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?
