Sex Work

by Frédérique Delacoste

  One of the issues we eventually discussed was that the rights we were fighting for, to do our work freely, were rights denied all women. Therefore, we contacted feminists in the women’s movement to make our own contribution. We exchanged thoughts and ideas and attacked the current opinion that whores help to maintain the subordination of women. The discussion of whether you can be both a whore and a feminist is still raging and has already provided us with a number of advocates. Public interest has been piqued; prostitution has become a hot item.

  We have had organizational problems, mostly over unequal division of tasks. We especially felt a need for our own office to work from, to collect our knowledge and material, to meet, and to be accessible.

  Today, the group is made up of an eighteen-member core, directly surrounded by a circle of interested women who appear at meetings now and then and want to keep informed but do not (yet) want to commit themselves. Of course, the Red Thread concerns itself with the interests of male prostitutes, too. For some time a few men were active within the Red Thread, but unfortunately not at the moment.

  We are the negotiation partners in all kinds of deliberation with policy makers, social workers, and women’s organizations. We are also regularly asked to give information or lectures. It strikes us that people are sometimes very eager to have a ‘real’ whore in their deliberations.

  While we have the knowledge that only prostitutes possess, we do not have enough expertise in other fields to present our policy adequately. Therefore, we are now getting specific training to learn how to influence policy and handle publicity.

  This year, we received a grant enabling us to hire a staff of three women. Of course we are making great plans now, but for the time being we are busy strengthening our organization, extending our activities and bringing new members.

  Two subjects which receive most of our attention at the moment, AIDS and the working conditions of prostitutes, are discussed below.

  AIDS

  Even before AIDS was widely and openly being discussed in Holland, we realized that, after homosexual men and I.V. drug users, we would be the next scapegoats. When the research on AIDS transmission by heterosexual contact started and we were asked to serve as research subjects, we said that it was not us, but men and women who regularly have sexual intercourse without condoms who should be examined. We fight the idea that we should be considered sick and dangerous simply and solely because we ask money for sex. We do not shut our eyes, however, to the fact that some of us are not free to choose between working with or without condoms. Too little public attention is paid to the fact that women can be forced to work without protection. The same holds true for the question of how we can prevent becoming AIDS carriers. That is why we try to convince customers and proprietors that fucking without condoms is dangerous for everyone’s health. People who have unsafe sex run the risk of getting infected — not whores who use condoms. We try to change the public’s automatic connection between prostitution and AIDS by also focusing on other occupational diseases such as back problems, bladder and kidney infections, and stress. We emphasize that these ailments can be reduced by better working conditions.

  Working Conditions

  Improving the working conditions requires a number of legal changes which are imminent: abolishing the brothel prohibition and replacing it with a licensing system which should end compulsion, violence and exploitation, such as compulsory long working hours, being forced to do certain services, and playing the prostitutes off against one another. Aspects of safety — for instance, alarm- and fire-installation and good sanitary facilities — should be self-evident and not exceptions we should be ‘grateful’ for. Often, only matters like labor contracts and the payment of social premiums and other taxes are discussed. We think that these duties cannot be introduced until the rights of the prostitutes have been established. We do not want to be tied down in laws and rules made to control prostitution. We only wish for changes if they offer improvements.

  The Pink Thread

  Marjan Sax

  The Pink Thread is the sister organization of the Red Thread. It came into being on the eve of the First International Congress of Whores in January 1985. The initiative to start Pink Thread came from two women who had helped found the Red Thread: Martine Groen, who directed the prostitute self-help group, and Gail Pheter-son, who set up “alliance groups” of women in both the United States and in Holland. Their method was simple: they approached women whom they knew or thought were interested in the subject of prostitution, invited them for a pleasant evening, and the Pink Thread Amsterdam was a fact.

  What is the Pink Thread?

  The Pink Thread is a group for all women, whores and non-whores, forming a bridge between members of the women’s movement and prostitutes.

  The relationship between feminists and prostitutes has not always been good. Prejudices and a lack of information about one another’s situation stand in the way of good cooperation. For instance, a lot of feminists regard whores as victims of male society. They are convinced that prostitution should be abolished and the prostitutes saved. Self-confident whores who say they need no pity are hardly understood. The opinion is that they let themselves be reduced to objects knowingly and willingly. Prostitutes, on their hand, look askance at feminists. They often find them “frustrated man-haters” who are not even capable of dressing attractively and who, in fact, “just need a good screw.” The prejudices on both sides are fed by fables about the whores’ trade and the often negative publicity about the women’s movement. However, the misunderstanding is especaily caused by the stigmatization of whores. We are played off against one another. As Gail Pheterson remarks: “Colored women, working-class women, lesbian women, Jewish women, divorced women, fat women, undisciplined women and in fact, all women can be called whores to justify ill-treatment in this way.” Consequently women try to avoid this stigma and thus are made afraid of whores, for: “who associates with a whore will probably be one herself.” Being labeled as a “whore” is exactly the thing women try to prevent at all costs.

