Buying Sex...?

May 3, 2013

SO its HotDocs season here in Toronto and I saw “Buying Sex.”  There is a lot to say about the subject of decriminalizing sex work in Canada. This movie brings out several viewpoints and allows for you to infer many more.

Originally I was a no questions asked supporter of decriminalization. I believe in giving women the power to choose their careers and sex work is work.  Then I saw some viewpoints that had me question this whole thing.

Don’t get me wrong, I still support decriminalizing sex work…however, the Supreme Court only addressed the Bawdy House law and the Living off of the Avails. It did not allow for communicating in public for prostitution.  What this means is that women on the street are still doing things hurriedly to get out of the open. This prevents them from being able to do their necessary safety checks. It really is to encourage people to stay off of the street, but ends up criminalizing the workers (and not the john’s)

The idea that bawdy houses are secure still gives pimps power and women who are marginalized or have other societal issues such as addiction or abuse, might still feel subject to their ownership, rather than be independent workers.

Trisha B. made a good point-- certain women will not be taken on indoors and left to be subjected to hazards of unlawful pimps and street safety issues. The ideal-- big breasted blonde haired or coveted Asian princesses-- will be the focus. The other women will still not have a choice

…..but is this really about removing the criminal aspect of sex work?....or is this about other issues and sex work has been made the big deal?

Some men hate women and keeping prostitution criminalized isn’t going to change that. Some men feel like if they are going to buy a woman it will be a fantasy- tiny, Asian and delicate (etc). That has nothing to do with sex work…that has to do with desire. Heck some children are put out on the street by their mothers…also not about the law since the law firmly opposes (even with decriminalization) the trafficking of people under 18. These are issues that need to be dealt with at face value. 

Sex work clouds those issues and ignores problems such as power differences, racism, sexism, child abuse, intergenerational effects of colonization (yes I went there)….and so on.

This movie also brings up the idea that decriminalization is a way to tell men it is ok to buy women and devalue their worth. Bah…I have been working non-sex jobs since I was 15 (retail, hospitality…the other service industries). I have been treated badly and demoralized by every system, gender and race of person on various occasions…mainly because I was not seen as good enough in their eyes.  You do not have to be a prostitute to be devalued…..(how did you treat your fast food worker today…especially if they didn’t look “Canadian”?)

So this circle talk that I am known for comes back to this: Decriminalize sex work so that women that want to work independently can make a safe choice.  Normalize the profession so that people do not treat the women as wayward mishaps. At the same time, address the other societal issues such as abuse and drug addiction so that people are not coerced or forced into this work.

I’m pro choice- no matter what. But it has to be a choice, and not the only one you have.

I’m just bringing my thoughts out…what do you ythink?