Sadly I agree with you. In fact, I'm convinced that both D. from the Belladonna and now Jill from Room Service have both decided that now is the right time to get out of the agency business. Honestly, I can't say I blame them!
I hope that I am incorrect but it appears that the Mass. LE is using the new statutory provisions, supposedly aimed at the trafficking in women for purposes of prostitution, and applying them to any instance of prostitution.
I guess that they assume that no woman would agree to prostitute themselves, ergo "trafficking" applies. They assume that there must be force involved, either from pimp, madam, or the "johns".
Interesting theory, but I would argue strongly that it is not based on logic or reason, but perhaps campaign hysterics to garner some headlines and notoriety.
Just because dear Martha C. could not imagine herself offering herself to a man for money, doesn't mean that no woman would do so.
And yet relationships between man & woman have always been tinged with some form of quid pro quo.
You're completely right, it's a sham and it's pretty messed up what they stoop to in these sweeping oppressive laws.
When do we get our next chance to vote against her? I forget, is Attorney General one of the ones included on the presidential election ballot in November?
(Edit: looks like that won't be up for re-election until 2014, yikes)
Correct, the wording of the new law does not differentiate between those who are forced into it and those who do so willingly. The fact that it also created a state wide task force who's job is to do nothing but enforce this new law just makes it worse. I'm all for locking up those who do indeed force women (especially minors) to work in this business, but in my experience they are a huge minority. I have yet to meet a single provider who was forced into working by anyone, they all did so of their own choosing. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, I just don't believe it's all that common. The likelihood may very well increase significantly when you start dealing with illegal immigrants though. But I have never personally had any contact with those providers.
I may be biased, but I feel there are much bigger issues they should be spending tax money on. But I'm sure around here I'm just preaching to the choir.
Stings are going to continue to target ALL suspected prostitution in hopes that traffickers will be uncovered in the sweep. This is going to continue to increase as long as their is media focus on domestic child sex trafficking in our country.
Keep in mind that most people NOT in this lifestyle are usually basing their opinions on the information put before them. With LE and many social services, what they come in contact with are persons operating at the margins of society, many with multiple issues going on. With politicians and the general public, it is what the media is feeding them. This world is hidden from the mainstream, which is why so many people do not understand the full range of perspectives...
While those of us that have a wider range of experiences can sometimes see the difference between choice, circumstance, and coercion, the only thing that is going to change public perception will be by more of us speaking about our experiences, both workers and clients alike. And I'm not talking about glorifying those experiences either, but talking about why we, as humans, choose to buy and sell sexual labor. There are a LOT of reasons that go in to that, and not everyone's is the same.
Unfortunately talking about those things openly can be challenging to do and still protect ourselves and our families, which is why I'm working with a couple of fellow activists in creating a resource for anonymous research and surveys of the adult entertainment and sex trades. Our first survey is going to ask people that are involved in any sexually related labor community (porn, strip clubs, escorts/prostitution, BDSM, tantra...) about their experiences with human trafficking, including awareness and reporting. From there, we will hope to help create training and resources specifically for our communities to help increase our participation in ending human trafficking in the sex trades. We also hope that this research will help expand the understanding of the differences between sex trafficking and consensual labor. We are hoping to launch the full survey in the next month, and will post that information publicly in hopes to get as much participation as possible.
The only way to combat mis-information is with correct information, and will hope some of you can help us with that.
Sadly I agree with you. In fact, I'm convinced that both D. from the Belladonna and now Jill from Room Service have both decided that now is the right time to get out of the agency business. Honestly, I can't say I blame them!
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