Dec 17th is International Day to End
Violence Against Sex Workers. From a feminist and also a trade unionist
perspective, I know supporting Sex Workers Rights is the logical thing
to do.
Not all Sex Workers hate their jobs, not all Sex
Workers are forced to be Sex Workers, Sex workers want RIGHTS not
RESCUE. People should stop acting like knights in shining armor rushing
to save ‘scarlet’ queens!
EVERY WORKER, whether a banker, micro
biologist, intern, salesperson, street hawker, housewife, surrogate or
sex worker should be protected from FORCED LABOUR.
Yes,
everyone’s body is being purchased for labour and sometimes for marriage
too. I just wish people would know the difference between forced labour
and one made out of choice. And the fact is that not many workers are
100% happy with their jobs and if they had a choice, many would gladly
change jobs. I then wonder at those who scream that Sex workers do not
like their job. I mean, can you truly say you love your job and wouldn't
give it up even if you won a jackpot lottery?
It is not just
people in low paying jobs that are not happy with their present jobs,
this also include people in high, medium and low paying jobs i.e.
bankers, doctors, lawyers, receptionists, nurses, soldiers etc. I just
get pissed when the whole attention of "BUT THEY HATE THEIR JOB" is
directed at sex workers.
There are many people especially
immigrants with Masters Degrees and PhDs who now work in supermarket
chain stores like Walmart, Sainsbury or Tesco as security men and
cashiers. No they aren’t happy they went through the rigours and
expenses of graduate school to end up with certificates that don’t pay
their bills, they are therefore FORCED by economic, political and social
situations to settle for jobs that would at least pay their bills and
some settle for MARRIAGE to keep a roof over their heads, while some
settle for commercial sex work.
Many people are choosing to be
Interns and Volunteers because it fills the void before they finally
find employment. Gone are the days when people do volunteer and
internship work just to help out, now it is because they can't get a job
and it also looks good on the CV, it is basically like doing good to
earn ‘Paradise’ points on your card so you can make it to Heaven and
live happily ever after with Sky daddy!
If some people decided
that they'd rather jerk off in front of a webcam and be paid for it
rather than take up a job as a Walmart assistant, or volunteer for a
job they really should be paid for doing, RESPECT THEIR CHOICE. For
all you know, some could still win the lottery and decide they’d still
rather be sex workers.
It is really none of our business what
consenting adults do with their bodies, I still fail to see how my
being a feminist means i have to hate sex work or try to save sex
workers. I think it is about choice, respect and rights. And just like
I’d say with my sexuality, your approval is not needed, and I think that
is what sex workers are saying, they do not need feminists approval,
what they want is RIGHTS like every other worker.
