JulieBindel ThePimpingofProstitution
AbolishingtheSexWorkMyth
JulieBindel
London,UK
ISBN978-1-137-55889-3 e-ISBN978-1-137-55890-9 https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-55890-9
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“Thefirststepinrecognizingabiginjusticeisoftenanendtoblamingthe victim-say,tostopassumingthatmostpoorpeoplearelazy,orthatbattered womencouldjustleave,orthatourprisonsaresoraciallyimbalanced becausetheimbalanceisdeserved.Tofindoutthetruthbehindallthose “PrettyWoman”mythsabouttheglobalsextradereadthiswelldocumented bookbyJulieBindel.”
GloriaSteinem, feminist, journalist and social and political activist
“Thisbookiscomprehensive,authoritative,personallyrevealing,anda clearheadedrageagainstatideofmoderndoublethink.Itwillhelpfeminism untangleitselffromalltheknotsoffauxprogressivenessaboutprostitution, whichisrepackagingsexualabuseasempowerment.Bindelisafearless, uncompromisingvoicewhodeservestobeuniversallyheard.”
JaniceTurner, Times Newspaper columnist
“Aprofoundlyimpressivepieceofreportingandpolemicintoa commercialindustry.YoumayloveBindel’swork,youmayprofoundly disagreewithit.Butitwillneverleaveyouindifferent,anditwillalways makeyouquestion,whichiswhythereshouldbemoreofit.”
RoseGeorge, Author and journalist
“NooneinBritainknowsmorethanJulieBindelaboutprostitution-the politics,thedebates,themyths,thescale,andthedamagetoindividualsand totheculturethatsustainsit.Everywordinthislong-awaitedbookisworth reading.Itcombinesscholarship,activism,personalnarrativesandpolitical analysis.Itisamightychallengetothepessimismof‘theoldestprofession’ andaboveallitoffershopeofasocietyfreeofsexismandsexual exploitation.”
BeaCampbell, writer, activist, and author of The End of Equality
“Anexcoriatingresponsetothosewhosayprostitutionisinevitable,that itisworklikeanyother,andthatprostitutedwomenneedlabourrightsand stateregulation,notabolition.Bindelexposesgenderinequalityatitsmost brutalandviolentinthisintelligent,well-researchedandwell-written critique.Agreeordisagree,I’venodoubtitwillbecomeacoretextforthe studyofpatriarchyanditsconsequences.”
KaronMonaghanQC, leading human rights and equality law practitioner
“Thisbookispersuasive,clear,revealingandverypowerful.Itbrilliantly exposestheoutrightabuseandmisogynyattheheartofaworldwidesystem
inwhichmenandboyscontrol,buy,sell,rentandusewomenandgirls.And itanswersbacktoanyapologist,maleorfemale,whodefendsmen’srenting anduseofwomenintheworldwidesystemofsexualexploitation.”
Bidisha,Writer, critic and broadcaster
“Thisisacriticallyimportantbookonacriticallyimportantsubjectby oneofourmostcourageousandincisivesocialcritics.Readitandunderstand thatthereisnohumanrighttoprostitutewomenandgirlsthatprostitutionis aboutpowerandprofit,degradation,pain,fearandexploitation.JulieBindel hasmadetheargument:wehaveadutytoechoit.Essentialreading.”
DexterDiasQC, human rights lawyer and author of The Ten Types of Human
“Fordecades,JulieBindel’sjournalismhashelpedusseethepathology ofpatriarchy.Thisbravenewbooktellsthestoriesnotonlyoftheincredible womenwhohavesurvivedprostitutionbutthemenwhochoosetobuyand sellwomen’sbodies.Bindelpeelsawaytheliberalveneerfromtheproprostitutionlobbyanditsacademicsupporterstoshowhowafeminist analysisofthesextradeisessentialtogivemeaningtotheculture’sclaimto support‘humanrights.’Withthevoicesofprostitutionsurvivorsatthecore ofthebook,Bindel’sreportingprovidesthecontexttounderstandtheroutine abuseinthesexual-exploitationindustries.”
RobertJensen, Professor, University of Texas at Austin, School of Journalism, and author of The End of Patriarchy: Radical Feminism for Men
This book is dedicated to the late Denise Marshall, as a small gesture of gratitude for everything she did to end men ’ s violence towards women and girls throughout her too-short life. Denise was the finest feminist and friend who saved lives and changed hearts and minds. I am sure that her legacy will be to inspire new generations of feminists to be the best they can.
Preface
Ihavebeenanactivefeministcampaigneragainstmaleviolencetowards womensince1979.Forthepasttwodecadesofthattime,Ihavefocused muchofmyenergyonfightingfortheabolitionoftheglobalsextrade, alongsideotherfeminists,manyofthemsurvivorsofthesextrade themselves.
Forme,prostitutionisahumanrightsviolationagainstwomenandgirls. Noteveryonesharesthisunderstanding.Wearenowatacrossroads,witha numberofcountriesaroundtheworldunderpressuretoeitherremoveall lawspertainingtothesextrade(includingthosegoverningpimpingand brothelowning),ortocriminalisethepurchaseofsex(knownastheNordic model).However,thepolariseddebateonthesextrade,beingplayedout withinacademia,media,feministcirclesandhumanrightsorganisationshas reachedacriticalpoint.
Nootherhumanrightsviolationtowardswomenandgirlsissogrossly misunderstood.Whiledomesticviolencehasoftenbeen,andsometimesstill is,assumedtobethefaultofthevictim(‘Shewasnagginghim’,‘Shefailed tounderstandhismoods’),therehasbeenasignificantimprovementinthe waythatthoseexperiencingitaresupportedandtheperpetratorscalledto taskthankstofeministcampaigningandinterventions.
Rapistsareoftenseenasmenwho‘couldn’thelpthemselves’,orwho werecoercedintocommittingsuchcrimesbythebehaviouranddresssense ofthevictims.Butincreasingly,againasaresultoffeminism,rapeisviewed asanexpressionofmisogynyratherthanoneofuncontrollablesexualdesire.
