Sex worker: What's in a name?

[Guest jeffOH]

As a semi-retired escort/prostitute/hooker/sex worker, you can call me anything you want as long as I'm gettin' paid! lol Over 15 years ago, I made a conscious decision to become a sex worker.

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December 18, 2006

from http://www.rawstory.com

 

Sex worker: What's in a name?

 

Here’s an interesting tidbit.

 

The State Department's office combating human trafficking issued a directive Friday to US agencies urging them to avoid using terms "sex worker" or "child sex worker" and even advised governments not to use them.

"Of course, one can rationalize words such as 'sex worker' and "child sex worker" in an effort to avoid a demeaning label such as 'prostitute," said John Miller, the office's director.

 

"However, there are other substitutes such as 'women used in prostitution' or 'sexually exploited children' that are neither pejorative nor pretend that violence to women and children is 'work,'" said Miller, who retired Friday after campaigning extensively across the globe to stem the human trafficking problem. (Emphasis added)

 

 

Huh. Where to start.

 

First of all, I fail to see how “women used in prostitution” is somehow better than “sex worker.” Used? Thanks for the agency, guys! And since when are all sex workers women? But that’s not the point.

 

I’m all for accurately describing situations—if someone is being forced into prostitution, let’s call it that. If someone is being forcibly trafficked, let’s call it that as well. If a kid is being exploited, by all means, call that shit out.

 

But issuing a directive that the term “sex worker” not be used? Come on. Who the fuck is this guy to decide the preferred nomenclature? Because the thing is, he clearly has a definite view that most, if not all, of prostitution is forced.

 

"People called 'sex workers' did not choose prostitution the way most of us choose work occupations," Miller said.

Miller says that the majority of people in prostitution are “victims of slavery” and that 89 percent want to "escape." I don’t know the study he’s citing so I can’t speak to numbers. I agree that it seems ridiculous to call a minor a “child sex worker” because it implies that a child can consent to sex, but the rest of it is just too sketch for me.

 

There’s a lot of power in language, and the ability to name yourself is pretty damned important. I know of a few groups that use the term “sex worker,” if you know of any other organizations please list them in comments. You know, so women can speak for themselves.

 

Also, this is a great book.

 

Posted by Jessica at 10:24 AM | in News , Sex , Work

http://www.rawstory.com

[alanalt]

I'm not rushing to this guy's defence, but I do want to comment that he does/did work for the State Department, so he's I suspect he's not talking about sex workers in the U.S. And from my p.o.v. in most of the countries of the world, his comments aren't that off base in that in the majority of prostitutes/sex workers/whatever do not enter their 'career' willingly, most are women, and they are very often coerced/abused by others. If that's the case, I would agree that he should have made that context clearer, but maybe he did and it just didn't make it into the article (a BIG fault in modern journalism).

 

Now, in general, I'm cranky about the increasing 'weaponization' of language. Whether it's motivated by political correctness or something else it seems that there are more and more words and phrases that you're not 'supposed' to use for fear of offending 'somebody'. Personally, if I'm using a word, it means what 'I' choose it to mean in the context of a wider sentence/idea that I'm expressing. If someone chooses to take offence by slecting that word out of context or invest it with a meaning that I did not intend, then that's their problem, not mine.

 

If I choose to insult someone (which I don't do very often), then I'll do it openly, using the appropriate language (that's what it's there for LOL) and take the consequences that come from doing so. But it seems to me that there are way too many people out there who are looking to be insulted/offended and are thus prepared to read 'subliminal' messages that, all to often, were never there.

 

OK, I've ranted enough!

[Epigonos]

Alanalt congragultions on a concise, clear, and timely post. I couldn't possibly agree more with everything you wrote. Well done!!!!!