consensual sex work? I don't agree with her on a lot but I do think she raises some interesting points.

Sometimes I think the emphasis on empowerment is a bit of a defence mechanism, like it's overcompensation to counter the dehumanization that often happens to sex workers. And it's been said more eloquently than this but I think focusing on "it's so empowering, we make bank, etc" (see that rhetoric sooo much on tumblr) is actually irrelevant and kind of erasing to the many, many sex workers who don't find it empowering, don't make bank, etc. And really that jobs don't need to be empowering to still require safe working conditions and rights, etc. I work in an office right now and I don't find it empowering, and I don't think anyone would argue that I should if I want the right to do it.

Also interesting, a lot of the anti-SW people I encounter are former sex workers. I sometimes get annoyed at this but I also think it's just as cherry-picky to dismiss that just because it doesn't fit your (general you) experience/viewpoint. I have a lot of thoughts on sex work, having been working in and around the industry for a long time, especially in the areas where abuse and exploitation are more common, and I don't feel it's fair to dismiss everyone who is anti-SW as bigoted. I don't agree with those people (ugh the one saying prostitutes should be murdered for harming all women), but I think there are valid criticisms to be made about the industry, that aren't necessarily bigoted by default.

But anyway. I have a lot of thoughts & feelings on this stuff! Thank you for sharing that article, it was an interesting read.

 

[Sevrin]

Now, instead of arresting women for having sex with men for money, in many countries, police will arrest their customers. That's because politicians have so much respect for sex workers and don't want to penalize them for their choices.

 

[HiGirlsRHot]

.

But I think, in my experience (less so with camming than other forms of sex work), there are grey areas of consent and exploitation that get ignored in favour of advocating one side or another. I hope eventually we get to the point where those areas can be acknowledged and discussed more.

(Great stuff deleted)

Sometimes I think the emphasis on empowerment is a bit of a defence mechanism, like it's overcompensation to counter the dehumanization that often happens to sex workers. And it's been said more eloquently than this but I think focusing on "it's so empowering, we make bank, etc" (see that rhetoric sooo much on tumblr) is actually irrelevant and kind of erasing to the many, many sex workers who don't find it empowering, don't make bank, etc.

Also interesting, a lot of the anti-SW people I encounter are former sex workers. I sometimes get annoyed at this but I also think it's just as cherry-picky to dismiss that just because it doesn't fit your (general you) experience/viewpoint. I have a lot of thoughts on sex work, having been working in and around the industry for a long time, especially in the areas where abuse and exploitation are more common, and I don't feel it's fair to dismiss everyone who is anti-SW as bigoted. I don't agree with those people (ugh the one saying prostitutes should be murdered for harming all women), but I think there are valid criticisms to be made about the industry, that aren't necessarily bigoted by default..

Awesome post Gen.

My eyes glazed over about 1/2 way through the article. He's not a great writer and he clearly was cherry picking. I find the whole "if you aren't pro sex worker you are bigot" argument to be juvenile, and far more harmful than helpful. Calling people who disagree with you a bigot, is a great way to score points with your base, but a useless way of having a constructive conversation and changing minds.

I think camming is probably the least harmful form of sex work out there and yet it is not something that I'd urge that vast majority of young woman to do. Now to be fair it is not on my bottom 10 list of crappy jobs either and for many woman it beats the hell out of other alternatives. As Gen points out many Anti-SW people are former sex workers, I think ignoring their criticism and even more foolish lumping them as bigots is form a of denial that serves no one.

 

[SexySteph]

I enjoyed the article but found it a little problematic that the author was male. He definitely was cherry picking as well which I feel like may have been in part because his location in the industry is very different than the realm that female stars inhabit. It may be a bit more similar due to the fact that he does gay porn but I'm not sure.

The adult industry, specifically mainstream porn and escorting are problematic and it's kind of like he just ignored that and instead placed all the blame on the "anti-sex bigots".