Notsoprostitution.Inrecentyears,despitetheincreasingnumbersof womenwithdirectexperienceofbeingprostitutedcomingoutas‘survivors’ ofthesextrade,thedominantdiscourseisoneofprostitutionbeingabout ‘choice’and‘agency’forthewomeninvolved.Thehumanrightsabuse involvedinthesextrade,accordingtotheliberals,libertariansandmanyof thosewhoprofitfromsellingsex,iswhenmenaredeterredfrompurchasing sex,andnotwhentheyrenttheorificesofawomanforsexualrelease.The womensellingsex,accordingtothislogic,arethevictimsofpearl-clutching moralistswhowishtotakeawaytheirrighttoearnaliving.
Indeed,supportingwomentoexitprostitutionhasbeendescribedas‘an affronttohumandignity’inoneacademicpaper, 1 authoredbyfour
academics,threeofwhomhavebeencampaigningfortotaldecriminalisation ofthesextradeforanumberofyears.Thewarthatragesbetweenfeminists suchasmyselfwhoseektoabolishthesextrade,andthosewhosee prostitutionasavalidchoice,isfuelledbythewidelyheldbeliefthatfeminist abolitionistswishto‘rescue’‘fallenwomen’and‘demonise’themenwho payforsex.
TheredoubtablefeministwriterAndreaDworkinoncedescribedherself asa‘radicalfeminist:notthefunkind’.Iusethisphrasetodistinguishmyself fromthoseneoliberal‘choice’feministswhohaveabsorbedtheargument about‘sexwork’beingempowering.Thesefunfeministsensurethatthey neverupsetmen,andappeartobehappiertearingdowntriedandtested theoriesofpatriarchyandmalepowerbeingthedriverforthesextradethan theyareaskinghowprostitutioncanbesexualliberationfortheprostituted.I andotherabolitionistsareaccusedbythefunfeministsofbeing ‘whorephobic’,sincetheyclaimwehatethewomeninthesextradeinstead ofthepimps,buyersandbrothelkeepers.
Ibecameanactivefeministpartlyinresponsetothepoliceinvestigation andmediacoverageofaserialkillerwhooperatedintheNorthofEngland duringthe1970s.PeterSutcliffe,named‘theYorkshireRipper’bythe tabloidpress,turnedouttobeanordinary,marriedmanlivinginasuburbof Bradford.TheSutcliffecasebroughtattitudesaboutwomeningeneral,and prostitutedwomeninparticular,outintotheopen,whichinturnledmeto joinforceswithsomeofthemostpassionateandcommittedantimale violenceactivistsinthecountry.
Thepublicwasledtobelieve,thankstothepoliceleadingthecaseand themediareportingofthemurders,thatSutcliffehatedprostitutes,whenin factonlyaminorityofhisvictimswereinvolvedinthesextrade.The mythologythatbuiltuparoundthekillermeantthatpoliceexcludeda numberofcasesofwomenfoundmurderedinEnglandbecausetheydidnot fittheprofile.Italsoservedtoperpetuatethenotionthatwomenin prostitutionsomehowdeservedtheirfate,andthatrapeandmurderwere merelyoccupationalhazards.
Duringthe1970sandinto1980,Sutcliffekilledatleast13womenand leftsevenothersfordead.Thebodyofhisfirstmurdervictim 28-year-old WilmaMcCann wasdiscoveredin1975and,fromthebeginning,theWest YorkshirePolicewereguiltyofdraggingtheirfeetandbunglingthe investigation.Complacentpoliceofficersoverlookedvitalclues,and
inadequatetechnologywasusedtocollatethethousandsofinterviewsand intelligencereportstheygathered.Amidallthis,Sutcliffejustkeptkilling withhammers,screwdriversandknives andpolicewerenofurtherforward bythetimethebodyofhisfifthmurdervictim,JayneMacDonald,was discoveredinJune1977.
MacDonald’skillingwasdescribedbypoliceandpressasa‘tragic mistake’.Thepreviousvictimshadallbeenlabelledasprostitutesand therefore,intheeyesofmany,complicitintheirowndemise.But MacDonaldwas16anddescribedbypoliceas‘respectableandinnocent’. Victimsweredulydividedintodeservingandundeservingwomen.
OfficersmadeapleatothewomenofWestYorkshiretolookoutfor strangebehaviourintheirsonsandhusbands.Buttheyfailedtolistentoone ofSutcliffe’ssurvivingvictims:a14-year-oldgirlwhohadhadagoodlook atthemanwhochattedtoherabouttheweatherbeforestrikingheraboutthe headseveraltimeswithahammer.Whenthegirlreportedtheattack,shesaw thephoto-fitscompiledbyothersurvivorsandtoldpoliceitwasthesame man.Theydismissedherbecauseshewasnotinprostitution,anditwas assumedtheRipperwasonlyinterestedinprostitutedwomen.On30June 1977,anopenletterfromthe Yorkshire Evening Post toSutcliffesaid:‘Your motive,it’sbelieved,isadreadfulhateforprostitutes ahatethatdrivesyou toslashandbludgeonyourvictims’.
WhenMacDonaldwasmurdered,Iwas15andalreadythinkingabout feminism.Ihadbeenoutedatschoolasalesbian,andthemisogynyI experiencedfromboystaughtmethatgirlswerejudgedaseitherslagsor lezzers,andthatboysweretheonesdoingthenamingandshaming.Sexism withinpopularculturewasneithersubtlenoroccasionalinthe1970s,andI learnedthatsexualviolencewasendemicinrealityandwidelyviewedas entertainment.
In1979ImovedfrommyhomeinDarlington,intheNorthEastof England,toLeedswhereImetagroupofradicalfeministswhowere campaigningagainstmaleviolencetowardswomenandgirls.Atthattime, themainfocusofthegroupwastochallengetheappallingattitudeofpolice andjournaliststowardsthevictimsandpotentialvictims andallwomen werepotentialvictims ofthisserialkiller.