  The Pink Thread is a first step to narrow the gap between whores and non-whores. It is a non-threatening way for us to get to know and support one another.

  Non-prostitutes show a growing interest in the lives and thoughts of prostitutes, and more and more feminists are becoming convinced that prostitutes have a right to independence and social recognition, just like all women.

  The Pink Thread is a meeting place for women with very different backgrounds: some of them deal with prostitution through their jobs as social workers or doctors, but the greater part of the group consists of feminists who have come to feel connected with prostitutes in the struggle for women’s liberation.

  Activities

  The Pink Thread is active in several fields:

  *giving practical and moral support to the Red Thread;

  *activating the discussion about prostitution in feminist circles;

  *developing ideas about the relationship between prostitution, sexuality and women’s subordination.

  In the initial stage of the Pink Thread the support to the Red Thread women was a priority. The Pink Thread gave the Red Thread administrative assistance, writing official letters and applications for subsidy, taking minutes for the Red Thread meetings and helping to organize. Pink Thread women are regularly invited to the Red Thread meetings to give information or to do odd jobs. As the Red Thread is getting better organized this supporting function is less necessary.

  Women from the Pink Thread are involved with AIDS, by taking part in meetings and giving counter-information when the supposed connection between prostitution and AIDS comes up for discussion. The Pink Thread women also contributed a great deal to the preparations for the Second World Whores’ Congress in Brussels in October 1986.

  For some time the Pink Thread organized regular discussion and information evenings about prostitution during which the relationship between feminism and prostitution received the most attent
ion. These evenings were chiefly attended by women who wanted to meet “real” prostitutes and know more about them. The atmosphere at these meetings was unrestrained because both parties were eager to know more about each other.

  Approach

  The Pink Thread meetings are open to women of both the Pink and the Red Thread and take place about once a month. The meetings are rather informal; there is a lot of chatting, information is exchanged and only a few matters are formally decided upon. There are about fifty members, but the number of participants varies. In Amsterdam there are usually ten to twenty women, with a few women who are very active. Others just come to give and receive information. After the Brussels Congress there appeared to be a need to work on feminism, health, and human rights (including racism and migrant women), so the Pink Thread divided into three groups, one for each area. Each group meets monthly now, and every three months Pink Thread holds a combined meeting.

  National Growth

  In the course of 1985, several Pink Thread organizations came into being. Besides the Amsterdam group, there are Pink Threads in Eindhoven, Nijmegen, and Utrecht. Their activities vary from town to town. In Eindhoven the emphasis is on the direct support of Red Thread women, while in Utrecht the members monitor the municipal prostitution policy and then try to exert influence by writing letters and articles in the newspapers and, if necessary, by carrying on campaigns. The national policy is also getting attention now that other legal arrangements concerning prostitution are being discussed. In November 1985 the Pink Thread- Utrecht organized a national day for both the Pink and Red Threads.

  Sore Spots

  Within the Pink Thread there is a clear difference in attitude between the women who deal with prostitution through their jobs and those who are interested from a feminist point of view. Those who work with prostitution hardly ask themselves how and to what degree prostitution affects them as women. They are criticized because they show their professional, not their personal, bearing. On the other hand, they themselves criticize the ideological discussions of the others and get irritated now and then. Moreover, the question of whether men could be members of the Pink Thread played an important role, especially in the initial stage, and brought division of opinion. At the moment, only in Utrecht have men joined the Pink Thread.

  Apart from this there is of course tension between the whores and non-whores. The difference in education, social position and possibilities between women of the Pink Thread and the Red Thread can be reason for confrontation, and the non-whores occasionally are overwhelmed by the whores’ old frustrations. We have to acknowledge that good intentions cannot always sufficiently bridge the worlds of whores and non-whores. Linguistic confusion and misunderstanding cannot always be prevented: this all is an inevitable process from which, after licking the wounds, both “parties” learn a lot. One thing is clear to everybody: the issue at stake is the collective struggle of whores and non-whores for the right of self-determination for all women. Financial independence, sexual self-determination, and protection against (sexual) abuse are the causes prostitutes as well as feminists are fighting for.

  International Committee for Prostitutes’ Rights World Charter and World Whores’ Congress Statements

  International Committee for Prostitutes’ Rights

  World Charter

  Laws

  Decriminalize all aspects of adult prostitution resulting from individual decision.

  Decriminalize prostitution and regulate third parties according to standard business codes. It must be noted that existing standard business codes allow abuse of prostitutes. Therefore special clauses must be included to prevent the abuse and stigmatization of prostitutes (self-employed and others).

