[CW: Discussion of Sex Work, SWERFism, Abuse, Misogyny]

I'm unsure if you folks will find this too heavy to handle, but I hope not. I have feminist views that may be interpreted as being highly exclusionary to sex workers, and I feel they are problematic, but I'm having a hard time changing them. I think my views are leaving me to tune out positive outlooks from sex workers because I cannot trust what they are saying.

I believe that sex work is inherently misogynistic and exploitative. I do support sex workers in their struggles, but I feel very uncomfortable when a sex worker denies that they are being exploited, objectified, dehumanized, etc. I feel like this is a denial tactic used to make them feel better in the scheme of capitalism because they are having a difficult time coping with the pain that capitalism has brought upon them, as it does with most people.

However, I will concede that I feel as if I'm arguing from incredulity here because I simply find it hard to genuinely believe differently than my position, but disbelief in the credibility of other viewpoints quite obviously is not a solid basis for a good argument.

I understand that sex work can be lucrative, but I think that doing it sells so much dignity that it's a really absurd tradeoff regardless of how much money you make from it. I also think, in the context of capitalism, things like escorting should be legal because I'm fearful that if an escort goes through abuse during her services, she will not be able to report it without getting in legal trouble herself. However, my ideal viewpoint is that communism would make sex work redundant and that's because my issue with it is the "work" part and not the "sex" part.

I think that sex positivity, free love, and sexual liberation are good, but consent is a huge part of it. I don't see sex work as anything "consensual." I see it as women being victims of capitalism and misogyny getting coerced into thinking that the best way to make sure that they have their needs met is by being seen as a sex object for men.

  • Angel [any]
    ·
    6 months ago

    Thanks for responding, and I greatly appreciate your insight.

    To be honest, you writing this made me personally reflect on this matter myself. If I weren't so dysphoric about my body, I could probably feel comfortable with some erotic posting myself, and that's something I thought I'd never say but it's likely because unfortunately, I think so damn much in the context of myself being dysphoric.

    You're right that dignity about sexual privacy is very cultural. As far as I know as someone living in the US, we're, in a sense, taught to be rather prudish. Some people don't view matters this way, and that's a highly important perspective.

    Male sex workers are also affected too, and that is a great point. I think gay escorts and porn stars, for instance, could speak for this perspective themselves.

    There’s nothing inherently misogynistic about sex work, but misogynistic society can make everything misogynistic.

    This is an incredible way to phrase your perspective. Ultimately, I think I shouldn't close myself off to what sex workers have to say. Their feelings are not my business ultimately, and me being aware of problems with exploitation in sex work does not have to be mutually exclusive with me supporting, respecting, and uplifting sex workers who view their job positively.

    Thank you for that.