OnenightinNovember1980,Iwasfollowedwhileonmywayhome fromalock-inatthepubneartheYWCAhostelwhereIwasliving.Theman whofollowedmewasofmediumheightwithadark,fullbeard,wiryhairand
black,piercingeyes.Iwas18andnewtoLeeds.Iranintoanotherpubto shakehimoff.FriendspersuadedmetoreportittothepoliceandIcompleted aPhotofit,butitwasobvioustheywerenottakingmeseriously.Thenext daythebodyofthefinalvictim,JacquelineHill,wasfoundlessthanhalfa milefromwhereIwasfollowed.WhenSutcliffewasarrestedandhis photographpublished,myPhotofitwasalmostexactlylikehim.
Sutcliffe’svictimswerenamedasdeservingvictims,sluts,slagsand whores.Ihearditfrommenonbusesandonthestreets.Intheopenletterof 1977,themurdererwasaskedhowhefeltknowingthathehadkilledan innocent,respectablevictimratherthanaprostitute.Surelyhefeltremorse aboutmistakenlykillingJayneMcDonald?
DuringSutcliffe’sreign,IrememberthejokesordinarymenintheNorth ofEnglandusedtomakeaboutthisserialkillerbeforehewascaught. ‘There’sonlyoneYorkshireRipper’,footballfanswouldchant.‘Ripper12, policenil’,wasoneparticularjibeduringLeedsUnitedfootballmatches wherethepolicewerepenalisingunrulyfans.‘Giveusakiss,love,I’mnot theRipper’wasaregularcrackheardinnightclubsaroundthecountry.Inthe 1980s,agroupofanarchistsnamedthemselvesThePeterSutcliffeFanClub becausetheysawhimastheultimaterebel.
In1990IwasoneofthefoundersoftheorganisationJusticeforWomen, afeministcampaigngroupthatmainlychallengedtheconvictionsofwomen whohadkilledanabusivemalepartner.In1992Ireceivedaletterfroma womancalledEmmaHumphreys.Emmahadkilledherviolentpimp,Trevor Armitage,whenshewas16yearsoldandhadbeeninprisonsince1985, havingbeenconvictedofhismurder.Inherletter,Emmadescribedthe violenceandbrutalityshehadenduredatthehandsofpuntersandexplained thatthenightshekilledArmitagehehadthreatenedtorapeher.
Asachild,Emmahadwitnessedhermotherbeingbeatenbyher stepfather,whoalsosexuallyabusedEmma.Whenshewas12,Emmaran away.Shesleptroughandwasabusedintoprostitutiononthestreets.When shemetArmitage,asexbuyeronthestreetsofNottingham,Emmawas drinkingheavilyandself-harming.Onenight,whenArmitagehadthreatened torapeEmmayetagain,shestabbedhim.Tootraumatisedtotaketothe witnessboxandrepresentedbylawyerswithnounderstandingoftheeffects ofsexualviolence,Emmawasconvictedandsenttoprison,whichwas effectivelyalifesentenceforunder-18s.
Emmawrotetomesevenyearsintohersentence,andforthreeyearsI,
andmanyothers,campaignedforherrelease.On7July1995,Emmahadher convictionoverturnedandwasreleasedfromtheCourtofAppeal.The followingday,mostnationalnewspaperscarriedfront-pagestorieson Emma’scampaign,showingasmilingyoungwomanleavingthecourt surroundedbyhundredsofcheeringsupporters.
PriortogettingtoknowEmmaandthedetailsofhernightmarein prostitution,Ihadheardofandbeeninvolvedindebatesanddiscussionabout thesextrade,butEmma’sstorymovedmetothepointthatIbeganto prioritisecampaigningagainstthesextradewithinmyfeministactivism, writingandresearch.
In1996Iwasoneoftheorganisersofaninternationalconferencein Brighton,UK,onviolenceandabuseofwomen,thebrainchildoffeminist academicsandwell-knowncampaignersagainstmaleviolenceProfessors JalnaHanmerandCatherineItzin.AttheconferenceImetspeakersfromall overtheworldwhowerepioneersinthefightagainsttheinternationalsex trade.Someofthesewomenweresurvivorsofthesextrade.Eachhadthe samegoal:toabolishthesystemofprostitution.However,Austrianproprostitutionlobbyistsattheeventtriedtodisruptoneofthesessions, claimingwewereignoringthevoicesof‘sexworkers’.
Attheconferencewerefeministanti-sex-tradecampaignerssuchas AndreaDworkin,JaniceRaymondandNormaHotaling,founderofStanding againstGlobalExploitation(SAGE):aSanFrancisco-basedcentreoffering servicestohelpwomenoutofprostitution.Hotalinghadalsofoundedthe world’sfirstJohnSchoolin1995,are-educationprogrammeformen attemptingtobuysexonthestreet.
FionaBroadfoot,asurvivorofprostitutionwhomIhadmetduringthe organisingoftheBrightonconference,chairedaworkshopontheviolenceof prostitution.WithherwasIreneIvison,authorof Fiona’s Story ,abook IvisonhadwrittenaboutherdaughterFiona,whowasmurderedin1993at theageof17byapunter,havingbeenexploitedintoprostitutionbyherolder ‘boyfriend’.IvisonhadnotknownthatFionahadbeenprostitutedforthree weeksbeforeherdeath,althoughshehadspentthepreviousthreeyears battlingwithpoliceandsocialservicestotrytostoptheabusiverelationship inwhichherdaughterhadbeeninvolvedsincetheageof14.
Thefollowingyear,inDecember1997,Ico-organisedaconference entitled‘Prostitution:ViolenceagainstWomenandChildren’.Asmallgroup ofpimpsbroughtalongprostitutedwomenandtriedtodisruptproceedings.
Theywerethrownout.EmmaHumpreyshadbeenreleasedfromprisontwo yearsearlierandspokeattheconferenceaboutherexperiences.Also speakingwasAngel,avolunteeratSAGEwhoco-rantheSanFranciscoJohn SchoolwithHotaling.
