Demonizing sex workers

[EmilyMiller]

@EmilyMiller , you may find this interesting:

So this comment just came in on my latest story, One Night Of Sindi.

My story, much like the one Emily wrote that kicked off this discussion, is also about a sex worker.

The difference is, unlike Emily's character, I didn't really give mine much of a backstory, or attach anything like a husband, or family.

Emily did so and the commenters disparaged the idea.

And yet here's the comment on mine. By Anonymous, of course:



Wait, what? Someone who thinks a sex worker could also make a great wife and mother???

Will wonders ever cease???

Deviants. Burn them! .

Em

 

[Britva415]

It's not all BTB. It's not even close to all BTB. Avoid the comments section, sure. But saying "I don't read LW because of they're all BTBs" is like saying "I don't read mysteries because they're all police procedurals." It's not even close to true.

Yeah.

I don't even read LW, but even I know (I guess because I read discussions about it in AH) that one of the biggest commenter-complaints in there is that TB's aren't getting B'd.

 

[Lifestyle66]

Yeah.

I don't even read LW, but even I know (I guess because I read discussions about it in AH) that one of the biggest commenter-complaints in there is that TB's aren't getting B'd.

NTH is correct, in that there are many stories in LW which are not BTB stories.

Yes, about half of the comments will decry the lack of burning. But none of my LW stories involve burning the bitch. The closest I came was in my story "What Were You Thinking?" in which the wife broke one of their swinger couple rules (husband and wife are to swing together) by arranging a weekend away with a guy her husband had already seen and approved of during a swinger house party. He doesn't go ballistic on her, but merely points out that she's changed their rules and he'll do the same.

EDIT: Read the STORIES and form your own opinion and comment. Leave the shitty comments for others to read.

 

[AchtungNight]

I will leave redeeming or demonizing sex workers in my ficverse up to the appropriate deity. Hey Nocticula, what do you think about my Loving Wives story?

[Nocticula stops pleasuring Iomedae briefly and gives AN a thumbs up]

Thanks!

 

[CyranoJ]

I will leave redeeming or demonizing sex workers in my ficverse up to the appropriate deity. Hey Nocticula, what do you think about my Loving Wives story?

[Nocticula stops pleasuring Iomedae briefly and gives AN a thumbs up]

I love learning that people play Pathfinder by unconventional routes like this one.

 

[AchtungNight]

I love learning that people play Pathfinder by unconventional routes like this one.

If you’re interested-

https://literotica.com/s/pathfinder-union-of-the-righteous

Enjoy!

 

[TheRedChamber]

The Demonization of Humberstone Road.

My story inspired by this thread was published today. (I think a little bit of self-promotion is okay here as it's published in Letters - i.e. tumbleweed central)
It's about actual demons taking over a red-light district, but, if you look very carefully between the lines and are not too distracted by the demons with a dozen penises, you may detect a smidgen of satire in it.

(Weirdly both the longest and the easiest thing I've written this year).

 

[EmilyMiller]

The Demonization of Humberstone Road.

My story inspired by this thread was published today. (I think a little bit of self-promotion is okay here as it's published in Letters - i.e. tumbleweed central)
It's about actual demons taking over a red-light district, but, if you look very carefully between the lines and are not to distracted by the demons with a dozen penises, you may detect a smidgen of satire in it.

(Weirdly both the longest and the easiest thing I've written this year).

Will have to take a look.

Em

 

[Winter_Fare]

The Demonization of Humberstone Road.

My story inspired by this thread was published today. (I think a little bit of self-promotion is okay here as it's published in Letters - i.e. tumbleweed central)
It's about actual demons taking over a red-light district, but, if you look very carefully between the lines and are not to distracted by the demons with a dozen penises, you may detect a smidgen of satire in it.

(Weirdly both the longest and the easiest thing I've written this year).

That is hilarious
I am surprised and saddened that you didn't work in a "soulsby" joke though

 

[Gamblnluck]

I don't even read LW, but even I know (I guess because I read discussions about it in AH) that one of the biggest commenter-complaints in there is that TB's aren't getting B'd.

