Raising Awareness Against Sex Trafficking - Hypocrisy?
Hey Everyone -
I am currently nearing the end of my undergraduate years, with a heavy focus on social psychology and law. I have worked (very) part time as a freelance stripper for almost two years now, which has ultimately served to pique my interest in the human trafficking industry. Had I not become involved with the strip-club scene, it is likely that I would not have gained the exposure currently driving my interest in this issue.
So my question is this:
In hopes of tackling the problem of human trafficking - at the very least on my campus - I'm planning to conduct experiments regarding the perception of the human trafficking in my social psychology lab, as well as start a student awareness group. The purpose of the awareness group would be to disseminate information to the public, educate students on how to identify the problem within our own city, discuss the laissez-faire laws regarding the issue in Canada, raise funds for those on the front lines, and volunteer at shelters so that those without exposure may be able to see the problem first hand, at least on a small scale.
My close friends and family are aware of my part-time job, but it is not something that I am open about on campus. If I become vocal and create a presence on campus, despite only working about twice a month, it is possible that I will be recognized by at least a couple of people. I am not anti-prostitution nor anti-exotic dancing; I am anti-force/anti-coercion/anti-trafficking. I believe that there is a difference between being morally didactic and fighting against modern day slavery/campaigning for basic human rights.
Do you think that, as a part-time stripper, my efforts will be met with support or cries of hypocrisy?
Any feedback would be very much appreciated. :optimist:
Re: Raising Awareness Against Sex Trafficking - Hypocrisy?
Sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking, is your focus human trafficking for all forms of labor or just sex trafficking. Often ppl conflate the two when one is just a sub-category of a much larger issue.
Where Id find it hypocritical it that it is very difficult to find materials beyond the Open Society Institute, select academics, and a few blogs that are able to discuss anti-sex trafficking without taking on an overall anti-sexwork tone. Id be curious which organizations you plan to take resources from and if youre ready to deal with people just lazily funneling their anti-sexwork stigma into an important cause... which unfortunately is the case for the majority of anti-sextrafficking organizations, forums, etc. You'd be atrracting a lot of people who hate sex work and patrons of the sex industry in general who are unable to see shades or grey of even comprehend consensual participation in this industry. Like Id be curious what days of action would be - would they be slogans like "Real Men Dont Buy Girls or Sex" or whatever Ashton Kutcher's big schtick was (which is a sly way to attack the masculinity of *all* patrons of the sex industry) ... or would be something more nuanced and thoughtful.
Personally as someone who was a sex worker while in school I avoided the anti-sextrafficking group like the plague (well they said anti-human trafficking but all they focused on was the sex industry, which is common). They hated sex work, not coercion of any kind of labor and the trade of human bodies for many forms of labor. Their days of action were basically ways to mock patrons of the sex industry and to blast sex work in general. They also bemoaned and robbed the agency of all "Third world women" bc they assumed being in a developing country meant you have no agency when it comes to sex work... despite the numerous sex work advocacy organizations that exist abroad. It was intolerable. Many anti-sextrafficking organizations completely ignore sex work advocacy groups in the countries they focus on... worse, they tend to completely bypass the US as being a host of sex trafficking (I think screening a documentary like "Very Young Girls" and raising funds for GEMS would be useful). Ive rarely seen people capable of being able to be advocates of sex workers and capable of being against sex trafficking. The two things are not incompatible but the few ones capable of doing it well are usually sex worker activists-- Audacia Ray, Melissa Gira Grant, titsandsass.com contributors have said/written smart articles about it.
Personally if I knew you and went to school with you - I wouldnt accuse you of hypocrisy but Id want to know what your intentions are and try to assess where youre coming from. Mostly bc I think taking a largely sex worker supportive organization would be something Id be more interested in - since despite being coerced, those who are trafficked are sex workers for the period they are forced. The sex industry also has one of the highest mortality rates of almost any other labor industry - so Id want to know why the focus is on one sector of the sex industry. Particularly one that is filled with organizations that have a history of overall disgust with the industry we both benefit from. For example SWOP (sex worker organizing project) chapters take a very firm anti-sextrafficking stance, so Id be curious why not just create a SWOP if you have no issues with the industry and still take an anti-sexrafficking stance within it... because youd be creating an org with resources and support from advocacy groups that ... basically dont hate you and your job and the patrons of your job. Despite it being part time.