Astheconferencebegan,twomenapproachedtheregistrationdeskand beganpeelingoffmoneyfromlargewadsof£50notes.Inadeliberateand cynicalpantomime,themenweredressedinstereotypicalUS‘pimp’attire: longfurcoatsandfedorahats.Withthemweretwowomen,dressedin stereotypical‘prostitution’clothing.Almostassoonasthefourwereseated intheconferencehallthewomen,whodescribedthemselvesas‘sex workers’,begantoheckleandloudlyprotestatthetitleoftheevent,shouting that‘feministshavenorighttotelluswhattodowithourbodies’.Theywere quicklyaskedtoleave.
Humphreysmovinglydescribedherownexperiencesofprostitutionand calledforsexbuyerstobecriminalised.Shediedafewmonthslaterinthe summerof1998,threeyearsafterhervictoriousreleasefromprison.Afew weeksbeforeshedied,Humphreyswasrapedbyamanwhodraggedherinto herflatasshewasfumblingforherkeys.Forher,itwasthelaststraw. Decidingtoreportittothepolice,Humphreysspentthenextfewweeks takingtoomuchmedicationanddrinkinginanattempttocalmhernerves aboutmakingastatement.Onemorning,havingbeenunabletocontacther byphone,Iletmyselfintoherflatandfoundherdeadinbed.Theinquest intoherdeathruledthatshehaddiedby‘misadventure’,butIknewitwas thepainoflivingwiththelegacyofprostitutionthathadkilledher.
AtthetimethatHumphreysdiedIwasinthefinalstages,alongsideJalna Hanmer,FionaBroadfoot,IreneIvisonandothers,ofsettingupthefirstUKbasedJohnSchoolinWestYorkshire.TheconferenceandtheJohnSchool signifiedthebeginningoftheabolitionistmovementintheUKandIwasat itsforefront.Ilinkedupwithasmallnumberofsurvivorsofthesextradeand wesetouttochallengethebigger,louderpro-prostitutionlobby.However, bynowthe‘sexworkers’rights’movementhadenteredacademia.
In1998aconferencewasheldatEastLondonUniversityentitled‘Sex WorkReassessed:ANationalConference’,includingaworkshopcalled ‘CauseforConcern’.AttheworkshopwerevariousspeakersincludingJo Doezema,a‘sexworkers’rights’activistandacademic,andanamelessman whospokeasasexbuyer.Theyspokeagainstanyinterventionwith‘clients’, andarguedthattheJohnSchoolwouldcauseharmtowomeninthesextrade
becauseeducatingmenabouttherealitiesofprostitutionwouldfurther stigmatisethewomen.ThenIannouncedwhoIwasandpointedoutthatthe policehadagreedtothedemandsoftheJohnSchoolfounderstostop arrestingthewomen,atleastforthedurationofthepilot.Doezemasaidshe didnotbelieveme.
Takingitsnamefromtheworkshopandmadeupofmorethan20 agenciesacrossEnglandthatprovidesupportforwomeninprostitution, CauseforConcernwasfoundedinordertoconvincepolicymakersand criminaljusticeagenciestoopposethekerbcrawlerscheme.Around500 womenlinkedtotheagenciessignedapetitionagainstit.Thisallhappeneda monthpriortothefirstJohnSchoolbeingheldbut,nevertheless,our opponentsseemedtoknowthatwewereholdingsexbuyersaccountable.
ThefirstmeetingofCauseforConcern,heldinLeeds,waschairedbythe thendirectoroftheBradfordWorkingWomen’sProject(BWWP),atwhich FionaBroadfoothadvolunteeredbeforeleavingtosetupherownsupport organisation:atelephonehelplinecalledStreetExitthatsheranfromher home.
BWWPwasnotoriousforbeingverypro-legalisation.Ihadinvitedthe directortospeakonapanelatthe1997conferenceonprostitution,and duringherpresentationshemadeitclearthatanypoliceinterventionwould notbewelcomedbyherorganisation.Shespecificallymentionedthe legalisedregimeintheNetherlandsasagoodpracticemodel.
Ivison,BroadfootandIdecidedtoaskifwecouldcomealongtothe meetingofCauseforConcerntoanswerquestionsonthescheme,and hopefullyputthemembers’mindsatrest.Julia,whodescribedherselfasa streetsexworker,usedalargeflipcharttolistherweeklyexpensesand expenditure,arguingthatsheneededajobthatwouldpayatleast£600a weektobeabletogiveupsellingsex.Atthattime,mysalaryasAssistant DirectorofaresearchunitatLeedsMetropolitanUniversitypaidlessthan halfoftheamountJuliasaidsheneeded.
Thethreeofushadclearlyfailedtomakeanimpressiononthemeeting andweleftfeelingdejected.AfterwardsweheardthatBroadfoothadbeen dismissedas‘notrightinthehead’becauseofafamilytragedythathad promptedhertoescapethesextrade.ItwascommonknowledgeinWest YorkshirethatFiona’scousinMaureenhadbeenmurderedbyasexbuyer, GeorgeNaylor.Naylorhadpreviouslybeenjailedfor11yearsin1984for killingDeborahKershaw,alsoaprostitutedwoman,twomonthsafterthe
BBC’s Rough Justice programmehelpedfreehimearlyfroma15-year sentenceforrapinga60-year-oldinherhomein1995.
Followingthe12-monthpilotoftheJohnSchool,IembarkedonatwoyearprojectfundedbytheUKGovernment’sDepartmentforInternational Developmenttodevelopanddelivertrainingfornon-governmental organisations(NGOs),socialworkersandlawenforcersinseveralBalkan countriesonanti-traffickinginitiatives.
Itwastheyear2000andtheUKhadonlyrecentlywokenuptothefact thatwomenandgirlswerebeingtransportedfrompoorandconflict-ridden countriesintobrothelsinWesternEurope.Ihadbeenattendingtheannual PoliceViceConferenceofEnglandandWalessince1998,asoneofthefew civiliansamongatleast200policeofficersspecialisingincrimesrelatingto thesextrade.HeadoftheMetropolitanPoliceClubsandViceUnit,Inspector PaulHolmes,wouldgiveadetailedpresentationonthevarioussurveillance jobsthathadledtoanumberofdangeroustraffickersbeingarrested.