I know (I guess because I read discussions about it in AH

And most of the authors on AH who know that LW is such a terrible, narrow minded place...yada yada yada are pissed because their beloved missive got panned for one of several reasons, but NOT just the BTB angle. Read stories there and see what you like.

 

[MillieDynamite]

My story, Between Shadows and Sin, is about a prostitute in 1986. She witnesses the murder of one of her johns, and her life goes topsy-turvy. It has an ambiguous ending, leaving you wondering if she'll be fine or dead. I'm sort of proud of it. It will go up for sale sometime this week. It's in the editing stage. I've made a few changes, and feel we have it right now. It's up to the editor/publisher to decide if it's fully ready. It will be on Amazon, Smashwords, and Bookapy and, a few months down the road, free here.

It isn't demonizing whores, but it isn't glorifying them either.

 

[TheRedChamber]

That is hilarious
I am surprised and saddened that you didn't work in a "soulsby" joke though

Thanks. A day and a bit in and it's received exactly one vote, one favourite, and one comment and I suspect you're responsible for all three. I'm going to describe it as 'unanimously praised'

I'm not currently resident in Leicester so the 'Soulsby' stuff was lost on me at first until I googled. Had I known, I would have included the apty named real life mayor.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Thanks. A day and a bit in and it's received exactly one vote, one favourite, and one comment and I suspect you're responsible for all three. I'm going to describe it as 'unanimously praised'

I'm not currently resident in Leicester so the 'Soulsby' stuff was lost on me at first until I googled. Had I known, I would have included the apty named real life mayor.

Add another vote. That was well done. I think you could have received a (marginally) better reception if it was posted in humour & satire.

 

[TheRedChamber]

Add another vote. That was well done. I think you could have received a (marginally) better reception if it was posted in humour & satire.

Thanks. I've set myself the pointless goal of writing a story in every category and Letters is one of those categories I struggled to come up with something for. Nevertheless I thought about moving it as it became clearer that it was going to be longer and more ambitious than I originally planned. I guess the advantage with Letters is that stories stay on the front page for months and months...

 

[genzsub]

I recently watched a video by Hannah Witton that I thought was really well done entitled, "What Feminists Get Wrong About Sex Work".

I think authors on Lit have an opportunity to humanize both the sex worker and their clients.

As Hannah points out in her video, we often focus on the sex part and forget about the fact that it's work. They have to pretend like they're enjoying it whether they do or not, just like the rest of us. Some enjoy and choose their profession and some do it out of necessity.

Clients have a need to live out some fantasy or to just feel loved.

I can't fault either side for doing what they need or want to do in a safe and enjoyable way. I just wish it could be done in a way that society isn't villainizing it. That would make it safer for all.

Let's not forget that authors on Lit are just another type of sex worker, even if we're not getting paid for it.

Consensual sex work between adults can be a societal release valve letting people live out their fantasies in a safe and beneficial way rather than letting it spill out in some less appropriate way. Maybe society should embrace that.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I recently watched a video by Hannah Witton that I thought was really well done entitled, "What Feminists Get Wrong About Sex Work".

I think authors on Lit have an opportunity to humanize both the sex worker and their clients.

As Hannah points out in her video, we often focus on the sex part and forget about the fact that it's work. They have to pretend like they're enjoying it whether they do or not, just like the rest of us. Some enjoy and choose their profession and some do it out of necessity.

Clients have a need to live out some fantasy or to just feel loved.

I can't fault either side for doing what they need or want to do in a safe and enjoyable way. I just wish it could be done in a way that society isn't villainizing it. That would make it safer for all.

Let's not forget that authors on Lit are just another type of sex worker, even if we're not getting paid for it.

Consensual sex work between adults can be a societal release valve letting people live out their fantasies in a safe and beneficial way rather than letting it spill out in some less appropriate way. Maybe society should embrace that.

Well said.

Em

 

[tenyari]

Are sex workers human beings and I assume you mean they also deserve respect? Of course, they do. In the county where I live, the county elected prosecutor has issued a public statement saying the office will not prosecute sex workers or their clients. His argument is that the county has more important crimes to prosecute.

