tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4057868054965241866.post4932504868535755941..comments2024-03-29T00:19:03.913-07:00Comments on Behind the Red Light District: So you think they will dance?Felicia Annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03948108030376424994noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4057868054965241866.post-3580466140596772162015-02-03T14:24:01.382-08:002015-02-03T14:24:01.382-08:00I posted an objection to that "dance" vi...I posted an objection to that "dance" video. Not sure if they will leave it or remove it, so let me just post my reaction here as well:<br /><br />The "girls going wild in red light district" video is obviously meant to support a campaign against women trafficking. But in reality it is a bizarre display of ignorance. Of course human trafficking exists - there's no doubt about that. Those networks should be dismantled. But to use this sad situation in support of another agenda, which is: to downplay, conceal or ignore what many other sex workers (in the West) are doing out of their own free will, is a bad and alarming signal. By giving this false impression, the political / public will, and goodwill, to protect sex workers, is actively being undermined. The much needed respect of men for women (including sex workers) is being undermined. Because, when we continuously depict all sex work as something in which those women are only "victims", we are inevitably criminalizing all sex work (prostitution), which in turn increases people's fear for (or hatred against) sex workers, and diminishes human respect.<br /><br />From which I can only conclude (and I'm far from being alone in this) that THIS type of advertising against prostitution is either (A) typically male (males still don't seem to care much about feminism); or (B) typically 'religious' (Christians for instance will often start by calling all sex work 'sin' to begin with - they don't even consider other possibilities), or (C) typically a conservative political agenda, in which the "strong families" model (mom, dad and the kids) is considered the only valid model, which is what such politicians want because it is good for the economy (read: for capitalism) so it makes their position as a politician stronger. But at the cost of the security and well-being of those sex workers.<br /><br />Now this is nothing new. But why does it take years before this confusion comes to an end?<br /><br />I do not need sex workers in my life (well, not yet). But I sympathize a lot with feminism - not to say I am a feminist, and maybe all real men should consider being a bit more daring in their support for women, who still don't have the same chances and job opportunities like men in most Western countries. And in this case, not the same protection either. And we shouldn't put the blame on those 'prostitutes' - it is US, citizens and politicians, who do this to them, as long as we don't stop mixing up 2 very different things, thereby criminalizing all sex work.<br /><br />The victim of this tragic mix of "human traffic" on the one hand and sex workers on the other hand are those women, that's for sure. But women have a right to their own bodies, and a right to do this kind of job. They can make their own choices, choosing a independent life, offering services to men who, in many cases, need this kind of human contact in an otherwise - in their experience - cold and bleak world. (Also the other way round, women may need to spend time with a male escort worker, for instance).<br /><br />Those who do not, or do not want to, understand these things, will of course disagree - there's no objection against disagreeing. But my point is: women deserve protection. And the best protection is, when men start respecting women more. And this is not going to happen in our societies if others keep treating all female sex workers as "victims of male abuse" or "victims of sex-obsessed men" or anything along those lines. Because that's just criminalizing the wrong people and messing with the lives of those women.bennjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07744631971720435779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4057868054965241866.post-42084047290665753962014-11-11T01:52:50.419-08:002014-11-11T01:52:50.419-08:00@Anonymous:
I don't agree with your statement...@Anonymous: <br />I don't agree with your statement "Sorry, but in my mind the human rights of those being trafficked against their will come before the convenience of those doing it by choice." You may call it "convenience" but it's actually the human rights of those doing it by choice - the right to choose your occupation. And the human rights of one person should not come before the human rights of another, otherwise we are going down a slippery slope. Anti-trafficking measures should not infringe on the rights of other people - e.g. people who want to sell sex or people who want to migrate. Otherwise we might as well close all borders in order to prevent trafficking... Bobbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10220900637993980479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4057868054965241866.post-15933525108988756942014-10-14T06:15:59.330-07:002014-10-14T06:15:59.330-07:00@Anonymous
Let me first of all state, that just be...@Anonymous<br />Let me first of all state, that just because you didn't come to this conclusion, doesn't mean other people won't. In fact, look at the comments on the various websites where this video is posted, most of the comments you'll see are specifically about Amsterdam's Red Light District. So just because you didn't think about this, doesn't mean other won't.<br /><br />Secondly, I'm not stating that people shouldn't do nothing against human trafficking because 'it's only 10%', like how you make it sound. But stating that thousands of women would end up in Amsterdam's Red Light District, is far from the truth, as well as it is stigmatizing. <br />They could've easily chosen to create awareness on this subject without stigmatizing us in such a way. The fact that you can't seem to understand that, simply means you're underestimating the damage stigmatization causes.<br /><br />Thridly, the TV show was praised for it's 'realistic' look on prostitution and human trafficking, and interestingly enough, that one TV show isn't the only TV show depicting these things. In fact, most TV shows of movies made about human trafficking always depict these things, which begs the question why this never happens in real life, if the TV shows and movies are being hailed as 'realistic'.