Religion and Ethics Forum

Religion and Ethics Discussion => Philosophy, in all its guises. => Topic started by: Nearly Sane on August 19, 2017, 11:04:54 AM

Title: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Nearly Sane on August 19, 2017, 11:04:54 AM
Powerful piece of writing from Julie Bindel


https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/08/most-sex-workers-are-modern-day-slaves/
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Shaker on August 19, 2017, 11:08:57 AM
I can't read the article due to constant pop-ups inviting me to subscribe for unlimited access, but seeing who it's by, and being only too familiar with this ghastly woman from The Guardian (where she is regularly, rightly and often quite brilliantly crucified), I'm not missing anything.
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Sriram on August 19, 2017, 12:21:08 PM
Powerful piece of writing from Julie Bindel


https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/08/most-sex-workers-are-modern-day-slaves/


It is obvious isn't it?!  How can anyone possibly imagine that prostitution and porn are career choices for women?!  ::)
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Nearly Sane on August 19, 2017, 12:24:19 PM

It is obvious isn't it?!  How can anyone possibly imagine that prostitution and porn are career choices for women?!  ::)
why single out women?
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Shaker on August 19, 2017, 12:42:36 PM
It is obvious isn't it?!
Only if you don't like thinking.

Quote
How can anyone possibly imagine that prostitution and porn are career choices for women?!  ::)
You don't have to imagine; try finding some and asking.

You know, that thing which is such a mystery to you - evidence.
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Sriram on August 19, 2017, 12:52:37 PM
why single out women?


Ok...for men too!
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Rhiannon on August 20, 2017, 10:52:39 AM
Oh no, the oppression.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/item/af17c3e5-02aa-40ce-8d7f-ba57a07a934c
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Harrowby Hall on August 20, 2017, 11:15:09 AM
I can't read the article due to constant pop-ups inviting me to subscribe for unlimited access, but seeing who it's by, and being only too familiar with this ghastly woman from The Guardian (where she is regularly, rightly and often quite brilliantly crucified), I'm not missing anything.

I found it interesting and thought provoking. It made me think about the women caught in the trap of prostitution and the quality of their lives. Also - as someone who believes that prostitution should be decriminalised and regulated - it made me consider that the real beneficiaries of such actions might largely be the pimps brothel owners, not the "working women" who may continue to be enslaved.
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Shaker on August 20, 2017, 11:21:53 AM
I found it interesting and thought provoking.

That would be a first, in my experience.

Quote
It made me think about the women caught in the trap of prostitution and the quality of their lives. Also - as someone who believes that prostitution should be decriminalised and regulated - it made me consider that the real beneficiaries of such actions might largely be the pimps brothel owners, not the "working women" who may continue to be enslaved.
Being caught in any kind of trap is a negative thing. Unfortunately Bindel and her fellow travellers have a script from which they never deviate, namely, that they are the arbiters of who is caught in a trap, never mind what other people themselves say about their own lives. It matters not a jot that somebody says, "No, actually, I don't feel that I'm in any kind of trap or anybody's slave"; Bindel knows best, and she decides who is enslaved (which is almost anybody in possession of XX chromosomes, basically).
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Rhiannon on August 20, 2017, 11:28:03 AM
I found her article one sided. Do I really believe that every woman she interviewed was unhappy? Do I really believe that every punter she interviewed was a callous bastard? No.

Clearly there are terrible issues with some aspects of the sex trade. Trying to ban it though is insane. As one of the women in the clip I posted said, her big fear is that paying for sex becomes illegal, because that will drive the decent punters away and leave only the criminals who are far more likely to be abusive. I really don't believe it's impossible to regulate the criminal element out of the industry.
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Shaker on August 20, 2017, 11:33:12 AM
I found her article one sided. Do I really believe that every woman she interviewed was unhappy? Do I really believe that every punter she interviewed was a callous bastard? No.

This is straight from the Bindel et. al. playbook. Everyone is a victim; everyone is a survivor. (Note the language used). Counterexamples are waved away or, at best, explained away by other stock phrases from the script.

To my mind, far from advancing feminism, it's one of the most derogatory and anti-women things you can advance.
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Rhiannon on August 20, 2017, 11:36:03 AM
I don't know her reputation or work at all, but it's obvious that's a sloppy, one sided piece of journalism.
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Shaker on August 20, 2017, 11:41:51 AM
I don't know her reputation or work at all, but it's obvious that's a sloppy, one sided piece of journalism.
She used to write for the Guraniad. Check out the archives there, and especially the comments.
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Rhiannon on August 20, 2017, 11:49:22 AM
I'll probably just get annoyed. Better things to do on a Sunday.
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Shaker on August 20, 2017, 11:51:14 AM
I'll probably just get annoyed. Better things to do on a Sunday.
Like strip dominoes, or painting the cat and what have you.
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: floo on August 20, 2017, 01:52:17 PM
It is so sad some people engage in this morally corrupt trade, whether because they wish to, or because it is forced upon them. :o
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Rhiannon on August 20, 2017, 01:53:07 PM
Why is it morally corrupt if it's a free choice?
Title: Re: "Most sex workers are 'modern day slaves'"
Post by: Shaker on August 20, 2017, 02:06:27 PM
It is so sad some people engage in this morally corrupt trade, whether because they wish to, or because it is forced upon them. :o
What's corrupt about if you choose it? Some people actually do - despite what others would have you believe.

As George Carlin of blessed memory put it: fucking is legal. Selling (many) things is legal. Why isn't selling fucking legal?*

* Speaking as an American there since in the US prostitution IIRC is illegal in all but one state (Nevada), whereas it isn't here.