A huge number of real world sex workers are trafficking victims. So personally; I want that DA to prosecute their clients.

Sadly this is even true in places where it is legalized. Demand outstrips supply, so victims are chained to beds in the places around the corner and down the street. Human trafficking into the cities where it's legal has often increased after legalization - but that's because everyone who's looking to be a client goes there (much like why San Francisco has so much Homeless - it's not that they have worse services, but that they have better. So everyone else's homeless come there or get put on buses with one-way tickets to there).

Part of what needs to happen to clients is a form of therapy where they are forced to meet and listen to the stories of escaped trafficking victims and former prostitutes. That's been the only thing statistically shown to reduce recidivism.

In a perfect world; supply could match demand and enough protections could be in place to prevent a back-alley slave shop from rising up. But... that world can exist in fiction but rarely in reality.

 

[djrip]

A huge number of real world sex workers are trafficking victims. So personally; I want that DA to prosecute their clients.

Sadly this is even true in places where it is legalized. Demand outstrips supply, so victims are chained to beds in the places around the corner and down the street. Human trafficking into the cities where it's legal has often increased after legalization - but that's because everyone who's looking to be a client goes there (much like why San Francisco has so much Homeless - it's not that they have worse services, but that they have better. So everyone else's homeless come there or get put on buses with one-way tickets to there).

Part of what needs to happen to clients is a form of therapy where they are forced to meet and listen to the stories of escaped trafficking victims and former prostitutes. That's been the only thing statistically shown to reduce recidivism.

In a perfect world; supply could match demand and enough protections could be in place to prevent a back-alley slave shop from rising up. But... that world can exist in fiction but rarely in reality.

Maybe instead of prosecuting clients, regulate the industry to prevent trafficking.

 

[Britva415]

Let's not forget that authors on Lit are just another type of sex worker, even if we're not getting paid for it.

I think that's like saying anyone who has sex is a sex worker.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Oh, I think we know the answer there. The BTB folk in LW don't view women as human beings.

But yeah, female sex workers are always demonized, not the patrons, even by the people who enjoy their services... "I wouldn't have strayed if not for that filthy whore. And I'll tell her that at our regular appointment next week"

I'm not brave enough to go in there, but it would be an interesting exercise to do a similar, or even the same story, with the male being the whore. Oh, wait. men can't be whores...(that's sarcasm for those in doubt)

 

[genzsub]

I think that's like saying anyone who has sex is a sex worker.

Hmm? I was talking about Literotica authors, not the general public. Sorry if I didn't state that well. As authors, we are providing content that feeds people's fantasies not unlike script writers for porn videos. There are some of those, right?

 

[CyranoJ]

Hmm? I was talking about Literotica authors, not the general public. Sorry if I didn't state that well. As authors, we are providing content that feeds people's fantasies not unlike script writers for porn videos. There are some of those, right?

There are. I've been one. It's not the kind of sex work where you're particularly putting yourself out there -- if anything probably more anonymous than writing on Literotica -- but maybe like, sex support staff?

 

[Britva415]

Hmm? I was talking about Literotica authors, not the general public. Sorry if I didn't state that well. As authors, we are providing content that feeds people's fantasies not unlike script writers for porn videos. There are some of those, right?

No, I understood you perfectly. You're talking about Lit authors.

Just because we publish where the general public can see it doesn't make us sex workers.

It's like saying any exhibitionist anywhere ever is a sex worker. Which, if that's what you think, I can understand why, but I don't agree it's like "sex work."

It's like saying anyone who sexts is a sex worker. Which, if that's what you think, at a stretch I could understand why, but I don't agree it's like "sex work."

It's like saying anyone who has any kind of sexual interaction with another person, public or private, is a sex worker. Which I'm saying is the far end of the slippery slope you've erected here.

 

[StillStunned]

Maybe instead of prosecuting clients, regulate the industry to prevent trafficking.

Where I live prostitutes pay taxes and file VAT returns. Hasn't stopped the trafficking.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I'd guess some of them cheat on those taxes as well. I mean, you got to maximize you're earnings.

Where I live prostitutes pay taxes and file VAT returns. Hasn't stopped the trafficking.