Day 4

by moi on Nov 28th, 2010

Prostitution is a complex subject. Some people are of the opinion that prostitution itself constitutes the abuse of women. Others will argue for every woman’s right to earn her living as she sees fit. Either way, the fact remains that women who are sex workers, suffer unique forms of abuse and discrimination.

The working environment, especially for street sex-workers, is often not the safest of places to be, so these women are more exposed as targets of crime. They are vulnerable to being robbed, mugged, raped and murdered whilst on the street and trying to earn a living, as well as at the hands of a client once they are alone with him. They are particularly easy targets for serial molesters and murderers. There is also the perception that cases of violent crime are not taken as seriously by the police when the victim is a prostitute, and especially if she reports having been raped.

Legislation regarding prostitution varies around the world. In some countries (like South Africa up until 2006) the law criminalises the prostitute, but not her clients. This means a woman can be arrested, fined or jailed for selling her services as a prostitute, but her client is innocent of any wrong-doing. His identity is usually protected, and he will often act as state witness to assist the police to convict the prostitute whose services he willingly purchased. Elsewhere in the world (as in South Africa now) both prostitute and the client may be arrested, but the law will punish the prostitute with a heavier sentence than that given to the client. (Sweden is a notable exception – there it is not a crime to sell sexual services, but it is a criminal offence to buy the services!)

Prostitutes who work for pimps are often subjected to violence and exploitation by these ‘employers’. Pimps can abuse the prostitutes whom they control verbally, physically, sexually, psychologically and financially. There are no formal structures, such as unions, to ensure these employers of prostitutes comply with fair labour practice, and it is often impossible for a woman to escape having to work for a pimp should she wish to do so.

Sex workers also usually live in a world that judges and condemns them using a double standard. On the one hand they, and not their clients, are more likely to be criminalised or vilified by society. On the other hand, the same respected pillars of law and the community – policemen, politicians, businessmen… – are often the same men who seek out the services of prostitutes.

And prostitutes find themselves stigmatised by their communities for being a health risk in the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, while the role played by their clients is ignored. HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases pose a very real danger to sex workers. Some clients will refuse to wear a condom; others will pay more if the worker agrees to unprotected sex. These women are pressurised into take deadly risks in order to be able to earn a living.

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Follow the campaign:

Day 5: http://moirarichards.bookslive.co.za/blog/2010/11/29/day-5/
Shukumisa: http://www.shukumisa.org.za/
Damaria Senne’s Blog Party: http://damariasenne.blogspot.com/
Day 3: http://moirarichards.bookslive.co.za/blog/2010/11/27/day-3/