It is striking how far the Swedish govt. has gone to silence us. In Pye's video, she speaks about how important a trend listening to people about whom they were making legislation became, espcially when it came ot the children. The legislators insisted that the children's voices be heard at every step while making legislation that affected children. However, as Pye pointed out, sex workers were completely shut out of any dialogue about legislation that afected them. Their voices were considered even less important than children's voices. Not one was allowed to speak, to voice her (or his) concern about how the legislation might affect them.
To me, that is unacceptable, very unprogressive, and bordering on criminal.
This law is decidedly UN feminist. One can’t watch this video and think the Swedish law is progressive. It is so regressive! Imagine substituting “sex work” for “acting”. Or any other job. How dehumanizing and infantilizing. Is the answer really to shut women up? Honestly. Does anyone still believe that?
“We want to save you! And if you dont appreciate it you will be punished!”
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Thank you for posting this! It's so frustrating to me that so-called feminists want to shut down the voices of sex workers out of some half-cocked rescue mission idea, or whatever.
It's also frustrating to me that there is this idea that criminalizing only one side of the exchange will not affect the other side.
Sex workers clearly know nothing about sex work. Only an idiot would ask an actual prostitute her feelings about laws affecting her. Prostitutes are just like children and can't possibly know what's best for them.
*eye roll*
Laws like this have nothing to do with protecting actual sex workers and everything to do with making nice, non-slutty middle-class constituents happy.
This sort of thing used to piss me off. Then I got into sex work and now it makes me really, really stabby.
Sex workers clearly know nothing about sex work. Only an idiot would ask an actual prostitute her feelings about laws affecting her. Prostitutes are just like children and can't possibly know what's best for them.
*eye roll*
Laws like this have nothing to do with protecting actual sex workers and everything to do with making nice, non-slutty middle-class constituents happy.
This sort of thing used to piss me off. Then I got into sex work and now it makes me really, really stabby.
Actually, in the video, Pye explains how sex workers are considered less credible than children. So much so that they were prohibited form speaking on their own behalf. In this century!!
Unfortunately, the video didn't get posted with this (just learning this blogging interface). But if you're interested in seeing the video, check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D7nOh57-I8
OK that didn't work, so I will try again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D7nOh57-I8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D7nOh57-I8
This mindset angers me so much. There is a difference between a woman who was forced into sex work and prostitution with no other options, and a woman who chooses sex work and enjoys it. All to often people are unable to differentiate between the two. I have done a lot of work trying to help victims of human trafficking who had no choice in the matter, and I have talked to woman who chose sex work themselves and find it empowering. These are two compleatly diferent stories with compleatly different outcomes. If a woman finds her work empowering, good for her. Who has the right to judge another person for feeling good about themselves? Focus on helping those who do need help and care, not those who are telling us straight out that they enjoy their work and are fufilled by it. We need to learn to listen to their voices.
Rubbish.
I presume they opened it for consultation, or even if not, so you could have had your say like anyone else. You can't write letters and e-mails to your government, you can't hold protests? Why sit around waiting to be asked?
Most of the voices of so-called sex pozzy happy happy sex worker types are actually pimps.
Given how much money there is in sex work, just not for the sex workers, it's not like the misogynist pimps are going to give in without a fight.
And how about you listen to the voices of the 80 - 90% of your co-workers who want to get out? Yep, surveys, you know, actual scientifically rigorous research and not a few pimps pretending to be happy hookers, consistently show those figures.