<br /><br />The fact that you call me ignorant on a subject that is being projected onto women like me, shows more your ignorance about this subject then mine. After all, this is my workplace, and these people are making statements about my workplace which simply aren't true. I know most of the girls that work here, and I know their situation. I'm not ignorant about the facts, your ignorant about the realities.<br />Felicia Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03948108030376424994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4057868054965241866.post-6374688911959758642014-10-14T04:04:30.564-07:002014-10-14T04:04:30.564-07:00While the amount of research you put into this is ...While the amount of research you put into this is admirable, you're ridiculously literal-minded about the first video. <br />Didn't it occur to you that "they end up here" doesn't necessarily mean "In the red light district in Amsterdam." I saw the video several times before and never came to that conclusion. It was obvious to me that "here" referred to prostitution, not specifically Amsterdam.<br />You also seem to be remarkably callous about the <10% who are being forced. Sorry, but in my mind the human rights of those being trafficked against their will come before the convenience of those doing it by choice. <br />"If this would be for real, the streets in Amsterdam would be filled with women running through the streets, screaming for help."<br />First of all, you made the comparison to the TV show, which, being a TV show, it going to be an exaggeration. Expecting it to be accurate would be like expecting Glee to give you a good idea of what American High school life is like. <br />However, your response is extremely ignorant and completely ignores the fact that if these women are being abused and trafficked by a pimp their emotional state is not going to be healthy or normal. Just like a victim of domestic violence, the women might be too frightened to ask for help, or they might have a relationship with the pimp and unable to leave just as a victim of domestic abuse who still clings to their spouse. There are any number of reasons why the a prostitute who is being exploited, trafficked, or abused might not ask for help, much less run down the street screaming.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4057868054965241866.post-89781390914304587942014-05-15T13:36:02.349-07:002014-05-15T13:36:02.349-07:00@Anonymous May 15, 2014 at 1:13 PM
You seem to be ...@Anonymous May 15, 2014 at 1:13 PM<br />You seem to be confusing personal pride with social acceptance. I am proud of myself and for doing this job. That does not mean that other people, like you for instance, will accept it, and that's what makes it socially unacceptable.<br />So this has nothing to do with my pride for my job, or my self respect. But not everybody shares this, and this is exactly the reason why I would prefer it if people don't take pictures.<br /><br />Secondly, you seem to forget the fact that in Holland it is illegal to make pictures of people without their permission. This is called a portret rights, and it's the reason many social media offer an option to remove any images or videos from the web that are not posted without any permission of the people in the pictures.<br /><br />On top of that, actually there are many signs in the Red Light District that show people they can't make pictures of the women for this reason. If someone takes a picture of me, I can simply call the police, and they will make the person delete the picture, no questions asked, since it's a clear example of violation of the portret right.<br /><br />So what you're stating is wrong. You can't take pictures of people without their permission. This is called a portret right.<br />You're confusing it with copyright, which is the right the person has who took the picture. But portret right always goes above copyright, unless otherwise agreed on, like in a contract for example.<br /><br />And beyond that, people actually need a film permit to film things in Amsterdam. This is the reason many filmmakers choose to avoid Amsterdam for making movies, since they can shoot similar views in other cities in Holland, without having to pay for a permit.<br /><br />Perhaps you don't know this, but the prostitutes in Amsterdam don't work on a public street. They work inside the buildings. How would you feel if I took my camera to your house, and started making pictures of you in your house from the outside? This is called invading ones privacy.<br /><br />And beyond that, I don't think you can judge from behind your computer how much self respect and dignity I have for myself, just because you read my blog and know I'm a prostitute.<br />It's a common misconception that one cannot have self respect and dignity for oneself when doing prostitution. This is an idea fed to people by the anti-prostitution lobby.<br />In fact, I think U have much more self respect for myself and my body, since I take extremely good care of it compared to other people I've met in my life. In fact, almost all prostitutes take good care of themselves, since without it we would look shit and nobody would go to us to have sex. And secondly because we like to take care of ourselves.<br />I've met in my work as prostitute a lot of people who've neglected their personal hygiene, and thereby not showing any respect for themselves or their body.<br /><br />But here's my question to you. Why would you want to take a picture of a girl in the Red Light District? What do you want the picture for? Is it because you want to make a handjob for yourself? <br />Give me one good reason why you should be able to break someone's portret right and privacy rights, in order for one idiot to make a picture for himself?Felicia Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03948108030376424994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4057868054965241866.post-73391485076251635712014-05-15T13:13:03.725-07:002014-05-15T13:13:03.725-07:00If you don't want to be photographed on a publ...If you don't want to be photographed on a public street selling sex don't do it. You claim to be proud of doing this and not ashamed yet you don't want anyone to see you doing this. Contradicting yourselves. Photography isn't illegal in a public street in Holland or anywhere in the world. Filmmakers have every right to film on the street without permission. You have no respect for your body or self worth by selling sex. Have some dignity and self respect. -John, UKAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4057868054965241866.post-74280064543354611102014-05-14T06:14:25.201-07:002014-05-14T06:14:25.201-07:00Just to say I am impressed by the way you write an...Just to say I am impressed by the way you write and your awareness of the facts. I have a relationship with a former prostitute and she says the same. Thank you very much. Stay safe! Cheers, Beau.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4057868054965241866.post-34286538006485989802014-05-09T09:17:38.743-07:002014-05-09T09:17:38.743-07:00@Anonymous May 9, 2014 at 8:40 AM
