Sexwork, Prostitution and Trafficking.
NOTES:
• Sex trafficking is the biggest part of prostitution in Europe.
• Prostitution is related to patriarchy and capitalism as women are seen as commodities.
• Demand is an issue in society in general and is related to the devaluation of women.
• It is difficult to raise the debate in feminist circles as it is often reduced to the pro vs. anti sex/porn debate.
• The issue of ‘choice’ is difficult and complex
- can prostitution be free choice?
• Trafficking is a global issue and cannot be reduced to pro vs. anti.
• It is an important issue for anti capitalists and feminists and it encompasses lots of interrelated issues.
More in depth discussion on trafficking in terms of theories and feminism.
NOTES:
• Demand – need to look at customers = different groups
- buy sex because it is available and they can!
• Links between capitalism and trafficking – supply and demand.
• Is sex a human right?
- if so then is it right to have prostitutes?
- The problem is with the unequal power relationship – women’s bodies
are seen as able to be bought/owned/controlled.
• Capitalism = economic relationship (selling body for money)
- need money to survive in capitalist society
- prostitution fits into capitalist system.
• Is the sexual organ different from another part of the body?
- sexual act is a different act/work
- Sexuality and sexual act is closer to your ‘soul’/self/being –
who you are.
• Not the sexual act itself but the power relationship that is created
– oppressor/oppressed
- woman gives sex and man receives = difference in male and female sexuality.
• Sex trafficking = worst symptom of patriarchy and stereotypical gender roles.
• Lack of sexual control for men
- this is assumed and excused
- men seen as sexual beings with needs they can’s control.
• Legalising vs. criminalising
- problem in Finland with law of criminalising customers NOT prostitutes = has
made prostitution go underground BUT amount of trafficked women decreased –
just gone elsewhere.
• Legalising prostitution and licensing brothels (e.g. Holland) = problems
for illegal women
– harder and more competition between them
– sent underground = more dangerous
– amount of trafficked women increased.
• Changing laws will not make a difference – need to look at the
background of why there is prostitution in the first place
- gender relations = feminist issues
- capitalism = anti-capitalist issues.
• Cannot separate trafficking and migration
- deporting women is not a solution
- no infrastructure in sending OR receiving countries to support women to get
them out of prostitution.
• Provision of language courses, vocational training/courses, sexual
advice, counselling = could be a way to introduce women to social centres and
new ideas/communities
- can distribute free condoms and lubricant on the street to get to know women.
BUT difficult for volunteers to take on issues – need own support network.
• NGOs have boundaries and paid jobs have a different relationship =
easier as can go home from job
- need to be careful when making strong relationships – need own support.
• Easier to work with sexworkers from own countries
- trafficked women have different needs/issues
- cultural differences.
• Women also have strong gender stereotypes
- image of idealised woman and relationships
- idealised West
- perpetuate myths (e.g. big breasts)
- value of women = to be sexy and attractive
- rewarded for sexual worth and seen as only worth = becomes everything.
• Difficulty when return home and sexual worth devalued as have lost
virginity etc.
- contradictions with being sexual but not having sex.
• Difficult to change gender perspectives and stereotypes as images are everywhere and ‘proved’ by experience.
• Need more sophisticated analysis – not black and white
- then can look at the issues and have debates with a stronger position.
• Difficult to make case after recent pro-sexwork feminist analysis
- accused of not supporting female empowerment
- seen as anti-sex/porn
• Problems of calling women ‘victims’ = passive
- women do not consider themselves victims
- are all women ‘victims’ of patriarchy? (what is a victim?)
- still problematic ‘us’ and ‘them’ relationship among
women.
• Need practical demands as well as explaining/analysing situation.
Practical outcome.
To organise an exhibition starting in London which tells the stories of trafficked women to provide information and powerful awareness raising. It could then travel around Europe highlighting trafficking as a global issue and what the situation is in each country. Facts and figures, filmed stories and information.
An e-mail list has been set up relating to this project.