(800) 658-9119
Shopping Advice 
Labor Day - but not for sex workers?
Since yesterday was Labor Day, I wanted to offer up some posts by and about sex workers, who are certainly a class of laborer we don’t often see celebrated, let alone given their due.
Confessions of a College Callgirl has a new, much-linked post called “The Price” that I highly recommend reading. She has a very intelligent, interesting, and insightful blog about what her career in sex work has been like, but this latest post, after being picked up on Boing Boing, has garnered close to 200 comments, many along the lines of:
Nobody cares what a whore has to say about stuff. Your job is to take cock and STFU. You are a communal cum dumpster and when we want your opinion we’ll give it to you.
I think it’s sad and yet fascinating that as much social progress has been made toward equality amongst people, sex workers are still considered okay to treat as subhuman.
Other blogs well worth checking out:
Mistress Matisse, professional dominatrix and columnist for Seattle’s The Stranger
Writing the Whip, Diary of a Dominatrix
We Could Be Naked, by Alix who does sexy interviews and acts/poses for porn
Burlesque performer, event producer, and all-around busy girl Cherry Bomb
Earlier this year, Sexerati posted a four-part series about “The Pink Ghetto,” which I would argue that even people like me, erotic writers, as well as those who sell sex toys, and anyone whose job relates to people’s sex lives, is a part of. Sex seems to be a topic that people generally want to hear more of but also look down upon. There’s this idea that sex and commerce should never mix, whether explicitly such as in prostitution, or more subtly; people shouldn’t “need” aids to help them or classes or anything to teach them.
And yet sex is probably one area where we could all use a hell of a lot more openness, honesty, and education than we get in school or from our peers. That’s not to say we all need to be studying it or even doing it on any kind of schedule. But all of us have sexual questions at times (I have them quite a bit, actually), and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with seeking information, help, community or companionship.
I also highly recommend $pread magazine, which looks at issues of interest to and written by sex workers and is always insightful and offers up issues and takes on the industry I don’t read about elsewhere (like how the $2 bill lives on as strip club currency).
They’re looking for sex workers to take pro and con sides of this issue:
“Is it a good idea to carry a weapon with you to sessions, just in case?”
See their site for more information.
September 4th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Yes, many of the comments have been shocking and hurtful and sadly very indicative of some digusting attitudes toward women that still exist. Thanks for pointing it out!
September 4th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
I keep having to be reminded in life that a common sense of decency does not come standard with all people, it has to cultivated and guided internally because it’s how we want to be treated in return. Comments like that example to the sex worker were so uncalled for that they give the human race a bad name. I am finding in my own travels through life that some people, some quite good at heart, actively choose ignorance when it comes to sex and sexuality, as if knowing more about would somehow taint them or make them an active participant in an act they can’t come to terms with.
September 5th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Absolutely wonderful post. And collegecallgirl, I’m sorry those people are being such assholes. It’s just wrong.
September 5th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
[...] Babeland’s Blog» Blog Archive » Labor Day - but not for sex workers? “I think it’s sad and yet fascinating that as much social progress has been made toward equality amongst people, sex workers are still considered okay to treat as subhuman.” Another slam-dunk post by RKB. (tags: awesome important rights sexwork sex work) [...]
September 12th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
[...] Sex Work Labor Day - but not for sex workers? Filed Under [...]
September 12th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
[...] Sex Work Labor Day - but not for sex workers? [...]
September 12th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
[...] Sex Work Labor Day - but not for sex workers? [...]
September 12th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
[...] Sex Work Labor Day - but not for sex workers? [...]
September 14th, 2007 at 4:41 am
[...] Sex Work Labor Day - but not for sex workers?c [...]
September 14th, 2007 at 5:18 am
[...] Sex Work Labor Day - but not for sex workers? [...]
May 31st, 2008 at 9:24 am
[...] Sex Work Labor Day - but not for sex workers? [...]