German "Sex Work" Org Targets Ukrainian Refugee Women

Its a shame after all they've been through that they aren't being offered support and advice on how to leave the sex trade.

But then like I said peer to peer sex workers contact covers a multitude of things doesn't it?

I wonder if there is peer to peer support to get surrogates back into replacing the babies they had to leve behind?

Good intentions... with minds so open the brains have fallen out.
Hmm, after fleeing bombs, female sex workers need advice from the bepenised on job safety...

You see it as "illegally targeting financially vulnerable women", I see it as a service which can offers info, help and peer support (which isn't against German law). If you really do think a law has been broken and there is trafficking going on, I'm sure there will be a way to report it online to German authorities to investigate.

"and/or direct them to other resources"

I mentioned above this org appears to have links to other services which may be of help. I would also imagine having peer support from another sex worker would help them to find out what sort of help etc is available in Berlin.

Again, you've ignored the German legislation which makes it illegal to taget women who are financially vulnerable.
In this situation the right thing to do would be to give them money and/or direct them to other resources.

"Peer counselling for sex workers arriving in Berlin. If you know someone who needs support/info on how to begin sex work in Germany, we can help."

The description next to the post describes this as a "peer-to-peer counselling team" and gives dates/times when people can drop in.

We might look at this differently but to me it looks like a support service for sex workers or people who were going to become sex workers regardless, especially taking the rest of their content into the context. I'm just not seeing it as a "recruitment" org which is setting out to make sex workers out of people who aren't sex workers.

Because it can’t be right to counsel vulnerable people into “sexwork”, can it?

Absolutely not. This is disgusting. And anyone that thinks this is ok is also disgusting.

Well since the trans activists are also sex work positive (as opposed to TERFs and SWERFs), I can't get myself worked up about it. As long as they leave women alone, go for it.

Word.

But your position is incoherent. Either these are vulnerable people, in which case they should not be being offered “peer services” to get them started with “sexwork”; or they aren’t vulnerable because they are freely choosing, fully in control “sexworkers” for whom sex work is just their profession and like any other kind of work.

Vulnerable people need support services that help with basic needs and trauma, and protect them from exploitation.

Not-vulnerable people who happily choose exciting sexy work that’s just like any other work are presumed not to be vulnerable but full agents in control and doing it out of choice, not necessity or coercion.

So which is it? Vulnerable or not vulnerable? Because it can’t be right to counsel vulnerable people into “sexwork”, can it?

Thanks, moderator - that was quick!

They have a contact email on their IG page. You could ask them about what they offer.

Even if they don't directly provide what you mention, they may be able to point people who need those things in the direction of services who can help.

I have no idea what was problematic about that post. Detailing the kinds of support that might be helpful to traumatised refugees rather than the "help" that seems to be on offer doesn't seem to warrant deletion?

linktr.ee/transsexworks

They also offer drug counselling and STI testing.

"It’s disgusting, really, and there’s no other word for it but immoral. It’s immoral. Deeply immoral. And you too, @MargaritaPie**

I don't find it immoral to offer support/peer/information services for vulnerable people. Also a little unnecessary to take that little jab at me because we have differing views on transsexworks.

Did you take a look at their Instagram page to see what else they are posting? Or is your only knowledge of them the article from reduxx?

I’m not the least surprised that that poster is all for it, as the self evident risk of exploitation and degradation of vulnerable women is a matter of no import to them - it’s all fun sexy sex work, freely chosen by happy, well adjusted women who are delighted to be doing it.

Well I guess sex work covers many roles from, groomed children to the groomers at the school gates and pimps so I can kind of see where Margarita is coming from

Oh I see, it’s “sexwork” all one word now? To make it sound new and exciting or something?

I think it’s pretty vile actually for this “org” to be targeting vulnerable women. Ukraine is a pretty socially conservative country, pretty poor compared to Western European countries, largely Orthodox, and many if not most of the women fleeing have young children and trauma because of the war, and family left behind in Ukraine. I don’t think many are going to be indulging in the narcissistic Western idea of identifying as “non-binary” or trans and for the small number that might, perhaps some actual financial and social support might be required rather than enabling access to prostitution. Why isn’t this peer network fundraising for trans and nonbinary individuals freeing Ukraine to access safe housing and enough funds not to have to prostitute themselves? Because it’s all about legitimating the misogynist pro “sexwork” () narrative rather than actual help.

It’s disgusting, really, and there’s no other word for it but immoral. It’s immoral. Deeply immoral. And you too, @MargaritaPie.

www.instagram.com/transsexworks/

I've had a look at their other posts and I'm not seeing it as a "recruiting" org. It looks more like a support and peer service for those who are already sexworkers or who are going to go into sexwork anyway and who may benefit from talking to someone else who is a sexworker and find out what help/resources is available for them.

From a quick Google search 10 million are estimated to have been displaced. That number will certainly include many sexworkers.

I also disagree that support/peer-counselling/info services are "promoting" sexwork. This is a service that could potentially help sexworkers and it's being vilified as "promoting trafficking".

Sorry, TheWeeDonkey, I obviously didn't underline the sarcasm enough (concerned about where I am with deletions, actually!). To make it absolutely clear, that's amused as in revolted...

[quote Coyoacan]@MargaritaPie

What is the connection between TRAs and the promotion of prostitution? It is not something I would ever have assumed but the evidence is undeniable.[/quote]
Deeply held misogyny....