How can Sex Work be destigmatized?

[SixT9er]

With the attempts to try and close the Brothels in Lyon County we have seen some Ladies in the news attempting to justify the benefits of keeping the houses. Some Ladies do a much better job of presenting themselves as professional and deserving of being taken seriously while others less so.


What if anything do you think the Ladies can/should do to make their own cases to the public stronger? How can they best get accross to the public that they are there by choice, not coerced and that it is a legitimate career choice?


Unfortunately this is more about Dennis than the Ladies in reality so it all may not matter but if they can get some people to understand their choices better it may help to separate the sex trafficking stigma from the Legal Brothel

[georoc01]

I think both Ruby Rae and Alice Little have done an excellent job representing themselves and the ranch itself.


As this has been turned into a sex trafficking argument, How do you prove a negative? Those that believe that legal prostitution leads to human trafficking, I'm not sure anything that is said will change their POV.

[MrTShirt]

How to De-Stigmatize Legal Sex Work:...

Do I hear a house should market itself as career instead of get rich quick? 
Makes sense to me.

[Slednx]

I've said it before and base what I am going to say on hundreds of conversations with people not working in or participating in LPIN. That is- the majority of Americans make no distinction between legal sex workers and non-LPIN.  All the talk about paying taxes, being tested and regulated as well as a place to legally and safely perform their job. It makes no difference to the average Joe or Jane and I have to wonder why so much time is spent touting that stuff.


It's about a lady selling her body for money, and it always has been. That is why the fight is and continues to be an uphill one.

[Funmonger]

Mentioned some of the things that i believe would help in another thread.


1. Start acting like it is what it is. Professional Proiders providing a service that is of benefit to society.


The things necessary to do this are to show where the brothels have conducted due diligence in an effort to:


    Avoid hiring anyone underage or even discussing with anyone under age about a future in the business.


    Show where they conduct background checks and std testing and things they already do.


2. Educate the public about the benefits to society of Legal Brothels.


    Possibly invite some news media that may be brothel friendly.  Invite them to hear how brothels help people who otherwise find it
    difficult to fulfill genuine human needs and that it is not only a "fairground of adult entertainment."  It has actual medicinal purposes.
    This is an element of society that is totally ignored.  What are these people supposed to do, either:


                              1. Go without


              or worse    2. Go try to see someone illegally, thereby breaking the law, taking risks of robbery, arrest, std, on and on.


    Show that this is no greater menace than the other "vices" of society. For example, Smoking, chewing tobacco, alcohol, gambling.
    I could easily argue that this is not even close to being as bad for a person as the above.


3.  Face the TRUTH honestly about the REAL issue and that is one of CHILDREN. Let's face it, CHILDREN are the ONLY real justification for telling any one not to do most things not to do in our society.


    The industry needs to not circumvent the existing laws. For example, don't place fake signs that lead to a brothel pretending that they are
    something else.  The Brothel Owner must themselves be SUITABLE as an Operator by always being RESPECTFUL fo society's norms by not
    advertising. Let's face it, cigarettes and booze pretty much went away in the advertising media and why? They were marketing tobacco to
    children.


    Every effort needs to be made that the LEGITIMATE BROTHEL INDUSTRY is VERY interested i ferreting out ANY attempt at sex trafficking, Pimping, manipulation or any of the rest of it.


4.  Legitimize the business. Don't lie to the workers about being independent contractors when really they are "Statuary employees" or actual "Employees." Get a W-2 not a 1099 (self employment report). Provide health ins and retirement. WSHow people that this is legitimate enterprise just like the big gambling casinos eventually did.


I think that it must change and grow and develop and have enough presence to go mainstream. I think that there is a real need in society.
The public does not have a clue about it. I doubt that many spouse would agree that the Brothels are a good thing, but ask yourself this question: How many would rather have the "old man" going to the Brothels as opposed to going out on the street putting it all at risk or worse, getting a divorce and/or taking on a sugar baby.  To the spouse, if you consider it, the Brothel is a much better answer. If it is a better answer, then it will play better in the press. It is only when the PRESS drills down on the sex trafficking issue that it looks really bad.

[MrTShirt]

Funmonger makes good points.

In addition, realize some people are simply against brothels.
They will keep throwing out arguments, and lies, and see what sticks on the wall.

There is no reason to waste time trying to convince them.

[FumbleNutts]

Funmonger, you always beat me to the punch in saying what I want to say, and in a much clearer and better way  Not much I could add to that positive, terrific post!

[Funmonger]

Thanks for the compliments. I just really believe that the brothel industry is tiny, nobody knows much about it, the idea of it scares them because people don't understand what it really is about.  It iz not perfect. It has been mishandled in many cases. However, like casino gambling, if it were to be handled in a professional way towards the hiring of workers, developing better communication and education it has potential to go mainstream. There are people who hate smoking, drinking, and gambling also.

[rachelvarga]

It can't.