When Prostitution Becomes Work12

When Prostitution Becomes “Sex Work”: How Women and Children are Harmed by the Legalization of Prostitution: 

When Prostitution Becomes “Sex Work”: How Women and Children are Harmed by the Legalization of Prostitution

Presentation Overview : 

Presentation Overview Harms on a global level Harms for the community Harms for the individual Australia as a case example

Reasons People Advocate for the Legalization of Prostitution: 

Reasons People Advocate for the Legalization of Prostitution Prostitution is inevitable Legalization eliminates social stigma of being in sex trade It decreases international sex trafficking People should have the right to choose Prostitution is a viable work option

Reasons People Advocate for the Legalization of Prostitution (con’t): 

Reasons People Advocate for the Legalization of Prostitution (con’t) Legalization protects the health of women and the community It decreases violence against women

Global Harms: 

Global Harms

Trafficking: 

Trafficking Legalization increases human trafficking Netherlands as example Harms to children

Harms to the Community: 

Harms to the Community

Demand: 

Demand Prostitution Culture “A john is a man who believes he is entitled by virtue of his gender and money to have sex on demand. Whether he is shy or not, whether he calls her a girlfriend or a whore, and whether or not he abides by some set of rules or limits, he believes he can buy for sexual use a woman’s body.” -Grubman Black

Advantage for the Government: 

Advantage for the Government Government serves as “pimp” Economically advantageous

Normalizing “Sex Work”: 

Normalizing “Sex Work” Concept hides reality Work option for poor women Idea of choice

Slide11: 

"Instead of the question, 'Did she voluntarily consent to prostitution?' the more relevant question would be, 'Did she have real alteranatives to prostitution for survival?“ -Farley

Slide12: 

“The prostitution industry exploits to its advantage the fact that most women and children who are in prostitution come from the most oppressed and vulnerable groups in society. It also benefits greatly from the fact that women of color and indigenous women face additional levels of violence and oppression because of racism.” – Gunilla Ekberg

Criminal Activity: 

Criminal Activity Existence of crime syndicates Example of Amsterdam

Harms to Individuals in Prostitution: 

Harms to Individuals in Prostitution

Physical Harms- Medical: 

Physical Harms- Medical General health problems Cervical Cancer Traumatic Brain injury HIV

Slide16: 

“There are two experiences that unite women across culture and class, those of giving birth to life and the fear of male violence.” -Norma Hotaling

Physical Harms- Violence: 

Physical Harms- Violence Violence as “norm” Example of Netherlands Occurrence of rape “Safe” working conditions Murder

Slide18: 

“Although the physical violence of prostitution is brutal and pervasive, it pales in comparison to the emotional trauma of prostitution”- Melissa Farley (2005)

Psychological Harms Inherent In Prostitution: 

Psychological Harms Inherent In Prostitution Legalization does not eliminate psychological harm for women Verbal abuse

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder American Psychiatric Association definition Symptoms 9 Country Study

Slide21: 

“According to advocates of legalization or decriminalization of prostitution, the primary harm of prostitution is social stigma against prostitution. Those on all sides of the debate agree that women in prostitution are stigmatized. Socially invisible as full human beings, those in prostitution often internalize toxic public and private contempt directed against them.” –Melissa Farley

Stigma: 

Stigma Zoning issues Physical appearance of brothels Issue of registering as prostitute Not joining unions

Pimps: 

Pimps “Just as we know that violent men from all social classes batter women, so we also know that the difference between pimps who terrorize women on the street and pimps in business suits who terrorize women in gentlemen’s clubs is a difference in class only, not a difference in woman hating.”- Melissa Farley

Australia- State of Victoria: 

Australia- State of Victoria

Australia-Global Harms: 

Australia-Global Harms Trafficking Brothels accepting trafficked victims Work permit issue Child sex industry

Australia- Harm to Communities: 

Australia- Harm to Communities Street prostitution Illegal brothels Illegal activity

Australia- Harm to Communities- con’d: 

Australia- Harm to Communities- con’d Creation of a prostitution culture Advantage to government Effect on students Effect of competition Work place culture

Australia- Harm to the Individual: 

Australia- Harm to the Individual Rape “Safe sex” Pimping

Australia- Harm to the Individuals not in Prostitution: 

Australia- Harm to the Individuals not in Prostitution Harm on heterosexual relationships Pressure on young women

Alternatives to Legalization: 

Alternatives to Legalization Swedish Government INSTITUTE COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMING FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN DESIGNED BY SURVIVORS LISTEN TO WOMEN’S VOICES AND WOMEN’S NEEDS PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS Prevention Programs

Slide31: 

“We need to get away from “Pretty Woman” and emphasize that homeless women and poor women often experience prostitution, they are not rich and not making mad cash. If it is a “choice” it is one made with limited options. Young people on the street often experience exploitation. The public needs to look at the fact that it is should not be a male privilege to buy another human being for sexual services. The public should also know that customers are from all walks of life.” – Samir Goswami

References: 

References Farley, Melissa (2005). Prostitution Harms Women Even if Indoors. Violence Against Women: Volume 11 Number 17, 950-964 Farley, Melissa (2004). "Bad for the Body, Bad for the Heart": Prostitution Harms Women Even if Legalized or Decriminalized. Violence Against Women. Volume 10 Number 10, 1087-1125. Farley, M. (2004). Prostitution is Sexual Violence. Psychiatric Times, XXI(12),http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/article/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=175802490 Ekberg, Gunilla (2004). The Swedish Law that Prohibits the Purchase of Sexual Services: Best Practices for Prevention and Trafficking in Human Beings. Violence Against Women. Volumbe 10, Number 10, 1187-1218. Hughes, Donna M. (2004). Best Practices to Address the Demand Side of Sex Trafficking. Rhode Island, United States: University of Rhode Island, Women’s Studies Program. Hughes, Donna M. (2005). The Demand for Victims of Sex Trafficking. Rhode Island, United States: University of Rhode Island, Women’s Studies Program. Sullivan, Mary (2005). What Happe4ns When Prostitution Becomes Work? An Update on Legalisation of Prostitution in Australia. Coalition Against Trafficking in Women. North Amherst, Massachusetts. Farley, Melissa, Cotton, Ann, Lynne, Jacqueline, Zumbeck, Sybille, Spiwak, Frida, Reyes, Maria, Alvarez, Dinorah & Sezgin, Ufuk (