Well I’ll Go To The Foot Of My Stairs…

The Swedish Model…

September 10, 2007 · 26 Comments

...essentially, doesn’t criminalise marginalised women for prostituting themselves, instead it criminalises the men who pay to rape.

After all, that’s what men who use prostitutes do, isn’t it? They pay money to someone in order to be able to rape a woman. A woman who’d rather be doing anything else than be penetrated by them.

I’m sure there are some women somewhere who’d say yes, this is *my* life choice, made knowingly and with full aquiesence and they’d tart it up with some kind of “empowered” faux-feminist reasoning. Like it’s their vocation or something; excusing men, servicing men. But those women don’t speak for the majority even though they might be given the loudest voice. The vast and huge majority of prostitutes would like not to have to be prostitutes, thank you all the same. Much the same with pornography, really, I guess – after all, they’re one and the same.

Oh, I know pornography has it’s “feminist” defenders – those same women who’ll defend a man’s right to abuse women whilst dressing it up as something to do with their own therapeutic apology. The only reason why all those la-di-da “feminists” defend pornography and prostitution is because they’re in a position to have something other than their physical existence to gain from it (unlike those women and girls who’re on the poverty stricken shit heap already so why bother?).

What do you suppose they have to gain?

Male approval? Their “sexuality”, of course – as if publicising their own fucked-upness helps them to “come to terms with it” or it’s in any way representative.

Um…. you could be right.

Look at the johns who comment on their sites. Read what they say. Examine their ideology. Read what some self identified lesbians have to say about it. Doesn’t it make you sick? It’s kind of like ‘other people’s bodies exists solely for my sexual fulfillment/entertainment and my sexual fulfillment/entertainment is so fucking important I need that other person’s body even though I don’t even know their fucking name!” I can’t do it for myself!’ So I’ll defend to the death the right of others to do it for me (selfish fuckwit that I am).

Do it for yourself. And if you need some pimp/pornographer’s deeply, deeply sad sexual ‘fantasy’ to get yourself off may I suggest you turn to feminism – the human, real, honest and (so far) totally un-hyped and non profit-making account of the human condition? It could well be a breath of fresh air for you – you sensation seeker, you.

Feminism is more edgy than porn/prostitution these days. Better embrace the Swedish model while you still have a chance of being ‘out there’ amongst your peers – non?

Categories: Feminism

26 responses so far ↓

  • Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // September 10, 2007 at 10:07 am | Reply

    I read a new article recently (and can I find it to link to now? Did I bookmark it for later? Did I bollocks!) Ipswich police are now working WITH the prostitutes and trying to help and support while arresting the johns instead.

    Now while their methods and *support* might not be ideal (I don’t know, I’m not there or part of the situation) It’s got to be a step in the right direction surely?

  • Debs // September 10, 2007 at 11:25 am | Reply

    I just read about the Swedish model elsewhere and have to say I really hope they take it up in this country. It makes so much more sense to me to prosecute the people paying for sex, rather than the people selling it, who very rarely have any choice anyway.

    I’m with you on the rest of you article too. I get really irate about women who strip, prostitute themselves, and claim that it’s somehow ‘liberating’ or ‘empowering’. I’ve asked women before “How is it empowering?” and I’ve yet to get answer that makes much sense.

  • CoolAunt // September 10, 2007 at 7:12 pm | Reply

    What!? No comments yet? I thought for sure you’d opened a can of worms with this entry. I’m pleasantly surprised to be wrong about that. :)

  • C. // September 10, 2007 at 8:47 pm | Reply

    I love you Witchy :) x

  • Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // September 10, 2007 at 8:55 pm | Reply

    There are comments CA but she’s still modding them.

  • sparklematrix // September 10, 2007 at 8:55 pm | Reply

    An anecdotal observation here. I’ve just got back from the three day International Dream Conference which for a change was held here in the UK. Attended by several Swedish academics and conference members I took the opportunity to discuss the Swedish Model with them – well, what radical feminist wouldn’t? :-)

    Both the women and men were astonished that the UK still hangs on to the draconian practice of prosecuting prostitutes for men paying to rape them. Moreover there wasn’t one Scandinavian muttering of “what about the men” Their feminism seems to be a lot more embedded and effortless than what we experience here, more or less a state ideology, incorporated in all facets of education and also promoted by various government agencies.

    Gawd we’ve got some work to do!

    They also very politely pointed out that they had noticed err the more “traditional” roles that men and women practice here in England.

  • witchywoo // September 10, 2007 at 9:02 pm | Reply

    I’m still moderating all comments CA – and I’ll be doing that for some time so there’ll be delays in getting them up here.

    I agree with you Sarah, what they’re doing in Ipswich is a step in the right direction. I had hoped that the prostitution strategy that came out of the Prostitution Review (2004) would be more clear in its condemnation of johns but, to me at least, its focus seems to be on protecting communities, not women and children. Almost like a half hearted attempt at the Swedish Model, as if the government didn’t have the courage to challenge the staus quo.

