“White Gay Pornography, Marriage and Prostitution”
Nov 17th, 2008 by admin
Julian Real over at Radical Profeminist has a good post up entitled White Gay Pornography, Marriage and Prostitution, well worth the read.
I particularly liked one point that Julian made given the context of discussions here:
I fully support any prostitutes, and other people working in systems and industries of sexual, racial, and economic exploitation, organising on their own behalf, in ways they see fit, in order to be healthier, safer, and more empowered.
I do not believe that activist support of such industries and systems, and the pimps and patriarchs who run them, [should be] called “feminist”, “profeminist”, or “radically liberatory”.
I think this is a really important distinction. It’s entirely possible and, I think, crucial, to support women who are organizing from within the sex trade, who are trying to improve or save their own and other women’s lives in whatever manner. It’s as possible and as crucial, I believe, to, at the same time, condemn the sex trade in all of its manifestations and expressions. Challenging and condemning the sex trade, the men who support it, pimps, procurers, traffickers, pornographers, strip joints, and so on never equals condemning or challenging the women who are caught up in these various abusive relationships and institutions. The only time this kind of condemnation of a woman makes sense is when she herself is a pornographer, a madam, a procurer or when she is actively defending the industry, pornographers or traffickers themselves. Even then, at least so far as I am concerned, the door will stay open from my side should she have a change of heart.
Heart
My sentiments exactly. I have trouble understanding the dispute and I am about to lose at least one friend over it. I also don’t understand why there can be no respect for differences, but must always be these attacks. My friend says the very word “prostitute” or even “prostituted person” or prostitution is offensive and bigoted, like the “n” word. My question, is the word “slave” or “slavery” innately offensive or bigoted? I don’t think so.
I also, am more than happy to offer any woman her dignity and to respect her if she wants to be called a “sex worker”. But I won’t give up my political analysis for anyone.
It’s all so tiring, isn’t it, when we should be looking for common ground and putting our energy together to work towards whatever the hell we CAN agree on - and surely even “pro-sex” feminists, whatever that really is, think that “sex slavery” isn’t a good thing?
This makes sense. It always struck me as odd that Johns could go free but prostitutes would be arrested. Kind of like focusing on the drug takers rather than going after the dealers. When it comes to women’s bodies on the line, apparently all the men want is the same old thing. Human rights for women means a world free of prostitution and pornification, and severe punishment for men who keep this “industry” going.