Ihadalsorecentlybeeninvitedtospeakatananti-traffickingconference inAlbania,attheinvitationofVeraLesko,founderofVloraWomen’s Hearth,aninnovativeprojectsetupbyLeskoin1997.Leskosetupthe HearthbecauseshebecameawarethatthemaineconomyinVlorawasfrom traffickingwomenandgirlsoutofAlbania.Asaresultofherwork,Lesko hadbeenphysicallyattackedinpubliconseveraloccasionsand,following threatstoherfamily,feltitnecessarytosendherdaughtertolivewith relativesinItaly.
Aftertheseminar,Leskotoldmethatshewassickofprojectssettingup safehousesforyoungwomenwhohadbeenrescuedfromtraffickers‘and onlyteachingthemtodomacraméandwhattodowithhalfakiloofminced beef.Thosegirlsneedagunandadrivinglicence’,shetoldmewithaglintin hereye.
MyprojectintheBalkanswasmyfirstintroductiontotheproprostitutionpoliticsofinternationalhumanrightsorganisationsbasedin unstablecountriesandregions.Ihadunderstoodbutdisagreedwiththe argumentsputforwardbythe‘sexworkers’rights’lobbyintheUK(for example,theEnglishCollectiveofProstitutesandScot-Pep 2 ),andatthe Brightonconferencehadheardanumberofpresentationsfrominternational speakersonthefalsedistinctionbetweenforcedandchosen‘sexwork’from organisationsfundedtocombathumantrafficking.
DuringthecourseoftheprojectIspenttimeinAlbania,Bosniaand
Herzegovina,Croatia,Kosovo,MacedoniaandMontenegro.Myscopingtrip toSarajevo,Bosnia,includedatriptotheofficesoftheUNOfficeofthe HighCommissionerforHumanRights,whereImetthehead,Madeleine Rees.
ReesisthehumanrightslawyerwhocampaignedalongsideKathryn Bolkovac,thewhistleblowerwhoexposedDynCorp,theprivatecontractor providingUSpersonnelfortheUNmissioninBosnia,whowerenotonly sexuallyexploitingtraffickedwomenbutwerealsoonthetraffickers’payroll.Reestoldme,duringatensemeetinginherbaking-hotoffice,thatour trainingwasnotneededintheBalkans,astherewerelocalNGOsthatknew theterrainbetterthaninternationals.However,whenIpushedRees,it becameclearthatsheandhercolleaguesdidnotlikethefactthatthetraining includedsessionsontheharmsofprostitution,andhowtocurbthedemand. Althoughourtrainingsessionsdidgoahead,thelocalanti-traffickinghuman rightsorganisationscirculatedpetitionscallingforourtrainingtobe boycotted,statingthatthetrainerswere‘conflatingprostitution,whichisa choice,withtrafficking,whichisclearlyahumanrightsviolation’.
DuringthetwoyearsIspenttravellingintheBalkansandencountering similarattitudestoRees’s,Idecidedtostopdoingresearchontraffickinginto thesextradeandfocusonlocalandnationalsextradeandthewomencaught upinlocalprostitution.Traffickingismerelyaprocessinwhichsome womenandchildrenareprostituted.Prostitutionitselfistheproblem.
Havingdecidedtoleaveacademiatopursuejournalism,in2003I contactedthethenfeatureseditorof Guardian Weekend Magazine , KatherineViner,whomIknewfromtheoccasionsshehadaskedmetowrite theoddopinionpieceforthepaper.ItoldherIhadreadsomefascinatingand disturbingresearchbytwoBritishacademics,JuliaO’ConnellDavidsonand JacquelineSanchezTaylor,onfemalesextourismintheCaribbean.Itold VinerthattheonlycoverageIhadseenonthistopictodatewaseither makingmonstersoridiotsofthewomen,ordismissingitasabitofalaugh.
IwasdelightedwhenVinergavemeacommissiontotraveltoJamaica andinvestigatefemalesextourismfromafeministperspective,andIknew thatwiththe4500wordlimitIcoulddoitjustice.However,Iwasmetwitha wallofresistancefromsomefeministspriortomytrip,whotoldmethey wereworriedthatbydrawingattentiontothefactthat‘womendoit,too’and alsopayforsex,itwouldprovideaget-outclauseformalesexbuyers.This attitudeshockedme.Myintentionwastoinvestigatetheexploitationof
young,impoverishedblackmalesbywhite,relativelywealthyWestern women.Iassumedthatifthewomenwerepayingforsexeitherdirectlyor indirectly,therewouldbeapimpindustrytosupportit.Iwasright.
InJamaica,Ifoundthatwherevertherewerefemalesextourists,there wouldbethird-partyexploitersreadytosellthe‘beachboys’andbrokerthe deals.Ialsofoundthatwhilethewomenjustifiedtheirtreatmentoftheyoung menbyusingracialisedandclass-privilegedmythology,femalesextourists are,inmostrespects,unlikethemenwhotraveltopoorcountriestobuy womenandchildren,inthattheyrarely,ifever,inflictdirectviolenceonthe men.Themenarenotfrightenedofthefemalesextourists,andthereisfar lessstigmatisationfacedbymenwhosellsexinthiswaycomparedto womeninprostitution.Myarticle,publishedinJuly2003asacoverstory, madesuchanimpactthatitinspiredtheplaywrightTanikaGupta’s Sugar Mummies thatwasstagedattheRoyalCourtTheatrein2006.
Oneyearlater,asIwaspackingupmydeskintheuniversity,readyto entertheunknownandratherscaryworldoffull-timefreelancejournalism,I hadavisitfromDeniseMarshall,CEOofEavesforWomen,afeminist charitythatprovidedservicesforwomenwhohadexperiencedmale violence.Twoyearsearlier,MarshallhadsetupthePoppyProject,thefirst serviceintheUKtosupportwomentraffickedintotheUKsextrade.Poppy wasanacronymfor‘PissingoffPimpsandPunters,Yay!’,butMarshalltold theHomeOffice,whichfundedtheservice,thatitwasnamedafteroneofthe firstvictimsoftraffickingreferredtoEaves.
