Quote of the day
From mythago, commenting on an otherwise deeply disturbing thread on Hugo Schwyzer’s blog where some commenters are actually defending Chris Brown.
We justify battering by pretending that grown men are like two-year-olds; aw, he can’t use his words, so he gets frustrated and takes a swing. And anyway she probably goaded him into it. In a previous era entire sitcoms were built around jokes about this.
Hugo’s post was excellent, but the comments are just scary. Not that I’m really surprised, though; anyone who says we live in a “post-feminist” world is full of it.
Death and joy never go together
On Twitter I saw a link to this post and then I saw some back-and-forth @ messaging between Sara and Griftdrift. I really don’t have time to be getting sucked into blog threads or writing one of my own right now; I’m at work and need to focus on work. But I do want to dash something off, because reading the thread at Griftdrift’s made me feel sick to my stomach.
I know the usual BS talking points: liberals are soft on crime. Whatever. This isn’t about being soft on crime. It’s about not taking such satisfaction, wipe your hands and be done w/ it, in the death of another human being.
Someone will probably say I’m trying to excuse what he did or say it’s okay. Um, hello, tell me where I said that. I get so frustrated when people put words like that in my mouth.
Far be it for me to tell anyone how to react in the face of a crime but it just seems to me like the guy in the car who shot and killed the guy over-reacted. That’s not really the right word because it sounds too much to me like people making excuses for rapists (even though this is a totally different situation, there are always assholes who will try to pretend that they’re not). But something just feels “off” about it. And it really, really bothers me.
Now, everyone has a right to defend themselves. Of course they do! And I don’t like how sometimes it seems like some people who identify as liberal or progressive are saying that people can’t defend themselves, don’t have a right to personal property, etc. To me that’s ridiculous and that’s not what I’m saying. Hello, I live in the city too and yes, we have a crime problem and no, I would not fault anyone for defending themselves against a crime, and no I do not think anything makes robbing “okay” nor do I care more about the robbers’ humanity/well-being than the victim’s!
However it’s not going to fix anything for everyone to be packing and go around shooting anyone who dares to ask for money. Until we address the underlying systemic issues that lead to so many people being in a position where they are begging for money and/or robbing others at gunpoint, we won’t actually make any progress. There has to be reform to the broken system rather than just reaction. And this is not to say some reaction is not necessary. (I feel like I can’t even get out what I want to say because I’m constantly anticipating strawman arguments in response. And I hate that word “strawman!”) But you can’t have just reaction; otherwise nothing changes. 1 in 100 adults in the U.S. are now incarcerated; tell me the system isn’t broken.
The other reason this disturbs me so much is because I’m afraid these same people (and in some cases I know it to be true) would take just as much glee in the antics of Steve Gower in midtown, persecuting and terrorizing street-based sex workers. It’s okay w/ them because it’s “crime” and who cares about those people anyway, who cares about their lives and circumstances, just get them out of my face where I don’t have to be made to feel uncomfortable. People have said “yay” and “good” to what Gower and others like him are doing and it makes me feel sick.
Situations like this really just make me worry about humanity. It makes my heart hurt and I’m not just being metaphorical when I say it makes me sick to my stomach. This is part of why I have such a problem trusting people. You never know when they’re going to turn around and rejoice because another human being is dead.
[Hitting post w/o proofreading - no time at the moment. Not that I bother most of the time anyway!]
Buzzwords vs. real people
God forbid, you can’t normalize and legitimize icky prostitution that I have such a personal moral problem with, because then…
-oh wait. Because then, stuff like this might not happen.
Well then.
Popular opinion: Hooker murders are icky, grisly, and wrong, because, well, murder is wrong but … well, thank goodness it was “just” a whore. No big whoop, right? And, well, that’s what she gets, you know? I mean, that’s just part of the risks of being a skanky ho.
This has me so pissed off right now. What the hell is wrong with people?
This “Well, thank goodness just a _____ died and not, like, a real normal, GOOD person” attitude strikes a real sore spot with me.
ETA: Oh, and also… don’t bother reading the comments on the Bastard Logic thread. Trust me.
My feelings on the bit of it I (regrettably) skimmed echo what GallingGalla said at The Curvature:
The comment thread on the bastard.logic story made me sick. A bunch of men (and especially one guy) making every excuse in the book for why the “sentence” was justified — probably enough to create a “hating on sex workers” bingo card.
Speaking of The Curvature, thanks to Cara for also posting about this on Feministe.
More ass-haberdashery
Well, Creative Loafing finally ran my letter to the editor. Ken Edelstein has a snarky response, which is easy material for those who enjoy fisking and playing “Spot the Logical Fallacy.” I typically don’t enjoy these pastimes, but in this case I can make quick work of a few of the most glaring eye-rollers.
1. “Organizers also asked Nouraee not to expose names and identities of those attending the meeting.”
