"Anyway, a journalist wanted to talk to me for a story he was doing about domestic violence, so I..."
Anyway, a journalist wanted to talk to me for a story he was doing about domestic violence, so I agreed to an interview. We talked for hours about my work and all the different dangers the women confront on the streets. I discussed how one of the biggest "dangers" was the stigma and discrimination they face as sex workers and how general society doesn't understand that they are simply mothers trying to provide for their children. That was my big plug. The journalist's focus, however, was on the violence these women may face. In response to his questions, I conceded that yes, many of the women are vulnerable to falling into relationships with abusive partners.
… I arrive to the streets and no one greets me. I wonder, what the heck is going on here…I call out to N., one of my closest friends on the streets, and she flings a string of profanities at me. I look about from woman to woman and I'm greeted with death stares all around. My eyes start to water and I'm getting really freaked out. I approach another friend C. and ask what this is all about. She says, "Anita, the women don't want to see or talk to you—what did you say in that article???"
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En la calle: sex work in Quito: Fieldwork Nightmare
Ah yes - the only way to learn how much the press can fuck you over is to get your life and work broken apart a little bit. Apparently also the way to learn more about the impact academic work can have on people you're studying.
Long conversations about sex work with journalists can be very problematic - as this researcher discovered. She also experienced the challenges of having a reporter represent her and her work and ends with his bit of self-awareness: "Although what WILL this mean when it comes time to publish my thesis?????"