MarshalltoldmesheneededmetocometoEavesonapart-time consultancybasisforsixmonthstobuildupsomeresearchcapacitywithin Eaves,andtowritearesponseto‘PayingthePrice’,agovernment consultationdocumentonhowbesttodealwithprostitutionintheUK.I stayedatEavesratherlongerthansixmonths.Whenthecharitywentinto administrationin2015,weeksafterMarshalldiedofstomachcanceraged only53,Ihadjustsubmittedmyfinalpieceofresearchunderitsname.
Marshallwasaninnovatorandafierceabolitionist.Togetherwebuiltup asuccessfulresearchunitwithinEavesandIledonanumberofprojects,all ofwhichcausedconsternationamongthepro-sexworkserviceprovidersand academics.
In2008Eavespublished‘BigBrothel:ASurveyoftheOff-StreetSex TradeinLondon’.ItwasthelargeststudyontheindoorsextradeintheUK todate.Wegatheredinformationfrom921brothelsinthecapital,andtodo
somyco-authorHelenAtkinsandIrecruitedmalevolunteerstohelpwith theresearch.Theytelephonedbrothelsposingaspotentialsexbuyers,witha listofquestionsincluding‘Whatnationalitiesareonoffertonight?’,‘Dothe girlsdoanal?’,‘Howaboutoralwithoutacondom?’,and‘Whatageare they?’Theideawastofindoutasmuchaspossibleabouthowthebrothel ownersandmanagersmarketedthewomenandwhatwasbeingsold.Hadwe goneinwearingsuitsandcarryingclipboardstoaskresearchquestions,itis likelywewouldhavebeentoldwheretogo.
Thepro-prostitutionacademicsintheUKandbeyondwentberserkon seeingthenationalpublicityonourfindings,andquicklyputtogetheraletter, signedby27academics,slatingitsmethodology(unethical),aimsand objectives(ideological)andconclusions( Carry On Criminology ,according toDrBelindaBrooks-Gordon).
ThefollowingyearIwaspartofaninternationalresearchteam interviewingmenwhopayforsex,ledbythepsychologistandfeminist academicDrMelissaFarley.Atthattime,Iwasinthemiddleoffrantically fendingoffapotentiallibelcase.Ihadreceivedaletterfromnotorious prostitutionapologistDrJohnDavies,thenofSussexUniversity/University oftheWitwatersrandwho,throughhislawyers,threatenedmewithlitigation unlessIpaid£5000toa‘women’scharityofhischoice’.Inowsuspectthat thecharitywasSompanFoundationthroughwhichhedefraudedtheBritish governmentof£5million(someofwhichwasusedtopayprostitution apologists):acrimeforwhichhewasrecentlyimprisonedfor12years.
In2009Ibeganastudyonwomenexitingprostitution.Duringmytime interviewingthemenwhocreatethedemandandthewomenonthesupply side,Irealisedjusthowpersuasivethemisinformationandmythology surroundingthesextradeis.Talkingtothesexbuyers,itbecameapparent thatmanyofthemdeludethemselvesthatthewomentheybuyactuallyenjoy thesexofthetransaction,andbelievethatmostprostitutedwomenactively andhappilychoosetoearnmoneythroughthesextrade.
Since2009Ihavecontinuedtoinvestigateandwriteaboutthesextrade. Thisworkcontinuestobemymainpriorityasafeministcampaigner.
OvertheyearsIhavebeenaccusedofbeingaChristianmoralist,aprude andaman-hatingmonster.Ihavealsometandworkedwiththefinest abolitionistsandhumanrightscampaignersinexistence.OnethingIcansay forsure,fromeverythingIhavelearnedabouttheglobalsextrade,isthatitis builtontheexploitationofwomenbymen,andthatitcouldnotexistwithout
theinstitutionalisedoppressionsofgender,raceandclass.Iwishtoseean endtoprostitutionbecauseitisbothacauseandaconsequenceofwomen’s subjugationatthehandsofmenandIam,afterall,afeminist.Itissurely rightandproperthatIdomybittodismantlethismonstrosity?
AsDworkinsaid:‘Ihavespent20yearswritingthesebooks.HadI wantedtosaymenarebeastsandscream,thattakes30seconds’.Ihopethis bookgivesafairaccountofthestrugglebythoseharmedbythesextrade, whowewillseemakeupthemajorityofthoseinvolved,andthatthepopular tropesabout‘choice’and‘freedom’withinthesextradearechallengedby thetestimonyofitssurvivors.
JulieBindel
Acknowledgements
Havingfoundthatshehadsomesparetimeonherhands,LeeNurseasked meifIneededanyhelpwithmywork.Overthetwoyearsittookmeto researchthisbook,Leetranscribedeveryinterview,helpedmeorganisemy data,andwasalwaystheretoassistinanywaynecessary.BecauseofLee,I wasabletodoahugeamountoftravelandresearchIotherwisewouldnot havebeenabletocontemplate.
TotheIndigenous,African-American,andotherwomenofcolourwho patientlyexplainedtomehowcolonialismandracismintertwinewith misogyny,andhelpedmebetterunderstandthoseparticulardynamicsofthe sextrade.
Heartfeltthankstothesurvivorswhoentrustedmewiththeirstories,and fortheircourageanddeterminationinexposingthetruthaboutthesextrade.
ToRachelMoranforwriting Paid For ,andforbringingtogether survivorabolitionistsfromallovertheworldtofighttoendthesextrade. Throughoutthisproject,Rachelhasbeenaconstantsourceofinspiration.
FionaBroadfootisthefounderofthemodern-daysurvivorabolitionist movementintheUK.MeetingFionain1996wasapivotalmomentforme, andfortheotherfeministswhoselivesshehastouched.
SaraMaguire,forherpositiveattitude,andherairmiles.
PatriciaHolmesformakingmelaughaboutthingsweprobablyshould notlaughabout.AshleyMcGuire,agreatfriendwhotoldmeto‘nevergive up’andtoignorethesticksandstonescomingmyway.SandraMcNeill,one ofthemostcommittedanddeterminedfeministsIknow,fortakingmeunder herwingandintroducingmetoproperfeminismwhenIarrivedinLeeds aged18.
