University of California Santa Barbara Feminist Philosophy Reading Reflection

  identify 5 things you learned about sex work and/or sex trafficking from both Weitzer essays 

POST 1

  The commercialization of sex is a concept that has gained dominance in the society attracting different opinions on its influence in the moral and economic standards of the United States and the globe. Ronald Weitzer presents insightful research and analysis of issues revolving around prostitution and sex trafficking, thereby drawing exciting conclusions. From the articles, there are vital lessons that every student and readers can draw, which have the potential to elevate an individual’s conceptualization of the concept. Sex work usually entails the exchange of sexual services, performances, and or material compensation rather than based on satisfying emotions arising from the love between the partners.  Therefore, there are several lessons that I learned from the readings.        One of the vital lessons concerning sex work regards the universality of the practice, which seems to cut across every social class. Weitzer reveals that even the most prominent of government officials at some point have been receivers of the services although their position of the debate may seem to contradict and campaign for the abolition of the practice (Weitzer, 2009). For instance, Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D-NY) was part of the prominent leaders who depicted the hypocritical behavior by condemning the practice but receiving the services of the exclusive Emperor’s Club agency and Wicked Models, which are escort agencies. Besides, Senator David Vitter, among others, also had an association with escort agencies thereby proving the reality of sex work and prostitution even among the elites in the society (Weitzer, 2009).        It also came to my understanding that sex work is so lucrative that people spend significant amounts of money in the business. Weitzer alludes that the industry realized $13.3 billion on X-rated magazines, DVDs, and live sex shows among other sex-related programs just in 2006 (Weitzer, 2009). Besides, he affirms that the industry realized tremendous progress in just a single decade with a double in the number of X-rated films and literature. Legal commercialization of sex thus is a force to reckon in economic aspects of the society, thereby creating a perception that much more could be happening and people spend more that never appear to the limelight.       Moreover, the points raised by the moral crusaders, although may seem baseless, are critical in the quest to understand the moral influence of the sex industry (Weitzer, 2007). According to these individuals, sex work is to blame for the rise in sex trafficking, places the lives of young, innocent children in danger of sexual abuse. Children exposed to explicit sexual practice often do not live to realize their dreams since because of the psychological and moral influence of such practices. This backs the claim that prostitution is generally evil since it replaces the need for love, particularly romantic in nurturing and building of relationships.       Conversely, I also realized from the articles that there is no empirical proof of the causal relationship between prostitution and trafficking. However, the legalization of one makes the other a possibility since the level of exposure to such practices significantly rises compared to cases where both trafficking and prostitution are illegal (Weitzer, 2007). Notwithstanding, I also learned that although when it comes to sex work, people typically think about prostitution, there are other types of sex work, which seems to thrive thereby enhancing the dynamism experienced in this industries. Such types include strippers who majorly meet their clients outside clubs for sex and porn stars who make club trips and tours to feature as part of the entertainment crew. The porn stars attract higher prices more than the local talents. Therefore, the complexity of this industry and the seeming globalization of sex work is one with numerous lessons, which are elevators of though and conceptualization of the concept of sex work and trafficking. 

ReferencesWeitzer, R. (2007). The social construction of sex trafficking: Ideology and institutionalization of a moral crusade. Politics & Society, 35(3), 447-475.Weitzer, R. (2009). Sex for sale: Prostitution, pornography, and the sex industry. Routledge.this is first one my classmates responses.

POST 2

I would like to talk about  each thing I learned in each paragraph. I learned the several problems and the negative influence of moral crusades and different paradigms and policies for sex industry.Moral crusades only focus on the most shocking horror stories of victims and recount their plight to exaggerate the problem. They tend to exclude gray areas and believe the existence of a particular evil (Ronald Weitzer, 2007: 448). Moral crusades cast lots of wrong and glib claims. For example, they regard prostitution itself, customers and traffickers are evil. Also, in their view, violence prevails in prostitution and sex trafficking. These ideas are biased opinions and lack of evidence.  Moral crusades ignore many certain conditions and despite the more abominable outcome of their proposal. Legal prostitution might lead to the decrease of trafficking since the government and legal sectors arrange it in an orderly way. Inversely, traffickers might control and oppress migrants by law threats, if commercial sex work is illegal (Ronald Weitzer, 2007:457). As Murray writes, “It is the prohibition of prostitution and restrictions on travel which attract organized crime and create the possibilities for large profits, as well as creating the prostitutes’ need for protection and assistance.” Legal prostitution can provide a safer and organized market for workers.  Moral crusades influence public opinion, and their ideas are accepted by the authorities. The more institutionalized crusades get support from government and legal systems. The institutionalized crusades incorporate their ideology in policy and law and make their goals “a project of the government” (Ronald Weitzer, 2007: 460).Later, moral crusades not only care about sex trafficking but also all sectors of the sex industry. As the domain expends, activists let the government deny “the commercial sex trade as a whole” (Ronald Weitzer, 2007: 464). Since the coercive trafficking exists, the movement should pay attention to unfree labor instead of all sex trade and migration. Despite the growth and large extent of the sex industry, many citizens still think it a deviant enterprise (Ronald Weitzer, 2010:2).  Oppose to oppression paradigm, empowerment paradigm believes that sex work builds up for mutual gain as in other economic transactions (Ronald Weitzer, 2010:6). Increasing studies research diverse dimensions of sex work and the variation between different types of it.  The polymorphous paradigm avoids essentialism and targets to the complexities of sex work. Many people are thinking of street prostitution when thinking prostitution. However, off-street prostitution is more common and safer. In the article, the Australian study found that half of call girls and brothel workers regarded that their work as a “major source of satisfaction”, and seventy percent of them would “definitely choose” this work if they had it to do over again(Ronald Weitzer, 2010:12). This show that the moral crusades’ opinion that all sex workers are oppressed, and suffering is not true. The working condition is greatly different between indoor and street sectors. Also, some findings verify that there is no apparent correlation between pornography and sex crime after other variables are included and even some show a decrease of sexual violence as the increased availability of pornography. Law and legal systems often relate the rate of crime with sex work. However, the fact is opposite. Some obscenity test without evidence sounds incomplete and unconvincing. Legal systems and governments in different areas are all inclined to punish sex industry. Prostitution is treated as criminalization. As the development of opinions on prostitution, there are two ways for it. One is decriminalization, which support no law against it. Another one is legalization, which prefers regulation. Legalization have some questions about the increase of prostitution and whether prostitutes will follow the rule (Ronald Weitzer, 2010:24).  Finally, two-track policy is born. Although the policy brings some benefits to prostitutes and the public, governments in some areas still change it and disobey it. Polices and legal systems utilize various methodss to criminalize prostitutes and clients. The targeting of customers has been popular. Due to the narrow view of sex work, the oppression of sex work is popular (Ronald Weitzer, 2010:32).  second one