Julie Bindel's obsession with male sexuality hides that
it is women's poverty and lack of viable economic
alternatives that keep prostitution alive (Not a service
like any other, January 16). Most sex workers are
mothers and young people struggling to survive. Even
government research found that "74% of women working
indoors cited the need to pay household expenses and
support their children".
The proposal to criminalise clients arrogantly
assumes that researchers know what's best for those they
research. It disregards prostitute women's experience of
such criminalisation. Swedish sex workers describe being
forced underground, hunted by police, social workers,
media and even anti-prostitution feminists. Women are
now more apprehensive about seeking help and therefore
more vulnerable. Even supporters of the Swedish model
admit that promised resources for women to leave
prostitution have gone mainly to the police and
criminal-justice system.
While the Swedish model is promoted, New Zealand's
experience of decriminalisation is ignored. Yet
prostitute women there report being more able to report
violence without fear of arrest, crucial to decreasing
violence against all women. Some have come off the
streets and are working indoors.
Whatever anyone thinks about men paying for sex,
safety must be the priority. Enabling all women to
report violence and tackling the shameful 5.3%
conviction rate for rape are crucial. Or are police
resources to be diverted again into dealing with
consenting sex rather than violent crime?
Cari Mitchell
English Collective of Prostitutes
http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,,1997260,00.html
Sex
Workers
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Women Count