Well, since I was one of the organizers, I’ll tell you what we actually said. Before the program began, we asked that members of the press not reveal anyone’s name or personal information without their explicit permission. We said that any individual should definitely feel free to agree to an interview; we simply asked that they step away from the program to do it, so as not to disturb others. (E.g., Caitlin was interviewed that night and included in another piece.) So this line about “Wah, he wasn’t allowed to expose anything!” is really stupid and easy to see through.
2. “Later, Nouraee tracked down a woman who was involved directly in an incident with Gower, and he quoted that woman, Cheryl Courtney-Evans, extensively in the article.”
Extensively? Go back and check the article again, Ken. I wouldn’t call a few lines, preceded by several paragraphs devoted to Gower on his nasty soapbox, “extensive.” Give me a break.
Edelstein closes with this, which I guess he intends to be a real zinger:
3. “Another point worth considering: Gower, whom Rhea describes as homophobic, is openly gay.”
You know, people make dumbass arguments like this one all the time, and yet every time I see it, I’m still amazed. (Several commenters on the original CL story trotted it out like a beacon of truth, and were properly taken to task by other commenters.) Gower is openly gay. And?
Just because you’re gay, doesn’t mean you can’t be homophobic. Arguments like this one show a profound lack of understanding of the way privilege and prejudice operate in our society. If you grow up in this society, no matter what your race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, class, etc., you internalize a degree of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and classism because these things operate on a structural level. (Which is why we can’t successfully fight against and dismantle them until we acknowledge them within ourselves.) Sure, Gower probably doesn’t sit up nights entertaining a bunch of consciously homophobic thoughts like, “Hey, I really hate faggots!” Because that’s not how it works. Whatever thoughts he may or may not have are irrelevant. His actions speak for themselves.
This is the same stupid shit as when people say, “I can’t be racist, some of my best friends are black!” Are you fucking kidding me?
And, anyway, let’s just allow for a minute that maybe Gower isn’t homophobic. Maybe he’s done all kinds of examining of societal conditioning and is totally not affected at all by it anymore. Again… so what?? He’s still an asshole, and an extremely dangerous one at that. So I don’t know what this triumphant “He’s gay!” declaration is supposed to prove.
Overall, CL’s continued defense of Gower is puzzling… -well, okay, not really. I don’t think many of us still buy into their self-proclaimed “alternative” status.
Update: Christ on a cracker. I just noticed the letters to the editor page has comments. The good news? A few of the comments there are sensible. The bad/annoying/hilarious (depending on my mood) news? Check out this comment:
Sex Worker Article Comment – It seems that Rhea has a uninformed image of prostitution. A life of a prostitute is nothing like what is portrayed in the movie Pretty Woman. Most prostitution is tragic and the people selling their bodies would probably rather be doing something better with their lives. Tragically, Rhea romanticizes the world of prostition. Internet images and radical ideologies due more harm than good for our public health. She needs to step away from the internet to see the world. She obviously hasnot seen families torn apart due to prostitution. It is very tragic.
Oh, this person knows me so well!
Also, ten points for using the loathsome, worn out, and wholly inaccurate term “selling their bodies.” NEXT!
My letter to Creative Loafing
The new issue of Creative Loafing is out, and they didn’t run my letter to the editor. (I had gotten an email from someone on their staff saying they might run it, which is why I waited before posting anything here.) So here it is. Later I might do a follow-up post where I expand on some of the points and include some other points that I had to cut out in order to keep it around 500 words.
—
I’m writing to express my disappointment with the 1.16.08 feature, “One man’s battle against Midtown prostitutes and their johns,” by Andisheh Nouraee.
There are two separate matters here. The first, and most obvious, is that Gower and Denby are dangerous vigilantes. I am glad that their deplorable tactics are being exposed.
It should go without saying that posting videos of sex workers on YouTube is a horrible idea. What is the goal? Sex workers – especially street prostitutes – are disproportionately the targets of violent crime. Violent criminals target sex workers because they know they can get away with it. (In fact, this was the exact justification given by Gary Ridgway, who was convicted of the murders of over 40 prostitutes.) Gower’s dehumanization of sex workers through his behavior and language perpetuates the cultural mores that make such violence acceptable.
But I am also disappointed with Nouraee’s treatment of the issue. Nouraee learned about Gower’s harassment of street workers at an event I helped organize at Charis Books, commemorating the 5th annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. After the program, he spoke with the other two organizers and me and expressed interest in learning more and possibly doing a story.
Nouraee sat through our program that night and listened as people recounted individual encounters with Gower, citing Gower’s blatant homophobia and transphobia. He listened as we discussed the glaring absence of sex workers’ voices in the media, as well as the fact that when sex workers are mentioned in the media, they are either troublemakers or victims – in other words, they’re not people; they’re useful objects in making a point and reinforcing a stereotype.
He spoke with several sex workers that night and a few weeks later, while doing research for this story. He expressed concern about making sure to include sex workers’ voices.
If Nouraee tried to speak with street prostitutes in Midtown and they did not want to speak to him, he could have mentioned it in the article. Reporters do this all the time (“so-and-so declined to comment”). If that were the case, he could also reflect on why sex workers might be wary of talking to a reporter. Could it be because they’re tired of having their words (and existence) twisted to fit whatever agenda is at hand?
