Contemporary Literature

Last year I took a Sociology of Sexualities course with one particular unit dedicated to the study of sex work, and since then I have been fascinated by the industry and by the patterns and life experiences of both its workers and customers. Reading Missing Sarah was the affirmation of my passion concerning the rights and well being of sex workers, and I have since been incessantly researching the sex industry within North America as well as sex trafficking on a global scale.

This article, published by The Ubyssey, describes Bill C-36 which intends to make the advertising of sex work illegal, as well as the participation in sex trafficking activities (i.e. customer involvement). Bill C-36 has been considered by the Senate but it still needs to be debated within the House of Commons. Although the potentially incoming law is applicable to both traffickers and sex workers, I think it is absolutely vital that sex workers themselves be considered as politically-relevant individuals in this situation. Where are their opinions? How do they feel they will be affected now and in the future?

Although innumerable women turn to sex work as a survival strategy, new options need to be considered for these predominantly impoverished women. Perhaps it is beneficial to look for alternatives to sex work, but if that means abolishing sex work at current, this puts many women in even more danger as they are expelled from their source of income. Who and where will they turn to?

Here is an article published by the Huffington Post concerning stats about the sex traffic industry within the United States. It speaks much of the American sex economy which is a curiously blunt, yet apt, descriptor of language. One of the recurring patterns within this article includes the notion that an alarming amount of sex workers actually have received a high school education, yet are still drawn to sex work in order to make a living. Even in the 21^st century, we’re inhabiting contemporary, so-called “progressive” societies that are basically forcing marginalized women into sex work as a method of survival. This is a matter to be absolutely concerned about and in a definite need of modification. But how to go about doing this?

Finally, this third article speaks about one woman’s experience within the sex industry, as she is a college student struggling to pay her student loan debts. It is a compelling read and I even feel the young woman’s troubles in relation to my own university experience (economically speaking). Sex workers must continue to be seen as people, citizens, mothers, and daughters who are just looking to make a living. Honestly, what’s so unethical or wrong about that? Missing Sarah contributes to the humanization of the women trapped in this oppressive industry and I hope that this humanization and personalization becomes a standard. That is to say, sex work shouldn’t be encouraged, but the underlying socio-economic and political issues within the sex industry need to be recognized, understood, and altered for the betterment of women and society overall.

Citations

Bondarenko, Veronika. “UBC Law Professor Welcomes Bill C-36, The Proposed Change To Canada’s Prostitution Laws.” The Ubyssey.  21 Sept. 2014. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://ubyssey.ca/news/ubc-law-professor-welcomes-bill-to-change-prostitution-laws485/>.

Buchanan, Rose Troup. “The Truth About Student Sex Workers: It’s Far From Belle Du Jour.” The Independent. 29 Sept. 2014. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/the-truth-about-student-sex-workers-its-far-from-belle-du-jour-9757719.html>.

Kolodny, Carina. “9 Things You Didn’t Know About American Prostitution.” The Huffington Post. 14 March 2014. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/12/sex-trade-study_n_4951891.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063>.