Tags
doing the homework, general bullshit analysis, prostitution, read it your damn self, sex work and the UK, sex worker stereotypes
Jemima101 of It’s Just a Hobby alerted her followers, including yours truly, to a particularly obnoxious survey online via Twitter. It is published by the UK-based All Parliament Prostitution Group and, to make a long story short, it’s aim is to institute the paternalistic and harmful Nordic Model in the United Kingdom. The survey starts with a page of definitions of different legalization schemes that is just rife with misleading information and, in the case of the New Zealand decriminalisation model, outright lies (pdf via Maggie McNeill). Below is a screenshot of that definition page, so go ahead and read that now. I won’t be going through every definition here so that I can move on with my own personal “Terms of Enrampagement”.
I added my two pence to the survey even though I am not British…by birth or residency anyway. The United States of America and the United Kingdom still have a good relationship and share some cultural values, despite that whole war of independence debacle. Americans are the country cousins Brits don’t like talking about all that much to other people, but that you don’t mind when they come ’round anyway. Anyway, I decided, around question 6 out of 14 to record the questions and my answers on a Word document. So that is what I am sharing with you here. Let’s proceed:
6. Do you consider the current laws on prostitution in the UK to be effective and consistent in safeguarding those involved in prostitution from violence, exploitation, and/or abuse? Please answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, and provide reasons for your response.
No. By criminalising related aspects of working as a prostitute, the law isolates prostitutes, and thereby aiding and abetting any who wish to harm them.
7. Do you consider the current laws in the UK to be a barrier to those who wish to exit prostitution? Please answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, and outline reasons for your response.
Yes. Criminal background checks are always a barrier. Those prostitutes who have criminal records won’t be able to find another job that pays a LIVING wage. Again, criminalisation aides and abets harm against sex workers.
8. Around the world, there are different legal settlements that govern prostitution. Do you think any of the legal settlements outlined in the summary above would be a good basis to base reforms in the UK on? Please give evidence and reasons to support your answer.
Decriminalisation as it has been enacted in NZ. Despite the spurious claim at the beginning of this survey, sex workers there feel decidedly safer and experience less violence.
9. At present it is often legal to purchase sex. Do you feel criminalising the purchase of sex could make a contribution to tackling demand? Please answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, and outline reasons for your response and what other measures would be required.
No. The purchase of sex should not be criminalised at all. Unless you want to criminalise sex in general, neuter everyone and have human reproduction happen in petri dishes and test tubes. There will always be demand and people to supply.
10. At present a number of laws seek to regulate and restrict prostitution in England and Wales. Do you think altering or removing these laws could make a contribution to tackling demand? Please answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, and outline reasons for your response and what other measures would be required.
No. You should study history and biology. There is no such thing as restricting or ending demand for paid sex. It simply goes underground or changes in form. The more the law retracts protection from prostitutes, the more harm is attracted to it.
11. There is evidence that a number of people involved in selling sex would like to exit prostitution but find it difficult to do so. What measures (including legal measures) would be most helpful to support those involved in prostitution who wish to exit?
Decriminalisation. Job training. Expunging ALL criminal references to being a prostitute. Full stop.
12. Do you regard prostitution as:
Do you regard prostitution as: ‘Sex-work’ – an acceptable form of employment like any other occupationA form of commoditisation and exploitation of vulnerable people Other (please specify) 13. From your experience, please indicate if you have encountered people involved in prostitution which the following applies to. If possible, please give an indication of the proportion of service users in your answer.
From your experience, please indicate if you have encountered people involved in prostitution which the following applies to. If possible, please give an indication of the proportion of service users in your answer. a) have a drug and/or alcohol addiction.
Yes, because this happens to other humans as well.
b) have encountered violence and/or sexual violence
Yes, because this happens to other humans as well.
c) entered prostitution under the age of 18
Yes, because they were running from an abusive household and had to support themselves.
d) were sexually exploited under the age of 18
Yes, because this happens to other humans as well.
e) have been coerced into sexual exploitation or are presently controlled by another
Yes, because this happens in other relationships as well.
14. Do you have any other comments surrounding the legal settlement on prostitution in the UK?
Considering the misleading questions and outright lies in the definition and effect of decriminalisation in NZ, I cannot help but to think that you do not have our best interests in mind. Until you include sex worker rights organisations, run by sex workers themselves, then your attempt is nothing more than paternalisation and pandering.
The sub questions to number 13: I answered in that manner to reinforce the reality that prostitutes and other sex workers are human. That many of the issues that prohibitionists point to as being innate and inevitable in prostitution are not and are lived through by other human beings as well. Think they’ll get it? Probably not, if they are dead-set on prohibitionist legislation.
Please take the survey, especially if you actually live in the UK. Here is a link to APPG and the survey link is there in the post ‘Call for Evidence’. I have to laugh at that, because I doubt they’re actually looking for evidence so much as Reasons To Proceed Apace.
Thank you so much for this, the idea that this biased survey can somehow collect evidence would be laughable if it were not part of a pattern,Make false claims, focus on trafficking and link to sex work then bring in regressive, dangerous legislation that neither ends demand nor protects the victims of trafficking.
Reblogged this on Harlots Parlour and commented:
This survey being run by the All Parliamentary Group on Prostitution is biased in its background on prostitution. Not surprising considering the 20 MPs in this group. The Group was started by dear Fiona from Slough, and was financed by CARE. Not a good starting point for unbiased opinion. Though as a group they have no power and no funding, its as well that as many complete the questionnaire. An example of a reply has been provided by out American friends which I have taken the liberty to cross post. Thank you Aspasia.
When you start your “consultation” having already decided what you are going to do, then it’s easy to make a biased questionnaire — sadly, not an uncommon governmental trick.
Exactly. No one would take seriously, for example, a questionnaire that states drinking one alcoholic beverage a day to be a clear indicator of alcoholism because the questioners assume that everyone who imbibes is an alcoholic.
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