But that's just me and my history with college activists. Your approach may be way more thoughtful and compassionate, but Id be curious about what itd look like in application when you need to recruit and retain other participants.
Re: Raising Awareness Against Sex Trafficking - Hypocrisy?
Thank you for your thoughtful response!
Re: Why not look at the sex trade as a whole -
While this would be a very admirable undertaking, my idea was that the more narrow the scope the bigger the difference we can make (as opposed to groups that send out vague blasts that come across as complaining more than action, as you mentioned). My interest is in trafficking (of all kinds) as a human rights issue, but because of my personal experience in the industry I feel that I am better equipped to handle trafficking related to sexual services in Canada. I would be careful not to exclude other types of trafficking, but would limit my focus to sex trafficking and highlight the issue in our own country in hopes of creating a more educational and productive environment. The common misconception that trafficking is something that only occurs in far away lands ( & not involving Canadians as sex tourists) is a myth to be eradicated.
I am considering working with Love 146, and focusing on child sex trafficking. In Canada, the minimum sentence for child trafficking is a measly five years. I think that this needs to be changed. Aside from issues regarding the law, I would be interested in following Love 146's aftercare and prevention model, and taking a victim focus. Having been in contact with patrons at the strip club who have opened up to me about hiring child prostitutes from local services, I believe that this is an important issue to address. If the group can educate and instill compassion in the student body, my hope is that more people will go on to be advocates for child trafficking, but also trafficking in general.
Essentially, the aim would be calm education as opposed to angry attacks.
Another important point to make is that, coming from a psychology background, I think that it is important not to paint the issue black-and-white... Discussing solutions such as rehabilitation programs for those involved in the purchasing of child prostitutes is also important. These men are likely suffering in their own ways, whether they have committed crimes or not. That should not be ignored.
Re: Raising Awareness Against Sex Trafficking - Hypocrisy?
London, you could always start your own group. Joining another group that doesn't share your beliefs 100% will dilute your message. Once you're strong enough, you *might* be able to educate other groups on this subject - from a sex worker's perspective.
The Desiree Alliance holds a yearly conference that is ran by and for sex workers. You could offer to do a workshop.
Ugh, I can't stand Ashton Kutcher and his mega uninformed campaign.
Re: Raising Awareness Against Sex Trafficking - Hypocrisy?
Thanks Tabitha. The idea of starting my own group is definitely an interesting one. I think that doing so, however, may limit the power of the advocacy (as opposed to starting the first Canadian branch of an already well-established message). The group that I mentioned, Love 146, is not against the sex trade in general. It does not mention it. This is where I'm coming from - not aiming to hide my personal involvement in the trade per say, but definitely not advertising it because I would not want that to be the focus. I think that if the sex trade in general was my focus, then the group would attract the type of people that roast mentioned. I plan to make it very salient that the group is a human rights group that is NOT anti-prostitution nor a platform for angry feminists.
I 100% agree that Ashton Kutcher's campaign is ineffective. Aside from the fact that they exclude boys being trafficked, I do not respect the low blows at the men purchasing the services. I think that everyone involved is a victim in some way or another to varying degrees, and that the focus of negativity should be on those actually orchestrating the trafficking, brothels etc. We need to come together and work as a team to turn things around for everyone else involved in a positive and empowering way (i.e., educating high school students on trafficking in hopes of preventing their potential future involvement).
Re: Raising Awareness Against Sex Trafficking - Hypocrisy?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
londonxx
Having been in contact with patrons at the strip club who have opened up to me about hiring child prostitutes from local services, I believe that this is an important issue to address.
Seriously?! :O
I am admittedly stunned that any guy would admit this to a grown woman. That was quite depressing to read. :( For guys that do this sort of thing, I am personally a big believer in baseball bat therapy, but anyway...
