San Jose Adult Entertainment: Freedom to sell sex? Prostitution debate continues
Prof. Majic is an assistant professor of political science at CUNY. She spoke on the difference between decriminalization and legalization of sex work, advocating for decriminalization so that sex workers could more effectively access social services and the legal system.
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Harvard LL.M. student Alejandra Suero asked about the assumptions underlying the panelists’ definitions of sex, and about the distinction between sex work and other types of paid labor. Dr. Wood responded that “sex” can include a broad range of activities which are private and not usually discussed. She drew parallels to nurses’ aides, who are continually in very physical and intimate contact with their patients, yet do not draw the same social stigma as sex workers do. Ms. Carter stated that sex and prostitution are separated by differences in process and interpersonal dynamic, in the same way that sex and rape are differentiated. Dr. Farley focused on the prostituted woman’s emotional presence, and pointed out that many prostituted women dissociate emotionally during their acts, either through emotional means or through substance abuse.