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 […]
Preferred Terminology for Sex Trafficking and Prostitution
Lisa L. Thompson, Liaison for the Abolition of Sexual Trafficking, The Salvation Army National Headquarters, has kindly authorized us to share this chart. She developed it for the Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAAST). Preferred Terminology for Sex Trafficking and Prostitution See also:Kristyn Komarnicki Writes about Choices…I really struggle with calling these women ‘sex […]
Kristyn Komarnicki Writes about Choices
Kristyn Komarnicki is the editor of PRISMmagazine.org. She provides an excellent comment under Amy Ernst’s March 1 opinion piece for The New York Times, “Notes From a Young American in Congo: Sex Workers”. Here’s an excerpt: …I really struggle with calling these women ‘sex workers.’ Work implies a level of dignity and choice that is […]
NOMAS Applauds Senator Reid’s Stand Against Prostitution
We welcome this statement from NOMAS: The National Organization for Men Against SexismFor Immediate Release:NOMAS Applauds Senator Reid’sStand Against ProstitutionThe abuse of women in prostitution is among the most visible and shameful injustices in the U.S. today, and Nevada is the epicenter of this ugly industry in North America.Senator Harry Reid’s recent urging, that Nevada […]
June 25-30: Radical Feminist Seminar, Wheelock Media Institute, Stop Porn Culture Training in Boston
From the website of Stop Porn Culture!Come to Boston for a week of feminist theory and activism. Stop Porn Culture presents three back-to-back events. Participants can attend one, two, or all three.June 25-26Radical Feminist SeminarTwo days of education, organizing, and networking. Women from all over the world will be exploring classic and contemporary radical feminism […]
Rain and Thunder Calls for Contributions to Disability Issue
***********CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS***********Rain and Thunder: A Radical Feminist Journal of Discussion and Activism is looking for contributions for our upcoming issue on Disability (deadline March 1, 2011): How do women define and experience disability? How do ableism and disability oppression affect our lives? How does disability intersect with and inform other social/political identities and struggles? […]
“Playboy mansion? More like a squalid prison: Former Playmates tell of ‘grubby’ world inside Hugh Hefner’s empire”
Today’s Daily Mail reports on life at the Playboy mansion of Hugh Hefner: Hefner likes to have anywhere between three and 15 girlfriends at any one time. One of the group will be chosen to be Girlfriend No 1. She will share Hefner’s bedroom at all times, while the others are merely visitors… ‘Every Friday […]