Audacia Ray's Blog, page 46
September 21, 2011
About the word whorephobia, I personally know Audacia Ray (the original source of the post) and she is a sex worker herself, doing community organizing with sex workers in New York city as well. I believe she reclaimed the word because of her activist w
The context does matter because I was about to go off lol. It's different if she was a sex worker before and I suppose she can use it. The reclamation of that word when used like a weapon against an occupation probably makes sense. I just don't think I could use that to describe the mistreatment of sex workers. The word whore pisses me off in general. Thanks, that does help. *runs off to look up Audacia Ray*
I'm a former sex worker, and have been out of the business a while. The word "whore" is generally cringeworthy to me (especially when used as a weapon against sex workers as it so often is), but I do occasionally use it as part of the word "whorephobia," as in this post title. Probably its too flippant a usage, but it is used frequently by the sex worker rights movement internationally (that said, folks in the international movement also use the word "transgender" as a noun, so that probably isn't the best measuring stick).
About the word whorephobia, I personally know Audacia Ray (the original source of the post) and she is a sex worker herself, doing community organizing with sex workers in New York city as well. I believe she reclaimed the word because of her activist w
The context does matter because I was about to go off lol. It's different if she was a sex worker before and I suppose she can use it. The reclamation of that word when used like a weapon against an occupation probably makes sense. I just don't think I could use that to describe the mistreatment of sex workers. The word whore pisses me off in general. Thanks, that does help. *runs off to look up Audacia Ray*
I'm a former sex worker, and have been out of the business a while. The word "whore" is generally cringeworthy to me (especially when used as a weapon against sex workers as it so often is), but I do occasionally use it as part of the word "whorephobia," as in this post title. Probably its too flippant a usage, but it is used frequently by the sex worker rights movement internationally (that said, folks in the international movement also use the word "transgender" as a noun, so that probably isn't the best measuring stick).
About the word whorephobia, I personally know Audacia Ray (the original source of the post) and she is a sex worker herself, doing community organizing with sex workers in New York city as well. I believe she reclaimed the word because of her activist w
The context does matter because I was about to go off lol. It's different if she was a sex worker before and I suppose she can use it. The reclamation of that word when used like a weapon against an occupation probably makes sense. I just don't think I could use that to describe the mistreatment of sex workers. The word whore pisses me off in general. Thanks, that does help. *runs off to look up Audacia Ray*
I'm a former sex worker, and have been out of the business a while. The word "whore" is generally cringeworthy to me (especially when used as a weapon against sex workers as it so often is), but I do occasionally use it as part of the word "whorephobia," as in this post title. Probably its too flippant a usage, but it is used frequently by the sex worker rights movement internationally (that said, folks in the international movement also use the word "transgender" as a noun, so that probably isn't the best measuring stick).
"This article is not talking about trafficking; it's about consensual sex work. It's the difference..."
- Studying Down: Thoughts on Sex Work, Steinem, and Self-representation, by Melissa Petro
New info on Long Island serial killings: Now with more transmisogyny and whorephobia
The Suffolk County Police Department has released new information about the victims of the Long Island serial killers. Killers plural - this stretch of Gilgo Beach appears to be a dumping ground.
And look, the police are ungendering a murdered trans woman!
CNN reports that at a press conference, authorities in Suffolk County shared new details about the victims in the hope that someone will come forward with more information. Police released sketches of what two of the victims might have looked like. The first is the only male victim, an Asian man who was between 17 and 23 when he died. He was murdered five to 10 years ago and was wearing women's clothing at the time.
Commissioner Dormer is again asking sex workers to come forward with information, but he isn't offering real amnesty, just saying that the SCPD "are not interested in [sex workers'] occupation." Jezebel's take-away is a good one, though:
Since sex workers have the most to fear, and are more likely to have tips on missing associates and johns who behaved bizarrely, perhaps it would have been wise to assure them months ago that they won't face prostitution charges if they come forward.
September 20, 2011
Body positive weight loss
This summer, I lost twenty pounds. I did it the old fashioned way: diet and exercise. I acquired a running and yoga habit. I really never thought I'd be excited about getting up at 6 am and running a few miles four times a week, but I am. I've been counting calories, making better choices, drinking tons of water and almost no alcohol.
I also read a lot of blogs about body positivity and tumblrs chock full of hot chubby girls, and I totally cruise curvy girls and chubby boys on the streets of New York (hopefully I am not too creepy).
In general, I don't need friends and acquaintances to tell me I look good, and I sure as fuck don't want them to comment on my weight. And yet… as I've been losing the weight, I kinda want people to bring it up. I want it to be acknowledged, and I feel totally conflicted about it too. I don't want to talk about weight loss with people, the thought makes my skin crawl. And in the larger sense of my activism, my body positivity, I don't want to be praised for taking up less space. And yet… I do.
But I guess this is the thing about living a life in a body and in a culture. There's some stuff I'll never be able to defeat fully, just examine (on the internet, obvs). And weight is definitely one of them for me.
Cis-Privilege/Trans Allyship Workshop
Learn how to be a more anti-oppressive trans ally! Let's de-center cis-privilege from our social justice movements!
SlutWalk NYC recognizes that trans folks are disproportionately affected by sexual violence; the fight against rape culture includes the fight against cis-sexism, cis-supremacy and transphobia.
This event is accessible, and queer and trans friendly.
September 19, 2011
ilovecharts:
-emilysayshi
I would draw the same graph for the...
I would draw the same graph for the "What is the difference between art and porn?" conversation.
August 3, 2011
My summer reading. Details of all the books (and some short...
My summer reading. Details of all the books (and some short reviews, though not of all of them) are here, on my Goodreads.
August 2, 2011
manifestfreedom:
cdandor:
Words that Hurt poster for the UC...
Words that Hurt poster for the UC Davis Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center. Displayed for Principles of Community week in the Memorial Union until March 14th, 2011.
thanks for sharing, xicanagrrrl !
This is good, almost great. What about the word "tranny"? That's definitely a word that hurts and is slung around a lot. I guess the "T" in this LGBT center is silent, like it is for so many groups that tack "T" onto the end.