JinnyKeatinge,JaniceRaymond,JalnaHanmerandMelissaFarleyfor offeringeditorialguidance.SarahDitumandJaneDuffusforwadingthrough mytyposandreorganisingmymorechaoticpages.BrigetteLechnerfor summarisingadeeplydisturbingdocument.
RogerMatthews,HelenEaston,AnnaZobninaandMaddyCoyfordaring tobeabolitionistsinthehostileenvironmentofacademia.
LyndaDearloveforprovidinggoodcoffeeandaplaceofrefuge.
ThankyouAndrewMinneyfromAustralia;anhonourablecopperanda goodfriendoffeminism.
MygratitudetoMichaelShivelyforguidingmethroughthecomplex scientificdataonAIDS/HIV,andexplainingideologicalbiasinthefield.
Thankyousomuchtothosewhocontributedtomybyline.com crowdfundingcampaign.Iusedthismoneytobookflightstoand accommodationintheplacesIneededtovisit,andtopaylocalfixerstohelp menavigatemywayaroundsometrickysituations.
AngieConroyinCambodia,whoorganisedmytriptoPhnomPenhand providedinvaluablesupport.
LeeLakemanandhercolleaguesattheinspirationalVancouverRape Relief,whomadeitpossibleformetospendtimeinthecity,andorganiseda setofbrilliantinterviewsandevents.Iambeyondprivilegedtobepartofa globalfeministmovement,whichsustainsme.
MyagentBeckyThomas,whoalwayshasmyback.
TheCoalitionagainstTraffickinginWomen(CATW)gaveinvaluable supportthroughoutthisproject,ashasSPACEInternational.
TwissButler’scontributiontothemovementisinvaluable,andher guidanceandwisdommuchappreciated.
Iamgratefultothosefromthe‘otherside’ofthedebatewhoagreedtobe interviewedbyme,andtrustedmetorepresenttheirviewsandwordsfairly.
ToHarrietWistrich,always.
ThelateErnestWistrichgavemehisloveandsupportthroughoutthe28 yearswewereineachother’slives.Hewasagoodman.
Tomydear,survivorabolitionistfriendswhodiedincombat in particularEmmaHumphreys,AndreaDworkinandNormaHotaling.Lestwe forgetthattherearemanywhodonotsurvive.
Introduction
Duringapowerfulspeechonthefutureoffeminismin1995,thewriter AndreaDworkinaskedtheaudienceto:
remembertheprostituted,thehomeless,thebattered,theraped,the tortured,themurdered,theraped-then-murdered,themurdered-thenraped;…Iwantyoutothinkaboutthosewhohavebeenhurtforthe fun,theentertainment,theso-calledspeechofothers;thosewhohave beenhurtforprofit,forthefinancialbenefitofpimpsandentrepreneurs. IwantyoutoremembertheperpetratorandIamgoingtoaskyouto rememberthevictims:notjusttonightbuttomorrowandthenextday.I wantyoutofindawaytoincludethem theperpetratorsandthe victims inwhatyoudo,howyouthink,howyouact,whatyoucare about,whatyourlifemeanstoyou. 3
Thedebateonthesextradehasreachedanewnadir.Globally,groupsare beingfundedtolobbyfordecriminalisationofallformsofprostitution.Most, ifnotall,ofthemajorfundersdescribethemselvesashumanrights-based organisations.So-called‘sexworkers’rightsactivists’aremarchinginthe streets,wavingtheirredumbrellas(asymbolofthe‘sexworkers’rights’ movement)andshoutingabouttherightsofwomen,andmen,todowhat theywishwiththeirbodies.
Feministabolitionists,manyofwhomaresextradesurvivors,are attemptingtocounterthisdominantdiscourse,andarepushingforthe introductionoflawstocriminalisethosewhopayforsexandtodecriminalise thosewhosellit.
Thereisnoissueascontentiousbetweenfeminists,liberalsandhuman rightsdefendersasthesextrade.Radicalfeministstendtoarguethat prostitutionisbothacauseandconsequenceofmalesupremacy,andthatif womenandmenwereequal,prostitutionwouldnotexist;italsomeansthatif womenandmenareevertobecomeequal,prostitutionmustnotexist.Butfor liberalswhobelieveinanessentialfreedomtobuyandsellsex,orforhuman rightscampaignerswhoseeaccesstosexasahumanright,abolitionis simplynotanoption.Whileacceptanceofthesextradehasbecome mainstream,theideaofendingithasbecomeevenhardertoimagine.
MygratitudetoMichaelShivelyforguidingmethroughthecomplex scientificdataonAIDS/HIV,andexplainingideologicalbiasinthefield.
TheNordicModel
ThislawwasfirstintroducedinSwedenin1999.Itisasetoflawsand policiesthatcriminalisesthedemandforcommercialsex,anddecriminalises thosesellingsex.TheNordicmodelhastwomaingoals:tocurbthedemand forprostitutionandpromoteequalitybetweenwomenandmen.
TheNordicModelhassincebeenadoptedbyNorway,Iceland,Canada, SouthKorea,Ireland,NorthernIrelandandFrance.GovernmentsinIsrael, LatviaandLithuaniaareconsideringthelaw,andin2014theEuropean ParliamentandtheParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEuropepassed recommendationsthatthelawshouldbeimplementedasthebestwayto tackleEuropeanprostitution.
Mythsaboutthesextradeincludesayingthatprostitutionisnecessary, inevitableandharmless.Iwillshowclearevidencethatthesebeliefs, propagatedbythe‘sexworkers’rights’movement,arebasedonmisguided neoliberalismandfallaciousmythology.
MyResearch
DuringmyresearchIconductedaround250interviewsin40countries,cities andstates.Italkedtosurvivorsofprostitution,current‘sexworkers’rights’ activists,pimps,sexbuyers,brothelowners,AIDSactivists,lesbian,gay, bisexualandtransgendergroups,policeofficersandfeministsopposedto prostitution.Iinterviewedregularmembersofthepublicwhoknewvery little,ifanything,aboutthesextrade.Allofthesepeoplehadastrong opinion.
