For this week, choose one of the following:
1. In 300 words or more, identify 5 things you learned about sex work and/or sex trafficking from both Weitzer essays. You must refer FOUR times to the Weitzer articles, at least two times from each Weitzer reading.
You must respond to ONE of your classmates in no less than 100 words.
OR
2. In 300 words or more, use 3 of this weeks readings to provide examples that help explain the difference between sex work and sex trafficking, and/or between sex work and criminal sex offense. Why do the these concepts get conflated? What do sex workers experiences tell us about agency and choice?
You must respond to ONE of your classmates in no less than 100 words.
Here is the classmates writing that need to response:
In Weitzers essays, they did a really good job at challenging essentialist/bad sex stigmas of sex work. After reading these texts, Weitzer has helped me to confirm presuppositions that shape my pro-sex work ideology. These texts used scientific data, public records, and studies to prove that the criminalization of sex work is a greater threat to our society then the legalization of sex work. Following are a few things these essays taught me.
1. Abolitionist crusades assert that the legalization of sex work will contribute to an increase in sex trafficking. In contrary to this assertion, the legalization of sex work decreases trafficking due to the enhanced government regulation and oversight of the legal sector. (Sex Work: Paradigms and PoliciesWeitzer)
2. Abolitionist/anti-prostitution crusades were successful in lobbying their interests during the George W. Bush administration. Abolitionist Feminist groups in collaboration with right winged politicians were able to institutionalize these moral crusades by consultation and Inclusion of activists in policy making, official recognition of crusade ideology, officials independent articulation of this ideology, and pragmatic and legal changes in accordance with this ideology. (Sex Work: Paradigms and PoliciesWeitzer)
3. I learned the definition and ideology of a abolitionist Feminist. It is someone who argues that the sex industry should be entirely eliminated because of its objectification and oppressive treatment of women, considered to be inherent in sex for sale. The groups who reject abolitionism have been increasingly marginalized as a result. (The Social Construction of Sex Trafficking)
4. Research shows, Sex workers show in increase in self-esteem and are very satisfied with being sex workers. An Australian study found that sex workers were incredibly satisfied and Princes comparative studied concluded that an array of sex worker in Nevada saw a spike in their self-esteem after being employed in the sex work industry. (The Social Construction of Sex Trafficking)
5. Within the wide array of sex workers, it is those who work indoors that have an advantage, more then the street walkers per se. In brothels, massage parlors, saunas, clubs, sex workers have their coworkers, personnel and other safety protocols to protect themselves from an unsafe encounter with a client. (The Social Construction of Sex Trafficking)
Quiz Question:
1.Regarding sex work, Weitzer (2010) argues for:
Select one:
a. the Oppression Paradigm
b. the Empowerment paradigm
c. the Polymorphous Paradigm
2. Weitzer (2007) identifies the discourse regarding sex trafficking as a moral crusade because: (select all that apply)
Select one or more:
a. moral crusades are reliant on horror stories and the oppression paradigm
b. moral crusades exaggerate both the gravity and scale of particular issues
c. moral crusades transform dynamic social issues into easily identifiable problems
d. moral crusades fight against injustice and work to rescue victims
3. In Siobhan Brooks interview, Gloria Lockett notes during her time as a sex worker she had issues with: (select all that apply)
Select one or more:
a. Having to bargain with clients
b. Her family being aware of her profession
c. Her pimp
d. The police
e. Racism
4.Laura Agustáns piece on migrant sex work differentiates between “trafficking victims” and migrant sex workers
Select one:
a.True
b.False
5.Dewey and St. Germains case study on the CANS law, “Crime Against Nature by Solicitation” in New Orleans exposed how the law: (select all that apply)
Select one or more:
a. Functioned to target black women and trans women sex workers
b. Put sex workers on the sex offender registry for the purpose of public safety
c. Punished sex workers appropriately
d. Was selectively enforced
Below is the the reading files for this assignment.