  • L.M. // September 10, 2007 at 9:41 pm | Reply

    You’ve all probably seen this article by Julie Bindel, but I’ll post it for those who haven’t:

    ‘It’s like you sign a contract to be raped’

  • witchywoo // September 10, 2007 at 9:50 pm | Reply

    Blimey.

    http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,,2165900,00.html

    A Home Office spokeswoman said it had no current plans to criminalise paying for sex. But the Guardian understands that the proposal is being discussed informally with a view to longer-term action.

    Now’s the time for us UK radfems to make our voices heard.

  • Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // September 10, 2007 at 10:14 pm | Reply

    Where do we write/email?

  • witchywoo // September 10, 2007 at 10:20 pm | Reply

    A number of senior women in government – including Jacqui Smith, the home secretary; Patricia Scotland, the attorney general; Vera Baird, solicitor general; and Harriet Harman, leader of the house – are thought to be sympathetic to the calls.

    I think these women would be a good place to start – and Fiona Mactaggart. I’m going to write letters rather than e-mails.

  • Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // September 10, 2007 at 10:31 pm | Reply

    Hmm, green crayon? purple one? chewed pencil? Or shall I dig out my posh grown up fountain pen?
    *grin*
    (printer is out of ink)

  • jennifer drew // September 10, 2007 at 10:44 pm | Reply

    Witchy you’re right the Government is more concerned about protecting communities rather than addressing the widespread sexual abuse of women and girls. Prostitution is nothing more and nothing less than male sexual violence against women, but it is promoted as women’s choice. Despite claims to the contrary the Swedish model is working and that is because not only are the male johns and prostitutors (the men who buy women’s bodies) criminalised but also much is being done to help women exit prostitution. Not only must the male demand side be challenged, there must be funding made available to assist prostituted women exit this sexual slavery.

  • Maia // September 11, 2007 at 7:23 pm | Reply

    Also, it can’t hurt to sign the petition
    http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Criminalize-men/

  • h2281n // September 11, 2007 at 8:18 pm | Reply

    See also this link to some good info

    http://www.prostitutionreform.co.uk/

    and this if you want to sign the associated petition

    http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/prostitutionreform/index.html

  • Prostitution - Swedish approach for Britain? « Touchingly Naive // September 11, 2007 at 10:01 pm | Reply

    [...] Posted by Maia on September 11th, 2007 (via Witchy Woo) [...]

  • witchywoo // September 11, 2007 at 11:48 pm | Reply

    Thanks Maia and h2281n for the petition links – very useful :)

  • Sis // September 12, 2007 at 1:22 am | Reply

    I always wonder if I should sign these, not being a UK citizen. Am I still a British citizen? Can’t remember. Citizens of the Commonwealth used to be.

    Anyway I add my voice to the chorus of hallelujahs here WW. Brrrrrilliant post.

    Laying money down that one of them has never had sex with a real live woman.
    “Look at the johns who comment on their sites.”

  • Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // September 12, 2007 at 5:32 pm | Reply

    Signed the doodad.

  • sparklematrix // September 12, 2007 at 10:02 pm | Reply

    Sis – with my soopa doopha sparkly judicious powers, I pronounce you still a member of the British Commonwealth. So yeah, go ahead and sign.

  • Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // September 12, 2007 at 10:57 pm | Reply

    I think there’s a verification whatsit on there to check you’re allowed. I’d try it and see – then if it says no, I’d email and ask why!

  • Sis // September 13, 2007 at 12:06 am | Reply

    Sparkly powers! That does it. Here I go.

  • simplywondered // September 14, 2007 at 4:50 pm | Reply

    ’swedish model’ is sure to get some interesting search terms…

  • Ethically Speaking :: The value of human life. :: October :: 2007 // October 3, 2007 at 1:33 pm | Reply

    [...] we live in a society that tolerates encourages men to pay to rape? Would we be better embracing the Swedish idea? …essentially, doesn’t criminalise marginalised women for prostituting themselves, instead [...]

  • Dana // October 23, 2007 at 8:27 pm | Reply

    Coming in late on this, but the comments about strippers thinking it’s “empowering” were right on the money, no pun intended. Here in the state of Ohio in the U.S. we had a group of stripping “advocates” try to fight a ban against customers touching strippers. O.o WTF? Is there some reason a customer NEEDS to touch a stripper? They were even outraged about it on an Ohio “progressive” blog, like putting women in the way of being molested while doing their jobs is something we should all aim for. Sick.

    And the folks who backed the ban in the first place weren’t much better; as also stated in your comments about related issues, they framed it as “protecting the family” rather than “protecting women.” Of course, I can also guess at least one reason they framed it that way: if they said they were protecting women, the Empowerful Sexbots would give a great hue and cry about not NEEDING to be protected. Speak for yourselves, “ladies”–and thanks for selling me out, by the way.

  • witchywoo // October 23, 2007 at 11:49 pm | Reply

    Nice one Dana. Thanks :)

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