Nouraee fails as an investigative reporter with this piece, especially as one for a paper that claims to be alternative. Terms like “transvestitute” and “real female” go unchallenged and uncorrected. Nouraee does not probe Gower about why Gower is so fixated on harassing prostitutes. He does not examine how the criminalization of prostitution perpetuates the violence that many people associate with street prostitution. He does not discuss the societal and economic conditions that lead to many transpeople working on the streets.
For people who are interested in learning more about sex workers’ rights activism, some good sources of information are SWOP-USA, Desiree Alliance, COYOTE and $pread Magazine.
A prelude
I am so angry I can barely see straight.
I’ve already Twittered about it. I will blog about it eventually. But I need to wait until my hands stop shaking, my heart stops pounding, and my stomach stops doing somersaults.
You want to know why I’m burned out on activism? Perfect fucking example.
Holy shit holy shit holy shit.
More to come, eventually. But right now, I need a DISTRACTION in a big way.
News, good and bad
The bad (awful, horrible, heart-wrenching) news it that on December 10, blogger and sex worker Razor Mick was stabbed six times and left for dead in a dumpster.
The good news (well, good given the situation) is that as of December 28, Razor Mick has been moved out of the ICU, and it’s looking like she’s going to make a full physical recovery.
It seems crass to remark on the closeness of this attack to the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, but the proximity of the dates did enter my mind as my stomach lurched.
Please keep Razor Mick in your thoughts, prayers, or whatever other goodwill-invoking mechanisms you prefer. Feel free to stop by her blog to leave some words of support, as her friends are passing all supportive messages along to her.
[Via Ren]
Hypocrisy and short-sightedness, with a dash of good old-fashioned ignorance
Why do I laugh in that not-so-funny kind of way whenever I see anti-prostitution/anti-porn crusaders supporting yet another law, program, or “vice crack-down” tactic purported to end the great societal evil that is the sex industry? Well, here’s one example of why, from Deborah Jeane Palfrey (also known as the D.C. Madam):
These cops — the vice cops, you know, the lowest on the food chain at the police department — they love to go after defenseless women. You know, it’s, it’s… It is something that I want to explore when this is all over — when my actual civil/criminal case is all over. I am even talking to some folks right now about putting together a documentary on what the police have done, do, and will continue to do to defenseless women in this country involved in the sex industry.
The very first person who emailed me when this all broke was a woman. And the subject header was: “My mother is an ex-madam.” She went on to explain who she was, and the terror that she, her mother, and her family experienced at the hands of the police. This particular email was followed up by many many others, all having their own little monikers. Some were very well-known madams who have stories to tell that will make your blood curdle.
And that’s why it gets ten times not funnier when it’s self-identified feminists signing on to support anti-prostitution legislation. What’s a little hypocrisy, in the grand scheme of things? We can overlook misogyny for the good of The Cause (as long as it only affects those women).
Oh, but I forgot, sex workers are Teh Patriarchy™’s darlings. Riiiiiight.
On a somewhat related note, write to Admin.ceos@usdoj.gov by Sept. 10th to oppose the proposed changes to Section 2257. Include in the subject line: Docket No.Crm104. The changes wouldn’t stop child porn, but they would put legal porn performers at risk for harassment and abuse (of which they already experience more than there fair share, from the public at large).
Shorter right-wing whiners:
…And “right-wing whiners” isn’t exactly apt, but I can’t think of a snappy description that doesn’t involve at least five adjectives, including references to stunted adolescence… ah, anyway, onto the point:
No fat jokes, no racist/stripper-bashing jokes, no sexist dumb blonde jokes, no misogynist (no, dumbass, “misogynist” is not a -joke-, not an -insult-, that is a -description-. “Dumbass” -is- an insult, yes, genius, very good), transphobic “Mann Coulter” jokes? Butbutbut then -where’s the funny in life?-
Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. Also: FREE SPEECH FREE SPEECH FREE SPEECH ZOMG HELP HELP I’M BEING OPPRESSED!!!111!!eleven
Feminist thread about class and pole dancing devolves…
Nobody’s listening, and I’m feeling incredibly distressed. And now they’re talking about Melissa Gira needs a “smack-down” – without even taking the time to read the first thing about her or anything she’s written. Well FUCK YOU. Yes, YOU. People I thought I trusted are showing their asses BIG TIME and I’m disgusted with it. And no I am not linking to the thread in question, and too damn bad if you want to cry about it. Go cry to someone who gives a shit, because I am past caring.
…Post about last night’s Social Media Club event coming. It will be ranty. But, overall, I am really trying to stay positive, because there is a lot to be excited about! And don’t worry I’m not seriously seething with anger or letting it consume me or anything. BUT:
People on that thread I’m alluding to here? Fuck right off unless you want to actually LISTEN. (And yes, some of ‘em on that thread DO want to listen. But not all. Not by a longshot.) I do NOT like feeling backed into a corner.