Good morning!
Rene Ross from Stepping Stone was the guest during the first hour and it was different to hear the other side of the sex trade worker debate. I remember there was this incredibly disturbing article about the sex trade in Halifax a few years in the Daily News. The drug issue wasn't mentioned today, but I asked Rene about it during the commercial. She says it most definitely is an issue, but they don't want to dwell on it in order to stave off negative stereotypes. I asked her though, as I saw some of the listeners' points about not possibly doing it for poverty reasons, but because you have this horrendous addiction. I don't think the issue of drug use should be so utterly discounted. I love what they do though - provide support at arm's length and when the workers want help, Stepping Stone is there for them. It's a non-profit group and you can check out their website at: www.stepping-stone.org. The book launch AJ was talking about is Thursday night at 7PM at FRED salon on Agricola Street.
On a completely lighter note, Lilly the lab pup that was found with 2 broken legs is doing well! She had two operations on her front legs and Trish Pittman, the lead volunteer with Lab Rescue N.S. says she's doing great. There have been hundreds of calls from people who wanted to help Lilly, so I have no doubt she will be in a new, loving home very soon.
Crazy story today about the Dal student who started the anti-croc blog. I read the blog today and I think it's hilarious. I don't want to judge anyone, but I'm not a croc fan. They are really ugly!! Everyone says they are "soooooo comfy", so what do I know? Anyway, it's a cute story and the girl behind it was interviewed in the New York Times! There are signs posted at the malls in Metro about the dangers of wearing Crocs on escalators! Caroline had the most disturbing story about a kid having an accident after their crocs got caught. EW! One of my closest friends has the new "Mary Jane" style of crocs and they are a little better, but again, not my preferable choice of footwear, but if people want to wear it, it's their business!!
The blog is funny though.
Well kids...more tomorrow! Enjoy the sunshine...Peter Coade says it's going to be a very wet ending to the week.
Talk to you then,
Amber
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3 comments:
Drug use is part of north american culture; we have several, billion dollar industries that thrive on pushing drugs.
Survival sex work probably does come with drug use issues, but not for the majority of sex workers.
Putting drug use on sex workers, myself included, as a sex work issue is ridiculous.
Reinforcing a stereotype, as your little blog blurb did, is irresponsible.
I don't think I said all sex trade workers were drug addicts, but I certainly apologize if you got that impression.
Thank you for the feedback!
Amber
Amber,
When it comes to sex work in the Maritimes, myth continues to cloud reality.
Your reference that I 'utterly discounted' the inclusion of drugs in our dicussion is innaccurate.
The characterization of sex workers as suffering from addiction is based in part on underlying assumptions about the deviance of both sex work and drugs.*
Assumptions that there are strong links between substance use and sex work increases the vulnerability of sex workers to violence, stigmatization, and marginalization that will turn sex workers away from seeking support.
As an outreach organization one of our roles is to challenge the myths and mis-conceptions about sex work, including the unfair focus on sex workers as addicts.
Addictions are not identified as urgent issues by the majority of sex workers we work with. Yes, we do work with sex workers who have substance use issues, but not to the degree that many think (or would like to think)that we do.
Urgent issues facing sex workers today include the worst cases of violence and harrassment that continues to go un-noticed because they are seen as disposable. This worries us greatly and we have already seen evidence in this country what the consequences of these attitudes can be.
It is our hope that by doing radio interviews such as the one we did with CJCH, we are able to focus on the issues that are of severe importance to the population we work with...i.e. perceptions that ignore the fact that sex workers are people...not disposable commodities.
If you would like to learn more, I would recommend picking up a copy of the book or contacting me directly.
Thank you for your time,
Rene Ross
Executive Director
Stepping Stone
.(*From Sex Workers in the Maritimes Tak Back, MacDonald and Jeffrey).
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