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Socialist approach to sex workers
I want to discuss how we, as radicals aiming to liberate women from all forms of sexist oppression and abolish wage-labour, should approach sex workers. I've been thinking about this issue recently, after reading an article in Organise which included interviews with a professional dominatrix, and an activist working to organize sex workers.
I am of the opinion that, although there are many different forms of sex worker (ranging from women who periodically provide escort services in order to fund higher education or supplement their main income, to women who are engaged in bonded labour in developing countries) women generally enter sex work because they have no other form of work available. In this respect, I disagree with the argument put forward by some Anarchist groups - that women make a choice, and voluntarily enter into the sex trade, because the concept of "choice" only has meaning when other viable alternatives exist.
Sex work can sometimes take the form of wage labour, when women are employed by a brothel, or an authority figure who manages their appointments and negotiates the transaction with clients (commonly known as a "pimp") In such cases, like all other proletarians, sex workers are exploited - they are paid less than the value of their labour.
As our ultimate objective, we should therefore aim to eradicate exploitative sex work (that is, sex work where a wage-labour transaction exists) although it may be desirable to provide sex with no attached conditions for those seeking sexual gratification in a socialist society. However, in the transitional period, we should push for the complete legalization of sex work regardless of the service provided. When sex work is legal, women who are abused will be able to bring charges against the abuser without fear of negative legal repercussions, form unions in order to negotiate improvements in their working conditions and remuneration, and draw attention to the problems that they face. Sex work is closely connected with another issue of concern for socialists - immigration - as illegal immigrants are often employed in the sex trade (relative to the legal resident population) and those caught offering sex as a commodity are often deported to their countries of origin. Police have, in several cases, used cards displayed in phone booths to track down prostitutes by posing as clients, and, once they have located a prostitute working from home, force landlords to evict sex workers with the threat of legal punishment.
Clearly, then, legalizing sex work is a matter of the utmost importance for Socialists, and should be a demand of equal importance to removing restrictions on abortion. I would be interested to see whether anyone would actually argue for the continued restriction of sex work.
I basically agree with your perspective here. We have to deal with a lot of immediate problems for women, and we shouldn't ever forget the complex societal implications of sex work (which are of course dependent on many factors of the general society), but I think it would almost certainly be an important societal function.
I would agree with your analysis, particularly with regards to the issue of choice. I highly doubt that most women would willingly choose to enter the sex industry if given a viable choice, and most are forced into prostitution primarily for economic reasons.
This has always been an issue of great interest for me, particularly as it seems to get very little coverage or analysis on the left.
When Injustice Becomes Law, Resistance Becomes Duty.
Yes i agree , I think its of a great deal of importance to adopt this approach during the transitional period for reasons already stated .
"Marxist psychology is not a school amidst schools, but the only genuine psychology as a science. A psychology other than this cannot exist. And the other way around: everything that was and is genuinely scientific belongs to Marxist psychology" -Lev Vygotsky
"The Bolsheviks have shown that they are capable of everything that a genuine revolutionary party can contribute within the limits of historical possibilities. They are not supposed to perform miracles. For a model and faultless proletarian revolution in an isolated land, exhausted by world war, strangled by imperialism, betrayed by the international proletariat, would be a miracle."
-Rosa Luxemburg
I think that there is a lot to be said for the idea of a sex workers union. The IWW already has an IU (690) for sex workers that aims to give solidarity and support to all sex workers, just for like any other worker.
Liberation of such an oppressive trade can only be complete through organisation, I feel. Of course if we're talking about a transitional period then the legalisation of prostitution would certainly help, just like bobkindles suggests, but that still leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation from pimps and bosses.
Why would an anarchist say that most people (or sex workers specifically) have a choise in what to work?
For most that's impossible under capitalism.
There are material reasons that compel people to work, if not you starve.
Some jobs are easier for some, some pay more than others, etc. Some jobs are accessible to you and others aren't.
I do agree that sex work should be treated like any other work: that it can be unionized, etc.
Last edited by Raúl Duke; 7th February 2008 at 20:03.
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I think you're right. It would help protect the women who do choose to go into that field for whatever their reasoning. I also think they should able to be unions.
While I see what you're saying sometimes people do have choices. However now days I would agree more with you.
The IWW has a sex workers union. Sex workers are just that - workers. Hence, they should be fought for and organized just like a factory worker or janitor deserves. However, I think it would be very hard to organize with illegal sex workers such as prostitutes (in places where prostitution is illegal) because the illegality of their work would make it very hard (if not impossible) to gain any sort of bargaining rights, etc. Maybe there's a way to work around that, but I can't think of one. Plus, I doubt many of the large crime organizations that run the illegal sex trade are too friendly to unions.
Last edited by Red October; 8th February 2008 at 01:49.
Not all such people are workers, of course. There are also members of the the petty-bourgeoisie among the "escort/prostitute" milieu.
Another problem is that even many of those who are workers are in an informal sector and/or have conditions of life that promote individualism moreso than say, a workers in a fast food restaurant.
And then the whole thing is tied up in the question of the communist approach to the "sex industry" more generally. I think this points in the right direction: The Question of Prostitution
"Getting a job, finding a mate, having a place to live, finding a creative outlet. Life is a war of attrition. You have to stay active on all fronts. It's one thing after another. I've tried to control a chaotic universe. And it's a losing battle. But I can't let go. I've tried, but I can't." - Harvey Pekar
This is an important topic. While I don't agree with criminilization of prostitutes, I get infuriated when some fucking anarchist tries to outdo me in social liberalism by saying there is absolutely no difference between someone packing shelves or someone opening their legs for someone they've never met before.
