19 women rescued from brothel

[elsmommy]

here

I've passed this place and joked about working there so many times

crossed message with you Cal.

I went for a job in a bar which turned out to be one with topless barmaids. The jobcentre said they had no problem with me turning it down for moral reasons. Is the law different here or does the theoretical possibility still exist for women being penalised (ahem) for turning work like this down?

there was a case in the UK some years ago about a woman who refused work as an artists model (nude) and her jsa was threatened. Also, I personally knew someone whose jsa was taken away after she refused a job where she was told to break the law during training sessions.

But this is not the real point of this thread. The fact that women are being kept prisoner and exploited in this way is completely appalling. I cant believe that people are making jokes about names of brothels, or remeniscing about living in Brum on the same thread!

there used to be a topless hairdressers in Brum too

I just think that there is a complete lack of empathy for women who are prostitutes. People simply blank out the reality of what their lives must be like because otherwise the fact that it is a modern day form of slavery, in some cases supported by our husbands, partners, brothers and friends, is really, really unpalatable. So people distance themselves from thinking too much about it.

yes, and add that to the total lack of empathy for illegal immigrants = indifference to their plight

Some years ago I had to transcribe some police tapes for a client who was charged with multiple rapes on prostitutes and from those interviews and other witness statements i did notice their complete lack of self worth and poor self image obviously in addition to their complete addiction to crack and the lengths they would go to to get the next fix. I got hte impression they had completely detached themselves from their body and it was as though they were working in a factory and bored out of their heads.

nightynight: I'm sorry I have offended you by reminiscing about Brum. Of course it's horrific - even more so when you realise it was right on your doorstep which was what my aside about "Cuddles" being a standing joke while I was there... no-one really took it seriously which makes it all the more shocking what was going on there. Like many discussions whether online or otherwise, you diverge and get distracted along other lines. However, if a simple diverging conversation is deemed offensive, then I shall just find somewhere else to chat.

Honestly, if no-one had posted we'd have bloody been accused of not caring either I really give up with mumsnet some days, I really do.

hear hear georgina !

In fact, you could argue my comment was actually on topic as the original poster said "I've passed this place and joked about working there so many times" - so my comment was actually in the same vein.

I think with the turning down work on moral grounds, it depends on your caseworker. I'm sure at some time in the future there'll be a test case.

Because of course, it raises the issue of what other kind of work you'd be allowed to turn down - could you turn down working at Primark because of your moral objection to sweatshop labour? Bet you couldn't.

Sorry, diverting from thread a bit. But it's sort of connected in a tenuous way.

georgina and skinnycow
we obviously have very different views on life. I cant explain a whole world to you, especially as you dont seem particularly interested in it. so keep joking.

caligula
you should be able to turn it down on modesty grounds though. again, fertile ground for disagreements on what constitutes modesty.

And also, how much modesty is allowed?

How about a pub job, and not wanting to work behind the bar because of the banter etc., and being too modest/ shy to do it?

gives up

agree its a minefield. anecdotal evidence suggests that benefits are cut rather zealously at the moment, as some of the jobs offered are not conducive to a decent life.
fruit picking five miles from home with no bus route and no car, anyone?

nightynight - no one is joking about this terrible case nor prostitution as a trade. I think you're getting a little too involved IMO. The name "Cuddles" is quite strange for a brothel surely? Its the last thing you'd expect to get there? SERIOUSLY!

I am sure that men can get whatever they pay for there.

It's serious but it's also ironic. Lets not try to police each other about what we can laugh at and what we can't.

mt,
this is the posting that got right up my nose:

By earlyraisin on Friday, 30 September, 2005 12:57:20 PM
shocking isn't it? more shocked at the name "cuddles"!

in the cold light of day, the poster might regret the word "more"

They well might, Nightynight and I'd agree. But we're all capable of being insensitive at times and being condemned for it isn't going to bring anyone closer to understanding an issue, only making them run a mile away from it.

I'd agree with everything Caligula said in her 10.16 post today. There is a massive reluctance for people to look at this issue head on, even to low level sexism in society, as if they're somehow killjoys. I mean what can be wrong with having sex, looking at beautiful women, watching porn, wearing playboy, shopping at Anne Summers? The answer to these questions is nothing if no one is hurt or abused or discriminated against as a result. And we all know the answer to that one as this raid perfectly illustrates.

DH and I have passed this place on our way into Brum many a time and we never fail to snigger at the name 'Cuddles'. It is laughable.

It is a question of perspectives though,isn't it? Even now with all this publicity everywhere. other women in the same position will be watching and wondering if anyone is going to be bothered about them and their ironically named brothel. I think it's fine to laugh, but not forget there is a very serious issue at the centre of this that we could all do something to change if we wanted to.

Just like Caligula says about empathy, how many reading this report thought about how they would feel if they were in the same position? It's impossible to do that fully of course but even glimpsing their misery has to mean something..or do we find it too easy to look away these days when the rewards for doing so are an easy life?

then in their ironically named brothel, I should have said

monkeytrousers
I havent condemned anyone, in fact I expressly invited them to keep joking!