Iwentwheremyviewsputmefirmlyintheminority.Atanacademic conferenceonprostitutionpolicyandlawsinVienna,Austria,entitled ‘TroublingProstitution’,Iwasoneofonlyfourdelegatesoutof185who appearedtobetroubledbyitatall.Theother181heldtheviewthatall aspectsofthesextradeshouldbedecriminalised.
InLeeds,UK,Ispendafreezingcoldeveningclosetothe‘managedarea’ onwhichDariaPionko,a21-year-oldprostitutedwoman,wasfatally wounded.Aswegotopress,a24-year-oldmanbelievedtobeherpimpis awaitingtrialforhermurder.Ispoketoresidents,policeofficers,other journalistsandthewomenthemselves.No-onetellsme‘yes’whenIaskif suchzoneswillreducethedangertothoseoperatingwithinthem.
Ivisitlegal,state-sanctionedbrothelsintheUSA,Germanyandthe Netherlands.AtthePornAwardsinLosAngelesImeetSiouxsieQ,founder of The WhoreCast: Sharing the Stories, Art and Voices of American Sex Workers ,andthenextmorning,inacafeinHollywood,Italktoamanwho isaformervictimofsextrafficking.
InVancouver,Canada,IamtakenonatourofthedeprivedDowntown EastSidebyCourtney,ayoungIndigenouswomenwhoworksforarape crisiscentre.HundredsofNativewomenandgirlsdisappearedfromthisarea, someofwhomweremurderedbyserialkillerRobertPickton,whofedhis victims’bodypartstothepigsonhisfarm.
InGujarat,India,Itraveltoavillagebuiltonprostitutionandmeetaman whoispimpinghiswife,sister,auntandmother.
InDubai,UAE,Idiscoverthatwhatissupposedtobeashelterfor traffickedwomenis,inmyview,aholdingpenrunbythegovernmentuntil thevictimscanbedeportedbacktotheirhomecountries.
InSweden,wherewomen’sbodiesarenotforsale,Isharehome-cured salmonwithCarina,a‘sexworkers’rights’activistwhotellsmesheisso appalledattheviewsoffeministabolitioniststhat‘Icouldneverevenspeak thatword“feminist”frommymouth’.
InIstanbul,Turkey,Ispeaktomenqueuingoutsideoneofthecity’slegal brothels,butamwarnedoffbysecuritywhotellmethat‘onlymenare allowedhere’.
AtthecentralpolicestationinBergen,Norway,istheveryfirstExiting Prostitutionunit.IamshownaroundbypoliceofficerJarleBjorkewhogoes intoschoolsandasksthestudents,‘Isitahumanrighttobuysomebody else’sbody?’Norwaycriminalisedthepurchaseofsexin2009,andBjorke tellsmethatunderstandinghowthiscameaboutissimplyamatterofthe citizens‘knowingrightfromwrong’.
AtDenHaag,theDutchParliament,Imeettheabolitionistswhoare finallyabletospeakoutagainstthesextradeintheNetherlands.Iamtold thathostilityfromso-calledfeministstowardsanyonewhocriticisedthesex tradepreventedanydebateonthetopic.
DuringatriptoCambodia,Ihearfromsomeoftheprostitutedwomen wholiveonadisusedrailwaylineinPhenomPengwithnowateror sanitation.WiththemisaboardmemberofWomen’sNetworkforUnity (WNU),alocalNGOthatisfundedtopresentthewomenas‘sexworkers’ rightsactivists’.
InNorthernIreland,undoubtedlythemostdevoutpartoftheUK,Ihear thestoryofhowtheabolitionistlaw,introducedbytheDemocraticUnionist Party’sLordMorrow,wasenactedby81votesto10.
Boston,Massachusetts,ishometoavibrantabolitionistmovement.I havebrunchwithfast-talkingDonnaGavin,SergeantDetectiveand CommanderoftheBostonPoliceHumanTraffickingUnit,whotellsmethat thepimpstargetingyoung,vulnerablewomenarebecomingmorebrutaland sadisticthanever.
ItourthelegalbrothelsiteinZurich,thebusinesscapitalofSwitzerland, andinterviewpassers-byinsightofthedrive-inbrothel.
AgroupoffeministabolitionistsinSeoul,SouthKorea,takemeonatour oftheindoorredlightdistrictinCheongnyangni,whereIseemenofallages goinginandcomingoutofwindowbrothels.Itis5p.m.Perhapstheywere poppinginforaquickoneafterwork.
AtuktukdriverinPhnomPengdrivesmearoundtheprostitutionsites,
whereItalktoBritishsextourists,theyoungwomentheyarebuying,and groupsofprostitutedwomeninthepark,identifiablebyblackfacemasks.
InasuburbofAmsterdamIstaythenightattheHappyHouseB&Band havedinnerwithXavieraHollander,whoco-authoredabookentitled The Happy Hooker basedonherexperiencesasaprostitutedwomanturnedpimp. Duringdinner,IaskedHollander,apassionatebelieverinlegalisation,ifshe thoughtpimpingcouldeverbeeliminatedfromthesextrade.‘Theaverage hooker,themostsimple-mindedhookerwhositsbehindthewindowandjust plieshertrade’,saysHollander,‘islikeasheepandwillfollowtheordersof herpimp’.
Idiscussthelinksbetween‘queerpolitics’andprostitutioninParis, France,andproblemswithimplementingtheabolitionistmodelinNorway.
DuringmytimewithsurvivorabolitionistsinNewYorkCity,Los Angeles,Minnesota,Boston,Munich,Sweden,Montreal,Vancouver, CambodiaandtheUK,Ichartasocialjusticemovementandcometo understandhowwehavecometomisunderstandtheglobalsextrade.
AttheHighCourtinNorthernIreland,whichalsocriminalisedpayingfor sexin2015,IlistentotheargumentsputforwardbyaQCinajudicial reviewofthelaw,broughtbyLauraLee,a‘sexworkers’rights’campaigner whocampaignsforblanketdecriminalisationofthesextrade.
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