Sex is very personal, and as Bob Kindles said- where are the viable alternatives?
I believe in criminalising organised prostitution where surplus value is made but allowing individual acts of prostitution.
Legalised pimping is about as exploitative as you can get.
But you know it's cool to be really permissive, even to the detriment of someones personal dignity.
Because individual acts of prostitution do not result in 'surplus value?!'
Exploitation is not a moral term.
So don't make it one.
Last edited by Marsella; 8th February 2008 at 03:50.
Technically, no - "individual" prostitutes (that is, those that work independent of a pimp or brothel) are not engaged in the production of a commodity for a capitalist and do not sell their labour power - they sell a commodity in the form of a sexual service and so there is no "profit" involved. This transaction can be expressed as a basic circulation of commodity - C-M-C - the sex worker has a commodity (the sexual service which she is able to provide with her body) which she sells, in exchange for a sum of money (signified m) which she can use to purchase other commodities. This is distinct from capitalist production M-C-C'-M'
I agree, however, that there is no reason to draw a distinction between "organized" prostitution and "individual" prostitution - the lack of viable alternatives and the demand for sexual satisfaction means that "organized" prostitution will continue to exist despite its illegal status, and it's better for the women working in this industry if they are legal workers.
Which was why I said 'surplus value.'
My question was why we should be for banning prostitution when it creates surplus value, but when someone prostitues themselves we should argue for its legality.
How does this separate it? Do we call for the banning of McDonalds?
What do you mean about 'the lack of viable alternatives'? Viable alternatives meaning jobs?
so would there still be Pimps and Madams? you know or would this people be obsolete once sex work is legalized and unionized?
we need more revolutions and less "isms"
also an other question. lets say in the next few years.. a state of a country gets a governor that's able to push for the legalization of sex workers... obviously we would still be under capitalism and such. hmmm.. what would be the initial steps.. what would change etc?
we need more revolutions and less "isms"
what do you guys make of these comments by a girl-friend of mine. regarding the issue..
I just think that all sex workers, prostitutes, porn stars, escorts its just an easy way to make money. Get a real job. or two jobs whatever its necessary. but damn! have some self respect!
Why would I, as a woman want to legalize something that's so degrading? Men already think they can buy woman! Let's just make it legal then??? Then we can all come to realize that woman are JUST like pieces of meat!
Prostitutes chose to put themselves in this positions. so if they get slapped and abused by their pimps or customers they don't deserve help or support. they wanted to be in that situation. I cant feel bad for them. get a real job!
Obviously she is not like a socialist or looking at it the way we do. but this is the way a lot of woman think... sadly. what can we say?
we need more revolutions and less "isms"
Read the essay I linked to earlier and approach the issue from that (communist) direction.
"Getting a job, finding a mate, having a place to live, finding a creative outlet. Life is a war of attrition. You have to stay active on all fronts. It's one thing after another. I've tried to control a chaotic universe. And it's a losing battle. But I can't let go. I've tried, but I can't." - Harvey Pekar
thanks im reading it as we speak...
Now it seems to me that many people, Men and Women all believe that most of these women (prostitutes) chose this life style.. like they planned to sell their body and wouldn't have it other way. Obviously I find that hard to believe. But then again I, like you all. look at this from a communist point of view. And they are just obviously not.
I've met some prostitutes female and trans-gender. while i was held in police custody. And they opted to prostitute as opposed to making $6.75 an hour at a fast food restaurant. OK. Is that really the only reason? I mean there are jobs. shitty ones, low paying ones... but can it just be MONEY that drives a person to become a prostitute?
I mean we can go to the fucking ghettos and probably find many young girls working those shit jobs. How come they aren't prostitutes?
Better upbringing?
"Self respect" I hear this "self respect" thing a lot
Im just fucking confused.
we need more revolutions and less "isms"
Lots of questions RPAS. As for the comments made by your friend, she is right in saying that prostitution is degrading, as sex workers often suffer abuse at the hands of their clients, but clearly she does not understand why women actually decide to enter the sex industry - it's not because they don't want to search for alternative employment or because they don't care about how society perceives women, rather, it's because they have no other choice. Making prostitution illegal will not change the sexist perceptions of women that are common in contemporary society, because prostitution will continue to exist in the form of an illegal industry, and these perceptions are, in any case, not formed solely by prostitution - men posses sexist attitudes as a result of their exposure to a wide range of influences, including advertising. It is precisely because the sex industry is so degrading that we need to legalize prostitution and organize workers, so they are able to reclaim their dignity.
I'd be interested to know whether your friend feels the same way about other professions that could be regarded as degrading, such as pornography.
If we want to help people understand prostitution, we need to encourage sex workers to speak about how they became prostitutes and the problems they face as workers in an illegal industry. We should try and provide them with the means to express their views through our political media and events - for example, by inviting them to speak at socialist discussion groups.
Maybe you could direct your friend to the article I specified in my opening post? I thought it was pretty good. Or maybe even show her this thread.
There are already several countries (and US states) in which prostitution is legal - the most famous of which is the Netherlands.
