It’s known as the oldest profession, yet ask any woman who has managed to escape prostitution to tell you if it’s a job like any other, and she will tell you something rather different
There are no words sufficient to express my contempt for men like Owen Jones and Billy Bragg! Anyone who has worked in the fields of homelessness and drugs and alcohol knows that prostitution is deadly, dangerous, degrading and is often the last resort of women, girls and boys from the most emotionally and physically abusive and economically deprived backgrounds. Thanks, Julie, for finding the words and never shutting up.
The state of academic theory when it comes to "sex work" is horrifically counterproductive. I spent more than 2 decades teaching at universities, and I met countless professors and grad students who waxed rhapsodic over the legalization of sex-work. None of these people know the first thing about what it actually entails, but there are always a number of female grad students who've worked 'phone lines' for a few weeks (for bragging rights it seemed) who will spout nonsense about freedom to exercise their rights to sell their bodies as if they're experts. I tried countless times to counter their fantasty-fuelled notions with blatant reports from women who've suffered from being prostituted, such as those Ms. Bindel writes, to no avail. Facts simply don't stand a chance against a hip new theoretical stance promulgated by people who will never experience what they're agitating for.
I see that there is an inaccuracy in my earlier piece. I'd forgotten about Theresa May. So we've had three women prime ministers, rather than the two my wording implied. So Julie's description is the situation after three women prime ministers. And Theresa May made the trafficking of women one of he main talking points!
Hi Julie, Agree firstly with Jane Vincent. But secondly no mention in your piece from women in parliament. Labour benches in particular see many such. Maybe they don't want to rock boats, forgo promotion, that sort of thing? But then neither woman prime minister said anything about it. Don't perhaps want to be sneered at perhaps - alleged to be frigid, Grundyites - you know Mrs Grundy anti-fun type?
There are no words sufficient to express my contempt for men like Owen Jones and Billy Bragg! Anyone who has worked in the fields of homelessness and drugs and alcohol knows that prostitution is deadly, dangerous, degrading and is often the last resort of women, girls and boys from the most emotionally and physically abusive and economically deprived backgrounds. Thanks, Julie, for finding the words and never shutting up.
Exactly this… and I add my biggest thanks to Julie too!
The worlds oldest oppression indeed.
Fucking Men.
Thank you Julie.
The state of academic theory when it comes to "sex work" is horrifically counterproductive. I spent more than 2 decades teaching at universities, and I met countless professors and grad students who waxed rhapsodic over the legalization of sex-work. None of these people know the first thing about what it actually entails, but there are always a number of female grad students who've worked 'phone lines' for a few weeks (for bragging rights it seemed) who will spout nonsense about freedom to exercise their rights to sell their bodies as if they're experts. I tried countless times to counter their fantasty-fuelled notions with blatant reports from women who've suffered from being prostituted, such as those Ms. Bindel writes, to no avail. Facts simply don't stand a chance against a hip new theoretical stance promulgated by people who will never experience what they're agitating for.
I see that there is an inaccuracy in my earlier piece. I'd forgotten about Theresa May. So we've had three women prime ministers, rather than the two my wording implied. So Julie's description is the situation after three women prime ministers. And Theresa May made the trafficking of women one of he main talking points!
Ian Mordant
Hi Julie, Agree firstly with Jane Vincent. But secondly no mention in your piece from women in parliament. Labour benches in particular see many such. Maybe they don't want to rock boats, forgo promotion, that sort of thing? But then neither woman prime minister said anything about it. Don't perhaps want to be sneered at perhaps - alleged to be frigid, Grundyites - you know Mrs Grundy anti-fun type?
Ian Mordant