Read on Twitter
1
Being a woke SWERF is not sex worker activism; even if the on the ground actions are good, it ultimately harms other sex workers.
It’s a covert rescue mission with religious logic:
“Sex work is work” (Good!) starts to stand in for
“Hate the sex work, love the sex worker.”(No.)
Being a woke SWERF is not sex worker activism; even if the on the ground actions are good, it ultimately harms other sex workers.
It’s a covert rescue mission with religious logic:
“Sex work is work” (Good!) starts to stand in for
“Hate the sex work, love the sex worker.”(No.)
2
Cultural declarations about sex, including “buying sex” or even condemnation of the “sex industry”
(and see how often SWERF language is used) shouldn’t be merely wrapped in arguments about labor to disguise them as socialism.
Cultural declarations about sex, including “buying sex” or even condemnation of the “sex industry”
(and see how often SWERF language is used) shouldn’t be merely wrapped in arguments about labor to disguise them as socialism.
3
I wrote about this with my comrade @DrHeatherBerg in “The Problem With Sex Work Is Work” which should answer nonsense questions from anti-sex work socialist “allies” https://merryjane.com/news/sex-worker-exclusionary-socialism-conner-habib-and-dr-heather-berg-discuss-left-wing-labor-biases
I wrote about this with my comrade @DrHeatherBerg in “The Problem With Sex Work Is Work” which should answer nonsense questions from anti-sex work socialist “allies” https://merryjane.com/news/sex-worker-exclusionary-socialism-conner-habib-and-dr-heather-berg-discuss-left-wing-labor-biases
4
“Sex work is work” only takes us so far if a person is unwilling to question what sex is beyond outdated sex wars questions developed by SWERFs or unreflective attitudes developed by “sex positive” non-sex workers.
“Sex work is work” only takes us so far if a person is unwilling to question what sex is beyond outdated sex wars questions developed by SWERFs or unreflective attitudes developed by “sex positive” non-sex workers.
5
(Also, even from a labor perspective, it doesn’t give us a perspective on how sex workers have been positively eroding work for centuries.)
(Also, even from a labor perspective, it doesn’t give us a perspective on how sex workers have been positively eroding work for centuries.)
6
Interestingly, for years, whenever I would say “sex work is work” needs to examine sex in a thoughtful way, I was rebuffed-“if we say it’s sex, then SWERFs will use that to single sex work out!” Of course my fear was always: if we don’t, sex workers can absorb SWERFism. Well
Interestingly, for years, whenever I would say “sex work is work” needs to examine sex in a thoughtful way, I was rebuffed-“if we say it’s sex, then SWERFs will use that to single sex work out!” Of course my fear was always: if we don’t, sex workers can absorb SWERFism. Well
7
Not surprised btw that the attitude of “sex work is inherently bad” arises in the UK so often, among allies+activists.
After living in Ireland, where the attitude towards sex work amongst activists is much much different, you can see: unexamined imperialism pollutes activism.
Not surprised btw that the attitude of “sex work is inherently bad” arises in the UK so often, among allies+activists.
After living in Ireland, where the attitude towards sex work amongst activists is much much different, you can see: unexamined imperialism pollutes activism.
8
All that’s said, sex workers OF COURSE have the right to hate their work, to think it’s bad, etc
What isn’t okay is making that an intrinsic part of public-facing activism and organizing in a way demands other sex workers deepen into that attitude.
Then it’s missionary work.
All that’s said, sex workers OF COURSE have the right to hate their work, to think it’s bad, etc
What isn’t okay is making that an intrinsic part of public-facing activism and organizing in a way demands other sex workers deepen into that attitude.
Then it’s missionary work.
9
Also, it’s okay for sex workers to air their frustrations with work out on Twitter or whatever.
But we can’t pretend that the above is not a persistent posturing or demand of sex either movements from at least some of its leaders and organizations.
Also, it’s okay for sex workers to air their frustrations with work out on Twitter or whatever.
But we can’t pretend that the above is not a persistent posturing or demand of sex either movements from at least some of its leaders and organizations.
10
Also: The demand that sex work be labeled inherently bad also means that public-facing sex workers, especially performers - who are often dealing with different contours of law - are often left out of sex worker movements, and that orgs are woefully unprepared to help them.
Also: The demand that sex work be labeled inherently bad also means that public-facing sex workers, especially performers - who are often dealing with different contours of law - are often left out of sex worker movements, and that orgs are woefully unprepared to help them.
11
(It also means decades of gay history are erased but we don’t need to get into that - nor SWERF responsibility in deepening the AIDS crisis here. Let’s discuss later though!)
(It also means decades of gay history are erased but we don’t need to get into that - nor SWERF responsibility in deepening the AIDS crisis here. Let’s discuss later though!)
12
In any case, if you disagree with the perspective that “sex work is work but somehow worse than other kinds of work” and you see it rising in your organizing/activism communities, try not to attack specific people doing otherwise good work, but don’t let it go, either.
In any case, if you disagree with the perspective that “sex work is work but somehow worse than other kinds of work” and you see it rising in your organizing/activism communities, try not to attack specific people doing otherwise good work, but don’t let it go, either.
13
Understand that thinking sex work (or even just sex) is one of the de facto aspects of our culture; is it any wonder workers would absorb that? And of course it dovetails with complex questions about patriarchy, capitalism, etc. People carry - and express -intense shame/anger.
Understand that thinking sex work (or even just sex) is one of the de facto aspects of our culture; is it any wonder workers would absorb that? And of course it dovetails with complex questions about patriarchy, capitalism, etc. People carry - and express -intense shame/anger.
14
And also understand most people have a poor grasp on the history/philosophy of sex & culture. You don’t need to have some amazing command of that to take a stand, just an understanding that it’s not present and therefore totalizing theoretical approaches are often shallow.
And also understand most people have a poor grasp on the history/philosophy of sex & culture. You don’t need to have some amazing command of that to take a stand, just an understanding that it’s not present and therefore totalizing theoretical approaches are often shallow.
15
Be kind to each other+respect the struggle
Examine cultural/community/personal biases+don’t try to disguise as ideology
Remember organizing needs to happen across perspectives
Don’t do activism that fuels shame
Think about sex in sex work in complex, not totalizing, ways
Be kind to each other+respect the struggle
Examine cultural/community/personal biases+don’t try to disguise as ideology
Remember organizing needs to happen across perspectives
Don’t do activism that fuels shame
Think about sex in sex work in complex, not totalizing, ways
16
Anyway, love you folks. Sex workers will always be my family, even when we disagree. I’msure people will attack me over this thread if it gets noticed. But it’s okay, I love them too. Take care of each other.
XO
Anyway, love you folks. Sex workers will always be my family, even when we disagree. I’msure people will attack me over this thread if it gets noticed. But it’s okay, I love them too. Take care of each other.
XO