The number of 40...@Anonymous May 9, 2014 at 8:40 AM<br />The number of 400 (or 401 to be exact) windows I mentioned in this blogpost, is based upon a count that someone does on a website here: <a href="http://www.amsterdam-red-light-district-maps.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.amsterdam-red-light-district-maps.com/</a>, which was last updated with the three new windows at Oudezijds Voorburgwal 92 on 21 January of this year. To me this is the most accurate and up to date count of number of windows in Amsterdam. The person who made this website is actively keeping count regularly on how many windows there are, and documents it very well.<br /><br />You are probably talking about the number of windows just in the Red Light District in Amsterdam known as De Wallen, which has right now 296 windows, and not 200.<br /><br />Since the last update on this website was at 21 January of this year, and it's been some time since the city of Amsterdam bought any windows, and certainly didn't buy any new windows this year (in fact, three new windows got added!), we can be sure that the number of windows mentioned on this website is still accurate.<br /><br />I wouldn't trust to much the count of girls on sites like Hookers.nl and Ignatzmice, since I often see there that different girls are listed as one and the same girl. So I wouldn't trust those counts too much, even though they try to do a very good job of keeping track of the women.<br /><br />But the number of windows in Amsterdam last counted on 21 January of this year is still 401, and not 200 like you suggest.Felicia Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03948108030376424994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4057868054965241866.post-51808254599516156032014-05-09T08:40:49.493-07:002014-05-09T08:40:49.493-07:00I follow your argument that it’s impossible to hav...I follow your argument that it’s impossible to have thousands of trafficked women working in the windows (thousands don’t fit into 400 windows). However, I think that you could undermine that 400 figure. That was before the government started buying them and closing them. The number of available windows is closer to 200. As I’ve said before, if you count occupancy you get about 120 -130 women working at night and about 70 during the day (that’s 200 women in total, not 200 per shift). Those women work several days each week (5 – 6); the window population is stable, so it’s not even 200 different women each day. Ignatzmice and hookers provide some valuable raw data on numbers. Hookers, for example list reviews of 392 women in De Wallen. Not all women who work there have reviews, but we can see that we are not dealing with thousands.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4057868054965241866.post-71099988477781818552014-05-08T16:01:04.790-07:002014-05-08T16:01:04.790-07:00Thank you for your reply and the link. I understan...Thank you for your reply and the link. I understand German, so I gather that most of the women were strangled and were victims of domestic violence.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the politician is a member of a fundamentalist Christian party, one where belief will always trump the facts.<br /><br />(And my apologies for the mangled link in my first reply.)Korhommehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02290764661952746389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4057868054965241866.post-28169862898849943432014-05-08T15:54:42.682-07:002014-05-08T15:54:42.682-07:00I seriously doubt that even 10% of sex workers are...I seriously doubt that even 10% of sex workers are being forced in any meaningful way. In fact, the level of coercion is likely lower than in many other occupations.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4057868054965241866.post-16026070859789602772014-05-08T15:31:26.242-07:002014-05-08T15:31:26.242-07:00@Korhomme
That's a very interesting thing, but...@Korhomme<br />That's a very interesting thing, but very far from the truth. There is a website <a href="http://pasteurella.blogspot.nl/2009/02/prostitutiemoorden-in-nederland.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>, which keeps track of the murders commited in prostitution. I've counted there 33 murders since 1998, which is very far apart from the 127 that your local politician is claiming.<br />And beyond that, a lot of murders from those 33 cases, revolve often around private matters, and only very few happen at their job. In fact, most murders where murders that could've happened to anyone, where personal, and often didn't even take place at their workplace.<br /><br />So you can tell your local politician that he's full of shit, and is only trying to scare people to accept prostitution as a normal job. Scaring people is the oldest tactic in the book. Christians have used it for ages, by claiming prostiutes where dirty and wrong women, and now they're doing it by claiming there's a lot of crime happening, either human trafficking, or in this case murder.<br /><br />But thank you for your comment, it's very interesting to hear these kind of things.Felicia Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03948108030376424994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4057868054965241866.post-45924221702011682622014-05-08T09:58:41.615-07:002014-05-08T09:58:41.615-07:00Thanks for that.
There's a debate in N Irelan...Thanks for that.<br /><br />There's a debate in N Ireland about introducing the Swedish/Nordic model; the politicians are keen as it will stop trafficking, they say. The reality is actually religiousity.<br /><br />Anyhow a question. One local politician keeps telling us that there have been 127 murders of prostitutes in Holland since 1998. It's totally unclear where he got this figure from. Have you come across this? Any idea whehttp://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Assembly-Business/Official-Report/Committee-Minutes-of-Evidence/Session-2013-2014/January-2014/Human-Trafficking-and-Exploitation-Further-Provisions-and-Support-for-Victims-Bill-International-Union-of-Sex-Workers/re it came from?<br /><br />(use the edit function to search for 'murder').<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />He's recorded here saying it:<br /><br />Korhommehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02290764661952746389noreply@blogger.com