If you ask me, sex workers should be getting some sort of corporate endorsment deals given that they are such a vital part of our wickedly awesome economy.
Really, it would give a whole new meaning to Nike's slogan: "Just Do It!"
In terms of the debate, sparked by Vancouver sex workers attempting to organize a brothel, I agree with the position that prostitution is violence against women and spurs more violence. I also agree that many women would not choose the vocation given other options.
At the same time, many jobs under capitalism involve violence, coercion and oppression.
The connections between tourism and the sex trade are well known.
Why shouldn't sex workers organize and unionize like other exploited workers?
If you want your freakin' Olympics, you better be prepared to gulp down your big, fat morals with your diet Coke.
Links:
'Sex Workers Plan Brothel in 2010 Olympic City' by Wency Leung via AlterNet
Interesting wikipedia entry on a play called The Year of the Sex Olympics
As one would think would be obvious by now (but clearly isn’t given the moralistic grand-standing of our politicians) prohibition doesn’t work. As much as I would like to be able to snap my fingers and make prostitution (and drugs including tobacco and alcohol) disappear, we need to deal with reality.
Prostitution isn’t going away. So, how do we minimize the harm to the workers?
My ideal solution — of those feasible in reality — would be to have a well-regulated industry of worker-owned co-operatives. Ensure security and health-protection for the workers, with them having direct control over their work and no one else profiting off of their labour.
Posted by: Grant Neufeld | October 15, 2007 at 05:50 PM
God, let's not make alcohol and drugs disappear:)
I don't think prostitution is akin to drugs, etc. because the person is the commodity.
I don't know if prostituition will never go away...
Certainly, I think we are in a trend towards more of it, including the popularization of commodifying and selling more males.
Posted by: Polly Jones | October 18, 2007 at 10:10 AM
p.s. I was kind of hoping that someone would show up and take the opposite position.
Posted by: Polly Jones | October 18, 2007 at 10:12 AM