Comments for Veronica Monet

Comment on The Shit Stops Here by sarah

sarah — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:32:27 +0000

I agree with what you say, and also think we are made scapegoats for other things too , when situations get out of hand – it’s easy to blame the lowest common prostitute denominator for any old socially unacceptable form of behaviour whether that be drug taking or dealing as an example.

Comment on by jeff nelson

jeff nelson — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:01:00 +0000

Hey thanks you helped me with the myths, surrounding prostitution for my essay. The title of it was for the legalization, of indoor prostitution, and the disbandment of massage parlors, and brothels. Please email your information was really helpful.

Comment on Transferring Sex Work Skills by Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:40:07 +0000

Wow…great post! I found myself agreeing with all 7 items!

Comment on Prostitution versus Porn by veronicamonet

veronicamonet — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:47:51 +0000

I don’t think most sex worker rights activists envision trafficking victims as “the enemy.” Quite the opposite, most of our efforts are directed at making what we consider to be authentic progress on their behalf. For instance, the sex worker rights movement maintains that trafficking victims are better served when sex work is decriminalized so that the sex industry is not forced underground where organized crime often thrives. If prostitution is decriminalized than prostitutes who are working out of choice are more likely to report any and all abuses in the profession including trafficking, slavery, under age workers, etc. But where we have laws against prostitution, organized crime is given even more power to intimidate and abuse individuals. Also the prostitute who works out of choice and the one who is trafficked are often difficult to distinquish when the profession is illegal – everyone must claim to be trafficked or face deportation – something many find even more noxious than indentured labor. While it may make some law enforcement and NGOs feel like heroes when they “rescue” prostitutes, the prostitutes often return to the same work once law enforcement leaves. If we value the integrity of women, we can no longer afford to talk out of the side of our mouths. ALL women have the right to live their lives as they see fit and it is extremely patriarchal to designate certain women unable to choose because we don’t approve of the choices available to them. If choices and options are limited, then increasing those choices is the better course of action. Rescuing” “victims” and then perhaps “de-programming” them so they will say and do what we think they should say and do is the worst kind of oppression.

Comment on Prostitution versus Porn by Eli Aino

Eli Aino — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:27:19 +0000

21st century slavery is often invisible or semi-visible. It’s very easy to see some girl on the street in the Tenderloin, or a “massage parlor” where the women can’t leave, but often it isn’t so clear cut. There are slaves who work as maids in hotels, or busboys in restaurants, who are basically invisible. There’s no survey (that I know of) which divides people who volunteered to be prostitutes, people who did so only for economic reasons, and people who were forced into it or tricked into it. If a prostitute wants to leave but doesn’t, it isn’t clear if they can’t leave because the economy sucks, because they have no other skills or they’re legitimately afraid for their safety.

In the USA human trafficking is not as big a problem as in, say, Germany or Turkey or Israel. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a serious problem, or a big money maker for criminal organizations. Sex sells, even in the most horrifying circumstances. The state department estimates that 14-17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. annually, which is about the same rate as the number of Americans murdered every year. To me that’s a serious problem, and deserves the same sort of law enforcement response that murders get.

Slavery isn’t just an immigrant issue, either; you might have teenage runaways, or young women (even children) from the underclass, drug addicts, even suburban teenagers who are held captive through psychological intimidation or debt bondage (a guy buys them a lot of stuff at the mall, then says “you owe me”).

I can see where you’re coming from, that anti-trafficking legislation can be used to harass prostitutes and other “undesirables,” similarly to how the war on drugs is an excuse for all sorts of crimes and absurdities, like harassing black teenagers with a lid of pot. That’s a valid point. The best response is to be mindful of that as you work towards ending slavery, and seeing if any abuses occur, which they might. I think the only solution is to educate law enforcement, help slavery victims recover, and to increase the penalties for the real criminals, the pimps and the customers, as Sweden already does.

It disturbs me how many prostitutes rights advocates seem to regard trafficking victims, or anti-trafficking activists, as the enemy. I’m not saying you do, but some people do, and it worries me, especially since sex slaves are so damaged by the experience, it’s hard for them to have a voice of their own, and there is some common ground between anti-trafficking and prostitutes’ rights groups, which it’s important to recognize so the public doesn’t get mixed signals. We need to recognize that in situations of forced labor, women can be so degraded by their captors that they develop Stockholm syndrome, and say it’s a choice when, in reality, they’ve just given up hope of escape. It behooves all of us to to end this crime without punishing people who are guilty of nothing. How we do that is another essay entirely.

Comment on The Shit Stops Here by Jay Randall

Jay Randall — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:55:37 +0000

You go, girl!!! Woot woot!!!

I’d REALLY like to see you blog more frequently, Veronica. You have the potential to be a strong voice in opposition to all the sex-negative insanity that has dominated our culture for so long.

-Jay

Comment on The Shit Stops Here by Zeus Adrian

Zeus Adrian — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:08:03 +0000

I just have to say, WOW! Veronica really put somethings in perspective for me….I have to agree she has certainly figuered something out. Go head gurl…do your thang, live and live.

Comment on The Shit Stops Here by Emerald

Emerald — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:40:02 +0000

Thanks for this post, Veronica. I found it well put and still, sadly, much needed it seems in regard to the perspective of the masses.

Namaste,
Emerald

Comment on The Shit Stops Here by Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:37:49 +0000

I hear you.

One guy asked me if my children were in care !

Comment on The Shit Stops Here by Richard Heath

Richard Heath — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:00:58 +0000

Wow, I just found your site, the most articulate and clear headed writing on the subject I have yet seen.