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== External links ==
== External links ==
*{{dmoz|Society/Sexuality/Politics_of_Sexuality/Sex_Work/|Sex Work}}
*{{dmoz|Society/Sexuality/Politics_of_Sexuality/Sex_Work/|Sex Work}}
*[http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/28/a-feminists-argument-on-how-sex-work-can-benefit-women] A Feminist Argument on How Sex Work Can Benefit Women


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Revision as of 23:50, 30 November 2009

A sex worker is a person who works in the sex industry, specifically, a person who commercially trades in sex .[1][2] The term is usually used in reference to those in the sex industry that actually provide such sexual services, as opposed to management and staff of such industries. Some sex workers are paid to engage in sexually explicit behavior which involve varying degrees of physical contact with clients (prostitutes, escorts, dominatrices); pornography models and actors engage in sexually explicit behavior which are filmed or photographed. Phone sex operators have sexually-oriented conversations with clients. Other sex workers are paid to engage in live sexual performance, such as web cam sex and phone sex[3] and performers in live sex shows. Some sex workers perform erotic dances and other acts for an audience (striptease, Go-Go dancing, burlesque, peep shows).

Although the term is sometimes viewed as a synonym or euphemism for prostitution, the term is meant as a general term for erotic labor in any of the different parts of the sex industry, hence, strippers and performers in pornography (who generally do not define themselves as prostitutes) are also considered sex workers.

History of the concept

The term "sex worker" was coined in 1980 by sex worker activist Carol Leigh. Its use became popularized after publication of the anthology, Sex Work: Writings By Women In The Sex Industry in 1987.[4][5][6] The term "sex worker" has since spread into much wider use, including in academic publications, by NGOs and labor unions, and by governmental and intergovernmental agencies, such as the World Health Organization.[citation needed] The term is listed in the Oxford English Dictionary[1] and Merriam-Webster's Dictionary.[7]

The term is strongly opposed, however, by many who are morally opposed to the sex industry, such as social conservatives, anti-prostitution feminists, and other prostitution abolitionists. Such groups view prostitution variously as a crime or as victimization, and see the term "sex work" as legitimizing criminal activity or exploitation as a type of labor.[8][9] In the view of Melissa Farley and other anti-prostitution feminists, all forms of sex work, including stripping and performing in pornography, are simply different types of prostitution.[citation needed] Some anti-prostitution feminists, such as Sheila Jeffreys, prefer the term prostituted woman (and analogous terms such as "prostituted child") to emphasize the victimization they see as inherent in such activity.[citation needed]

Legality and social views

Depending on regional law, sex workers' activities may be regulated, controlled, tolerated, or prohibited. In most countries, even those where sex work is legal, sex workers are stigmatized and marginalized, which can prevent them from seeking legal redress for discrimination (e.g., racial discrimination by a strip club owner), non-payment by a client, assault or rape. Social inequality and poverty are often seen the driving forces. [10][11]

Advocacy

Main article: Sex workers' rights

Sex worker's rights advocates argue that sex workers should have the same basic human and labour rights as other working people.[12] For example, the Canadian Guild for Erotic Labour calls for the legalization of sex work, the elimination of state regulations that are more repressive than those imposed on other workers and businesses, the right to recognition and protection under labour and employment laws, the right to form and join professional associations or unions, and the right to legally cross borders to work.

Also, the legalization of sex work would allow it to be carried out in better organized circumstances (e.g., legal brothels), where regulations (e.g., requiring condom use and regular health checkups for sex workers) could reduce the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.[13]

Further reading

References

  1. ^ a b Oxford English Dictionary, "sex worker"
  2. ^ Oxford English Dictionary, "sex industry"
  3. ^ Weitzer, Ronald. 2000. Sex For Sale: Prostitution, Pornography, and the Sex Industry (New York: Routledge Press)
  4. ^ Sex work: writings by women in the sex industry edited by Frédérique Delacoste & Priscilla Alexander, Cleis Press, 1991 (2nd ed). ISBN 0939416115.
  5. ^ "The Etymology of the terms 'Sex Work' and 'Sex Worker'", BAYSWAN.org. Accessed 2009-09-11.
  6. ^ Whores and other feminists, edited by Jill Nagle, Routledge, 1997. ISBN 0415918227.
  7. ^ Merriam-Webster Dictionary, "sex worker"
  8. ^ "Prostitution, trafficking, and cultural amnesia: What we must not know in order to keep the business of sexual exploitation running smoothly" by Melissa Farley, Yale Journal of Law and Feminism 18(1):109–144, Spring 2006. "Some words hide the truth. Just as torture can be named enhanced interrogation, and logging of old-growth forests is named the Healthy Forest Initiative, words that lie about prostitution leave people confused about the nature of prostitution and trafficking. The words ‘sex work’ make the harms of prostitution invisible."
  9. ^ Baptie, Trisha (2009-04-29). "'Sex worker' ? Never met one !". Sisyphe.org. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
  10. ^ Ethiopia: Poverty forcing girls into risky sex work
  11. ^ Kenya: Desperate times: women sell sex to buy food
  12. ^ Weitzer, Ronald. (1991). "Prostitutes' Rights in the United States," Sociological Quarterly 32(1):23–41.
  13. ^ "HIV Prevention and Sex Workers". Retrieved 2009-09-15.

External links

Advocacy

International
Africa
Australia
Europe
North America

Anti-prostitution groups

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