I see sex work as somewhat analogous to coal mining. It’s not that it isn’t real work, or that those who work in that capacity don’t deserve rights, dignity, or a society that works for them. The problem, of course, is the ever-present exploitation of the workers coupled with the severe unpleasantness of the occupation which ensures that the people who do work these jobs are those with few other options. That isn’t to say that all sex workers and/or coal miners are miserable. Even so, the patterns around this kind of work are unmistakable.
Given these facts, I think most reasonable people understand that sex work should go extinct. That isn’t to say that you can’t make pornography or have sex with strangers. However, it’s impossible to gauge enthusiastic consent when money is changing hands, and enthusiastic consent is a vital component for an ethical sexual encounter.
My question for the community is how exactly this is meant to be accomplished. How can sex work be abolished without harming the very people it’s meant to protect? The number one problem western sex workers face, more so than creepy clients, is the cops, who profile them, steal their wages, and arrest them on a whim. Clearly, criminalizing sex work hasn’t done much for sex workers. What are some alternatives?
I’ve personally read a variety of differing viewpoints from sex workers themselves. Some are in favor of legalization, others prefer decriminalization. Many sex workers work in the industry out of economic survival, obviously, and many anecdotal stories I’ve read (notably from white women, who have more power and financial security) engage in sex work just for the extra spending money and the “fun”.
Yeah I get the joke. I just expected something different, I suppose.
Sex work for recreational or non-essential income isn’t really sex work. Just like Marie Antoinette pretending to milk cows doesn’t make her a farmer. The vast majority of people doing this sort of work don’t do it out of passion or interest, but for survival, we cannot put these people together under the same category. As such looking at the broader causes and conditions of the people who make up 90% of sex work, there is little merit in preserving it in some sort of regulated or legal manner. Getting rid of it outright is definitely worth it if the only people who miss it are well to-do white women who want it for a hobby, and borderline rapists who want to exploit people’s bodies.
Good points.