A radical feminist challenge to the way prostitution is increasingly framed as “sex work” and a normal job that women have the right to “choose”. Read More
Why a critical analysis of the sex industry is necessary now more than ever
Who benefits when we promote “sex work” to students?
Yes, pimps and other capitalists benefit from a thriving sex industry, and so do men, but why do so many young women also cheerlead the “sex work is real work” propaganda and full decriminalisation of this toxic and sexist industry? Read More
Handbook for Universities: 7. Combatting sexism & supporting healthy relationships
The seventh chapter of ‘Supporting Students Impacted by the Sex Industry: A Handbook for Universities’ Read More
On male-pattern violence
Male-pattern violence is never merely an individual act. It sends out a message to those nearby: This is what happens to women and girls who do not submit. It therefore serves to uphold the power of other men and of men as a class… Read More
Prostitution and pornography: A historical view
This article is based on the first presentation at our recent webinar, Porn, Prostitution and Violence against Women.
“It’s very easy to think that the world we know is normal and is how human beings have always lived. But what if that’s not true? What if the social structures we now live in are an anomaly in the long history of the human race? That’s what we’re going to explore in this presentation. We’re going to investigate the origins of patriarchy and capitalism, with a focus on the role of prostitution and pornography.”
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‘Why does radical feminism exclude sex workers?’
In this post, Chelsea, a radical feminist who has had many years’ experience of prostitution in the legal brothels in New Zealand (NZ) answers some of the questions she’s tired of hearing – not only ‘Why does radical feminism exclude sex workers?’ [it doesn’t] but also, ‘Isn’t it paternalising to say men can be held accountable but women can’t?’ ‘Aren’t prostitutes in danger from the police? So wouldn’t it be better to hire security instead?’ and ‘How are prostitutes supposed to make any money if buying [sex] is illegal?’ Read More
Feminism 101
This article draws on the work of key feminist thinkers to provide a brief introduction to feminist theory and to show how many of the things we struggle with as women are not personal failings but are consequences of a system that is rigged against us – simply because we are female. That system has many threads – including the systematic deprivation of resources from women, men’s impunity to rape and abuse women, and the system of prostitution. Read More