[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.

  • AutomatedPossum [she/her]
    ·
    6 months ago

    I am now observing that we are now 3 He/Hims telling disagreeing with someone on their argument about misogyny. Which is one of those "Bad looks".

    I overwhelmingly agree with the guys in this thread. SWERF shit is also full of misogyny, whether it's the open misogyny of men criticizing sex workers or the internalized misogyny of radfems patronizing them.

    It's just that it's really hard to speak out against it for me when i know that misogynists, particularly from instances with an open anti sex work consensus, might object to my take and start moralizing me like they did when i commented on the subject with an older account of mine. I seriously don't feel safe pitching in on the issue when a certain type of leftist, usually men who will use a token anti sex work woman they supposedly know as a shield, might be nearby. I deleted the reply i originally typed out because of this because i just don't have the nerve to start debating that kind of person rn.