A-Infos (en) Irish Anarchist Review #6 - Sex and Sex Work from an Anarcha-Feminist perspective

In âSex and Sex Work from and anarcha-feminist perspectiveâ, Leticia looks at the 
theoretical background to the debate between those who argue for decriminalisation and 
those who âsee sex work (or even sex in general) as violence against womenâ. She argues 
that because sex is commodified, sex workers should be treated in the same way as others 
who engage in exploitative labour. ---- There is an on-going debate within anarchism about 
sex work, feminism and sex in general. While there is general agreement on the differ- 
ence between sexual freedom and sexual exploitation, there is conflict between anarchists 
who argue for decriminalisation and those with radical feminist tendencies who see sex 
work (or even sex in general) as violence against women. The latter are mainly influenced 
by Andrea Dworkin and Melissa Farley.

Anarcha-Feminism or Radical Feminism?

Dworkin Ìs analysis of heterosexual sex and porn in her book Intercourse concludes that 
intercourse is a synonym for rape. She tries to clarify at the end that what she really 
means is that Ì sex must not put women in a subordinate position. It must be reciprocal and 
not an act of aggression from a man looking only to satisfy himself. Ì

Melissa Farley, an academic left wing radical feminist, believes that the only feminist 
approach to sex work should be abolition. Farley has said that âIf we view prostitution as 
violence against women, it makes no sense to legalize or decriminalize prostitution.â

From an anarcha-feminist perspective, this approach is problematic. When radical 
feminists (âgoodâ women) feel they have the privilege and the right to exercise power to 
force sex workers ( Ìbad Ì women) to adapt to the dominant cultural norms with regard to 
sex, they are simply using the same tools that patriarchy has used historically in order 
to dictate the social norms that control the lives of women.

This poses several questions: what kind of feminist âassistsâ other women without asking 
them what kind of assistance they really want? What kind of feminist âassistsâ other women 
by treating them as if they were unable to decide for themselves what is best for them? 
What kind of feminist âassistsâ other women with methods that these women believe in fact 
to be harmful?

The Commodification of Sex

Sex work however, is more diverse and has many different fields than prostitution. A sex 
worker refers to any person who is paid to engage physically in a sexual way with clients: 
prostitutes, street workers, brothel workers, in- call or out-call workers, escorts, call 
boys, call girls, rent boys, bar girls, in-house prostitutes, adult film actors or 
actresses. Other sex workers are paid to engage in sexual performance directly or 
indirectly: exotic lap dancers, adult film producers, phone sex operators, nude models, 
full body masseuses, pimps, madams, strippers, escort service owners, webcam models, adult 
website owners.

Sex is a commodity because as much as we like it or not, everything under capitalism tends 
towards commodification. I find that a lot of the anarchist arguments about sex in general 
are puritanical and conservative about our sexuality, rather than just seeing it as 
exploitative work. If we see all work to be exploitative, why is sex work different?

Class, Gender and Morality

For example, in Madrid there was a campaign to shut down a brothel a few years ago. I don 
Ìt know how many anarchists were involved in this action but a lot of my comrades thought 
it was a positive campaign. But what of the people who were working there who relied on 
that work for their income? What is the difference between this and people trying to shut 
down a supermarket where many workers who are also exploited will lose their jobs. Why 
should we have a different attitude?

There is a history of puritanical and conservative approaches in anarchism. There is the 
very famous scene of Emma Goldman being confronted for dancing with the lads by a comrade; 
and during the Spanish Revolution a lot of male CNT members believed that revolutionary 
anarcho- communists should live like nuns and monks for the spirit of the revolution.

Sex is still a big taboo in anarchist and left wing circles. People who choose to attack 
the brothel but not their local McDonalds do so because of sexual morality. Sex is made 
into a moral issue because we are not only taking about an economic relationship. So when 
some anarchists have a problem with a brothel or with a specific sex shop, it is not just 
a class or gender analysis that informs them, it is also what they think is morally good 
or bad for the rest of us.

Further Debate and New Approaches

Sex is a very big part of our lives. The anarchist attitude to sex and sexuality should be 
that sexual activities and relations should be safe, free, diverse and consensual; 
acknowledging that people are trans, queer, bi or hetero, from the monogamous to the 
polyamourous, from the asexual to the polysexual.

In relation to sex work, I also believe that anarcho-communist critiques of work, of 
legislation and of trade union structures have the potential to move forward the 
entrenched debate between those either advocating for the sex industry or fighting stigma, 
and those calling for its abolition through state legislation. I would like to see future 
discussions in anarchist circles of ways forward for grassroots organising by prostitutes 
and sex workers against their control by the state, the sex industry and the market.

Photography, p. 19 by ASasch; p. 20 (i) by capitan giona; p. 20 (ii) by Daquella manera - 
all from Flickr Creative Commons

WORDS: LETICIA ORTEGA
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