Roger Matthews, professor of criminology at London’s South Bank University, has studied street prostitution since 1985. Julie Bindel talks to him about his new book, Prostitution, Politics and Policy, for The Guardian: ‘It’s abuse and a life of hell’ (2/29/08) …Matthews completely disagrees with the notion of legalisation. Instead, he says, the punters should be […]
Dorchen Leidholdt, “Demand and the Debate”
Dorchen A. Leidholdt is the Co-Executive Director of The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women. Here are excerpts from her speech, “Demand and the Debate”. She provides an excellent history and analysis of the “sex-positive” spin on prostitution. “Prostitution is a job like any other job,” [Wages for Housework activists] insisted. “Some women prostitute their fingers […]
Smith College Sophian: “Clothesline Project Hangs Abuse Out to Dry”
The April 10 Sophian reports on Smith College’s 14th annual Clothesline Project, honoring Sexual Abuse Awareness Week. The project began with 31 shirts displayed in Hyannis, Massachusetts in 1990. It has expanded to 500 projects worldwide. More than one in six women in United States are victims of rape or sexual assault, according to a […]
The Elevens Parties with Amazing.net (explicit)
If you walk by Capital Video’s Amazing.net porn shop at 135 King Street, you’ll see this flyer on the front door: The Elevens says it is “the area’s premier venue for independent, local, regional, national and underground performers”. We are sorry to see it partner with one of the nation’s premier sellers of media that […]
The Phoenix Lauds Kenny Guarino; We Round Out the Picture
It can be fascinating to read a newspaper article on a subject you know something about. The spin, the omissions can be breathtaking. Take for example, The Phoenix and Kenneth Guarino. The Phoenix media group includes alt weeklies Boston Phoenix, Providence Phoenix and Portland Phoenix. It is, they say, “nationally known for its award-winning, incisive […]
The Werribee DVD: Group of Boys Sexually Assault Girl; Video Sold in Schools (explicit)
In Australia, a group of teenage boys recently made a DVD of their encounter with a 17-year-old girl by the Werribee River. As you read these excerpts from articles in The Age, ask yourself, where would teenagers get the idea to… Assault a girl sexually as a group, demanding oral sex Exploit a girl they […]
Register Now for Media Madness: The Impact of Sex, Violence, & Commercial Culture on Adults, Children, & Society, July 8-11, Boston
We encourage all anti-porn activists to consider attending this summer institute at the Boston campus of Wheelock College. Media Madness: The Impact of Sex, Violence, & Commercial Culture on Adults, Children, & Society Dates: Tuesday July 8 – Friday July 11, 2008 Faculty: Gail Dines, Chair and Professor of American Studies, & Diane Levin, Professor […]
Puncturing Alan Dershowitz’s Delusions about Prostitution
Alan Dershowitz can’t see why people should care about prostitution. Shortly after the Eliot Spitzer scandal broke last month, The New York Times quoted the Harvard law professor as saying: ”Men go to prostitutes — big deal, that’s not a story in most parts of the world…”Prostitutes aren’t victims — they’re getting paid a thousand […]
Why Do Johns Buy Sex?
In an age when it’s easy to get sex for free, why do large numbers of men prefer to buy it? Clare Spurrell sets out in search of the answer for the The Times (11/7/06): …[A 2005 study in British Medical Journal] found that the proportion of British men who reported paying for heterosexual sex […]
April 3, Amherst College: Gail Dines to Speak on Intimacy, Identity and Sex(ism) in Pornographic Culture
We are pleased to share this announcement: Gail Dines to Speak on Intimacy, Identity and Sex(ism) in Pornographic Culture April 3 On Thursday, April 3, at 7 p.m. in Stirn Auditorium at Amherst College, there will be a media presentation by Dr. Gail Dines, professor of sociology at Wheelock College. Dines uses examples of mainstream […]