Recommended Reading #164: Digging Deeper, Pt. VIII
“The Danger in Demonizing Male Sexuality” by Alyssa Royse (Sex and Culture, Gender Socialization) 5/28/13
I so appreciate seeing this being said and wholeheartedly agree.
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“Sex, Disability, and the Price of Admission to The New York Times” by Cory Silverberg (Sex and Disability, Sex and Culture, Sex Work) 7/8/13
A nice piece from Cory Silverberg addressing a recent article in the NYTimes. (One of the things I personally found annoying about said piece was the distinction that seemed to be made between prostitution and services offered to individuals who experience disability, as though trying to convince someone that the latter is acceptable…because obviously the former is, you know, not. To be more specific: “‘Prostitution is a fake debate; the goals are different,’ said Pascale Ribes, who in 2011 founded the Disabilities and Sexualities Group, an association defending sexual surrogates in France. [...] ‘Sexual assistance is about allowing a disabled person who can’t access sexuality in a satisfying way to reconnect with the body,’ Ms. Ribes said.” Because prostitution could never be about that, of course. Grrr…) I read the article, and I appreciate this piece from Cory even more because it helps me recognize and/or become aware of things I either didn’t notice or realize when I read it or that had simply not occurred to me.
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“Prostitution Law and the Death of Whores” by Laura Agustín (Sex Work, Sex and Culture, Sociology, International Laws and Legal Systems) 8/15/13
This may seem long, and it definitely strikes me as thoughtful and detailed rather than sensationalistic or entertaining. It is something perhaps those compelled by activist and/or academic assessments relating to sex work and social sciences would be most interested in reading. Since I fit that description, I found it fascinating. I have often appreciated what Laura Agustín has had to say in such contexts, as well as the way she’s said it.
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