All I have time for today are blockquote posts, but here’s another one everyone should read, from Elizabeth at Sex in the Public Square:
I no longer think that the exposing of clients is going to be the source of any great reduction in the stigma attached to sex work. Why? Because they always apologize.
They apologize by admitting their “sins” a la David Vitter or they apologize and resign their posts, a la Eliot Spitzer, but they always apologize, and by doing so they reinforce the impression that consciously and explicitly exchanging sex for money is wrong, and they reinforce the stigma. In fact they often refer to that stigma when they include in their apologies their regret for bringing shame on their families.
Note that they do not apologize for any mistreatment of the workers. They apologize for being clients in the first place.
So my new call on Labor Day is a call to the clients and not a call to the workers. Clients of the sex workers of the world: stand up for the people whose work you are paying for. Treat those workers respectfully and protect their safety and don’t apologize for paying for their services.
Yes, you may have much to apologize for:
Apologize if you have actively worked to keep the services you pay for criminalized.
Apologize if you have said insulting, demeaning or paternalistic things about sex workers.
Apologize if you have contributed to the shaming of sex workers.
Apologize if you have jeopardized the health of a sex worker.
Apologize if you have committed violence against a sex worker.
And by all means apologize if you have lied to your partner about sex you are having with other people.
But for being a client of a sex worker?
Please, no more apologies. We can’t afford them.
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