To the would-be sex work abolitionist, or, 'ain't I a woman'?

Pretty good article. I don't know the complete context of the discussion or the situation in Canada, but pretty much agree with the perspective laid out here. Particularly, the neoliberal "revanchism". I think that's a common ailment among sections of the oppressed, although not sure its unique to the rise of neoliberalism.

What I mean by that last part is that, for instance, within the black community, and to a certain extent the Latino (and lesser extent the poor white)community, you have non-right wing personas that demonize the poor. Putting the responsibility and "fault" on individual choices rather than systematic inequalities. Like, "we fought so hard for rights and all you want to do is have out of wedlock children and buy expensive stuff (jewelry, TVs, whatever). It's reactionary politics dressed up in leftist "we're all in this together" language.

This is a good article, especially these points:

to call sex work degrading, as if that's news, is to deny that all jobs are degrading, including Murphy's job and whatever jobs my clients hold. Conversely, that these jobs are degrading doesn't automatically make sex work empowering. It just makes it unexceptional. "Jobs" are degrading because capitalism is degrading, because waged work is degrading. Whether we think women should do sex work or not, many women are sex workers, and many of our working conditions are bad (male sex workers also experience whore stigma, in addition to complex manifestations of homophobia, racism, and classism, but Murphy's question is about why we don't engage on the topic of women sex workers, and, as usual, I have a complicated answer and little space to speak). Sex workers don't want to make prostitution "a job like any other." It's already our job. As long as welfare and minimum wage work, which are neither consistent nor sustainable, are the only other options, we will continue to do sex work -- legally or illegally, in the open or hidden, safely or in dangerous places, depending on the other factors that determine how we do our work. Because work is about money.

The demand for abolition, in its present form, is simply a demand for the state to exercise direct, coercive control over women's bodies and choices.

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Sex work is like other work. It can be empowering in some circumstances - a dominatrix is the obvious example, and respectful sexual exchange is possible for money. Some famous people, and I'm sure some not so famous, with disabilities pay for sex without exploitation. The circumstances surrounding sex work are what usually makes it more exploitative, and the so-called feminists who can't see the distinction here are prejudiced and narrow-minded. I would advise anyone that phone sex is a more honest way to earn a living than working in some call centres where lying for your wages is the norm.

Ernestine

Sex work is like other work. It can be empowering in some circumstances - a dominatrix is the obvious example, and respectful sexual exchange is possible for money.

Hmm, I dunno about this.. I mean, as you say, its still a job and I don't see how being forced to do stuff by economic circumstance can ever be empowering.. even with a dominatrix, I bet they'd rather be spending that time with their mates or family rather than spanking a businessman (who is still always in control of the dominatrix, even if they're playing at it being the other way round, as he's the one who's paying, expects a certain standard of service etc).. or just some days they can't be arsed going to work or whatever.. but they have to coz that's what work is.. so I don't think it can ever be empowering (though yeah, I agree with you that all that moralistic anti-sex work stuff is shite)..

I agree with what Ed says here, work is never empowering, even if the job you have have some level of power in it, like being a shift supervisor in a shop, or a line manager in an office. Superficially it might appear empowering on some level, but it's not as you are doing it out of economic necessity.

Steven.

I agree with what Ed says here, work is never empowering, even if the job you have have some level of power in it, like being a shift supervisor in a shop, or a line manager in an office. Superficially it might appear empowering on some level, but it's not as you are doing it out of economic necessity.

I disagree with this, but only in a few instances. I went to Cambridge university (biggest mistake of my life ;) ) and quite a few people I know did go on to do jobs that genuinely empowered them and that they felt motivated and powerful because of. These are people involved in fairly high level management with a lot of intellectually challenging labour thrown in and they really do feel important and powerful. And they are wage labourers as much as you or me (well, not me, I'm dole scum), at least till they make enough money of it. I think these 'functionaries of capital', as they as sometimes called, are an important group. I ought to actually keep up with a couple of them so I can study them...for communism!