Sex Work 2.0

[struggle4progress]

By Juhu Thukral
American Sexuality Magazine
Posted January 13, 2008

Sex workers have been using technology both to enhance their work lives and to organize as a movement. For example, sex workers used listservs, blogs, and online video to address the scandal involving Randall Tobias. The administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Tobias had enforced the policy requiring that U.S.-based groups working to fight trafficking and HIV/AIDS overseas denounce prostitution in order to receive funding. But in 2007 news broke of Tobias’ own personal association with an escort service. Although he denied ever having sex with the women he hired, he resigned.

While the mainstream press focused on the scandal, activists used technology to point out the troubling policies that Tobias enforced, which jeopardized programs targeted to assist and support people whose rights are almost always ignored. The Sex Workers Project released press statements to blogs, radio, and other media outlets that then gave substantial coverage to the Anti-Prostitution Pledge policy created under President Bush. Sex workers organized via listservs to have screening and education parties to watch media coverage, and they viewed online videos about the policy impact of Tobias’ work. They also started a blog to talk about sex workers’ rights issues. Using this kind of technology, they were able to get their own voices out to the world without compromising confidentiality and safety ...

http://www.alternet.org/reproductivejustice/73589/