An outstanding article from The Prostitution Experience rebuts the notion that prostitution somehow becomes OK at the age of majority, or that child and adult prostitution can be disentangled. FreeIrishWoman writes: This is the dichotomy of adult and child and they are viewed as very separate, very distinct, so that there is a clearly perceived […]
Prostitution
Stella Marr: “How the Sex Industry Threatens Survivors Speaking Out while Pimps Pose as Sexworker Activists”
Pimps put up a fog of propaganda around what they do, but they can’t fool prostitution survivor Stella Marr. Here’s an excerpt from her invaluable post of June 28: Pimp-affiliated groups such as the IUSW, SPOC, SWOP USA, COYOTE, the Erotic Services Providers’ Union and PONY must disband and reform as new organizations that are […]
Massachusetts: Anti-Human Trafficking Bill Signed into Law
Welcome news from Massachusetts State Senator Stan Rosenberg: On November 21st, Governor Patrick signed into law a House-Senate anti-human trafficking bill that is being hailed as one of the toughest laws of its kind in the nation. The new law includes criminal sentences up to five years in prison for attempted human trafficking, up to 20 […]
The F Word: “The Myths of Bedford v. Canada: Why decriminalizing prostitution won’t help”
Laura Johnston provides an excellent rebuttal of pro-prostitution arguments in The F Word: The argument that decriminalizing prostitution will improve conditions for prostituted women sounds appealing on its surface. The first time I heard it I thought it made sense. But when I began volunteering in a rape crisis centre and shelter and met women […]
Demand Abolition: “Boston Sex Buyers Report”
Last month we noted noted Newsweek’s article on “The John Next Door”. Here is more detail on the underlying report, published in July with support from Demand Abolition and the Hunt Alternatives Fund: Why do some men buy sex while others abstain or even decry such damaging and degrading acts? If we are to eliminate demand […]
Newsweek: “The John Next Door”
Here are some excerpts from an outstanding article in this week’s Newsweek that reports on a new study by Dr. Melissa Farley, director of Prostitution Research and Education: Farley’s findings suggest that the use of prostitution and pornography may cause men to become more aggressive. Sex buyers in the study used significantly more pornography than […]
“‘Big Tent’ feminism? Sounds great. Feels a lot like the status quo.”
Meghan Murphy posted an excellent critique to The F Word on June 3: The sex industry is not, and has never been a feminist space. It is, in large part, a space that is owned by, and operated for men. It is a space that treats women as commodities… How big is your ‘tent’ when […]
Vanity Fair: “Sex Trafficking of Americans: The Girls Next Door”
We’re glad to see this impressive 5/24/11 article is the most popular at VanityFair.com today. Among other things, it notes how escort ads in The Hartford Advocate facilitate prostitution. As Northampton honors the abolitionist and feminist legacy of Sojourner Truth this weekend, perhaps our local Valley Advocate will take a long, hard look in the mirror. […]
NOMAS: “Does Consensual Prostitution Exist?”
Dr. Robert Brannon, chair of the National Organization for Men Against Sexism, has published a fine analysis of choice and consent in prostitution. Here are a few excerpts from “Does Consensual Prostitution Exist?”: If we say that a person (e.g. a woman) is consenting to have sexual intercourse with a stranger, what actually do we, […]
New Report: “Targeting the Sex Buyer – The Swedish Example: Stopping Prostitution and Trafficking Where It All Begins”
Open publication at issuu.com (free)See also:Abolishing Prostitution: The Swedish Solution – An Interview with Gunilla Ekberg by the Rain and Thunder CollectiveHuffington Post: “Break the Chains of Modern Slavery: End Demand”After years of parliamentary debate, in 1999 Swedes passed the Sex Purchase Law, which criminalized buying and decriminalized selling sex. This placed the emphasis on […]