  Enforce criminal laws against fraud, coercion, violence, child sexual abuse, child labor, rape, racism everywhere and across national boundaries, whether or not in the context of prostitution.

  Eradicate laws that can be interpreted to deny freedom of association, or freedom to travel, to prostitutes within and between countries. Prostitutes have rights to a private life.

  Human Rights

  Guarantee prostitutes all human rights and civil liberties, including the freedom of speech, travel, immigration, work, marriage, and motherhood and the right to unemployment insurance, health insurance and housing.

  Grant asylum to anyone denied human rights on the basis of a “crime of status,” be it prostitution or homosexuality.

  Working Conditions

  There should be no law which implies systematic zoning of prostitution. Prostitutes should have the freedom to choose their place of work and residence. It is essential that prostitutes can provide their services under the conditions that are absolutely determined by themselves and no one else.

  There should be a committee to insure the protection of the rights of the prostitutes and to whom prostitutes can address their complaints. This committee must be comprised of prostitutes and other professionals like lawyers and supporters.

  There should be no law discriminating against prostitutes associating and working collectively in order to acquire a high degree of personal security.

  Health

  All women and men should be educated to periodical health screening for sexually transmitted diseases. Since health checks have historically been used to control and stigmatize prostitutes, and since adult prostitutes are generally even more aware of sexual health than others, mandatory checks for prostitutes are unacceptable unless they are mandatory for all sexually active people.

  Services

  Employment, counseling, legal, and housing services for runaway children should be funded in order to prevent child prostitution and to promote child well-being and opportunity.

  Prostitutes must have the same social benefits as all other citizens according to the different regulations in different countries.

  Shelters and services for working prostitutes and re-training programs for prostitutes wishing to leave the life should be funded.

  Taxes

  No special taxes should be levied on prostitutes or prostitute businesses.

  Prostitutes should pay regular taxes on the same basis as other independent contractors and employees, and should receive the same benefits.

  Public Opinion

  Support educational programs to change social attitudes which stigmatize and discriminate against prostitutes and ex-prostitutes of any race, gender or nationality.

  Develop educational programs which help the public to understand that the customer plays a crucial role in the prostitution phenomenon, this role being generally ignored. The customer, like the prostitute, should not, however, be criminalized or condemned on a moral basis. We are in solidarity with all workers in the sex industry.

  Organization

  Organizations of prostitutes and ex-prostitutes should be supported to further implementation of the above charter.

  Draft Statements from the 2nd World Whores’ Congress (1986)

  Prostitution and Feminism

  The International Committee for Prostitutes’ Rights (ICPR) realizes that up until now the women’s movement in most countries has not, or has only marginally, included prostitutes as spokeswomen and theorists. Historically, women’s movements (like socialist and communist movements) have opposed the institution of prostitution while claiming to support prostitute women. However, prostitutes reject support that requires them to leave prostitution; they object to being treated as symbols of oppression and demand recognition as workers. Due to feminist hesitation or refusal to accept prostitution as legitimate work and to accept prostitutes as working women, the majority of prostitutes have not identified as feminists; nonetheless, many prostitutes identify with feminist values such as independence, financial autonomy, sexual self-determination, personal strength, and female bonding.

  During the last decade, some feminists have begun to re-evaluate the traditional anti-prostitution stance of their movement in light of the actual experiences, opinions, and needs of pros
titute women. The ICPR can be considered a feminist organization in that it is committed to giving voice and respect to all women, including the most invisible, isolated, degraded, and/or idealized. The development of prostitution analyses and strategies within women’s movements which link the condition of prostitutes to the condition of women in general and which do justice to the integrity of prostitute women is therefore an important goal of the committee.

  1. Financial Autonomy

  Financial autonomy is basic to female survival, self-determination, self-respect, and self-development. Unlike men, women are often scorned and/or pitied for making life choices primarily in the interest of earning money. True financial independence includes the means to earn money (or the position to have authority over money) and the freedom to spend it as one needs or desires. Such means are rarely available to women even with compromise and struggle. Financial dependency or despair is the condition of a majority of women, depending upon class, culture, race, education, and other differences and inequalities. Female compromises and struggles are traditionally considered reflections of immorality and misfortune rather than of responsibility, intelligence and courage. The financial initiative of prostitutes is stigmatized and/or criminalized as a warning to women in general against such sexually explicit strategies for financial independence. Nonetheless, “being sexually attractive” and “catching a good man” are traditional female strategies for survival, strategies which may provide financial sustenance but rarely financial independence. All women, including prostitutes, are entitled to the same commercial rights as other citizens in any given society. The ICPR affirms the right of women to financial initiative and financial gain, including the right to commercialize sexual service or sexual illusion (such as erotic media), and to save and spend their earnings according to their own needs and priorities.