As a very heavy user of SCs and a sporadic purchaser of other services, my initial knee-jerk reaction to your question was: Why in the world would anyone assume that you are a hypocrite because you worked as a stripper? Why would anyone think that there is a tie-in between strip clubs and human trafficking?
However, IMHO roast's comments were very on point in that many of the groups that are purportedly working against human trafficking seem to use the broader sex work industry as a target for their wrath. In fact, in all candor, here in the U.S., purported concerns about human trafficking are often used as the fig leaf justification to crack down on escort services, massage parlors, dicier strip clubs, and other forms of sex services. The funny thing is that, in the vast majority of busts relating to supposed human trafficking, not only do they not find girls who were coerced into selling their services, but they actually end up prosecuting many of the girls that they purportedly set out to save!
Now I am not saying that human trafficking is not a real concern or that it does not happen here in the U.S., but it would be nice if LE and advocacy groups spent their time and resources actually targeting real human trafficking rings, sources and servicing locations, rather than simply using it as an excuse to try to eliminate mainstream adult entertainment services.
It is my hope that, someday, we will read a news headline where the FBI, ICE, or another LE agency actually makes a bust that makes a difference in the human trafficking area. Now the time and work involved in actually identifying the shadowy world of child and unwitting immigrant prostitution is likely much more intensive, and thankless, than a bust of some walk-in AMP, but it would also be much useful. I have no doubt that there are victims out there that could use the help.
Anyway, just my :twocents:
Re: Raising Awareness Against Sex Trafficking - Hypocrisy?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rickdugan
In fact, in all candor, here in the U.S., purported concerns about human trafficking are often used as the fig leaf justification to crack down on escort services, massage parlors, dicier strip clubs, and other forms of sex services. The funny thing is that, in the vast majority of busts relating to supposed human trafficking, not only do they not find girls who were coerced into selling their services, but they actually end up prosecuting many of the girls that they purportedly set out to save!
Agreed, shit many arrest campaigns on massage parlors in particular arein partnerships with ICE - so the women caught who are undocumented get immediately deported without any services --- or end up in holding cells for a few years if they even have the capital to attempt to raise asylum concerns, but many of those are rejected. It is a broken system that is oft funded by [dont want to make a politics or religious comment] instead of driven by true investigation into trafficking situation. Hell many states prosecute girls under 18 who are busted for "prostitution", I mean, if you cant even consent to sex how are you capable of being a willing provider of sexual services. Unfortunately many young girls are arrested and convicted in sting operations and charged as an adult for prostitution by "human trafficking" departments of law enforcement. It makes no sense, clearly people (aka adults) are trafficking them. Given the entry age into the sex industry in the US is apparently 15 years old... something is very very wrong. But 15 year old WOC in the Bronx don't tug the heartstrings for some mindboggling reason so anti-sextrafficking organizations go abroad instead.
OP I think your conviction is important and I hope youre able to speak up about these important issues - I think more intelligence and thoughtfulness is needed when people discuss sexual exploitation, and you appear to have it so... right on.
Re: Raising Awareness Against Sex Trafficking - Hypocrisy?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
roast
Hell many states prosecute girls under 18 who are busted for "prostitution", I mean, if you cant even consent to sex how are you capable of being a willing provider of sexual services. Unfortunately many young girls are arrested and convicted in sting operations and charged as an adult for prostitution by "human trafficking" departments of law enforcement. It makes no sense, clearly people (aka adults) are trafficking them. Given the entry age into the sex industry in the US is apparently 15 years old... something is very very wrong. But 15 year old WOC in the Bronx don't tug the heartstrings for some mindboggling reason so anti-sextrafficking organizations go abroad instead.
They are used once by the traffickers then twice by the predators, then a third time by the law enforcement community that preys on them to up their conviction rate. Disgusting.
I don't think there is a disconnect between being a dancer and anti sex trafficking. Go do your thing!! Please share what happens and share events this community should hear about.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rickdugan
Seriously?! :O
I am admittedly stunned that any guy would admit this to a grown woman. That was quite depressing to read. :( For guys that do this sort of thing, I am personally a big believer in baseball bat therapy, but anyway...
Quote of the fucking DAY!!