NUS and prostitution - confused...

[Ubik1]

They seem to haves passed a motion which holds anyone who thinks the Nordic model of managing prostitution is the preserve of right wing radical feminists.

I'm confused. I don't know much about sex work but I do know it is linked to trafficking of women and children and organised crime. I would be delighted if men were criminalised - but maybe I'm wrong?

Here's the motion but you might not be able to view it...

The NUS increasingly piss me off. The people who support the Nordic model are generally left-wing, and I think they know that. Also: it is not anti-choice, it acknowledges that many involved in the sex industry do not have a choice, and those who do, do not do so in a vacuum.

The very least I would expect is some tolerance of differing views. But this increasingly appears to be an alien concept to them.

The NUS voted on a motion to allow men to rape women for money. They are supporting organisations which have pimps as their leaders. Therefore the NUS can fuck off to the far side of fuck.

What I don't understand is that the motion doesn't allow ANY debate - if you disagree you are immediately pigeonholed as 'she who should not be listened to.' She is 'right wing' and 'radical'

It's not like most women find themselves involved in prostitution because they need to earn some money for university.

They are vulnerable people with complex problems preyed upon by scumbags.

It also ignores how the landscape has changed - trafficking men, women and children. What about young women pimped by their boyfriends??

I don't know a lot about this but I am struck by the complete dismissal of any alternative viewpoint based on someones perceived identity.
(Sorry if not using correct terminology)

And I thought they taught critical thinking at university!

Presently there seems to be more no platforming and loudly stating that any opposing view should be shouted at until it goes away.

Unluckily for them, radical feminism and others equally humane are looking more and more toward the Nordic Model as the best way to reduce harm.

Exactly. If you don't agree with the NUS, you're an evil, rightwing harridan. I bet these same people bang on about free speech. The irony.

The thing is - I could be persuaded either way if presented with the facts ( am not asking you to do that)

But anyone with questions cannot ask them.

It's shutting down free speech and debate. I'm disappointed.

I assume they will be inviting pimps along to recruitment fairs held in student unions then?

Yes and I'm sure that they would be delighted for their sons and daughters to on the street.

Oh yes.

And it's just a job like any other - until you ask if they'd date someone who was working as a prostitute.

Well there's the obvious stigma. But also the physical and psychological harm.

Um, I'm probably being a dumbarse here, but you know I was being sarcastic, right?! Apologies - I expect you did!

I don't think there should be shame or stigma for the person selling sex with themselves at all, and they definitely shouldn't be criminalised (I.e. I don't disagree with every single statement in the motion). But I agree with you Ubik that the shutting down of anyone who might express concern that they are supporting pimps and punters and the right of men to access at will the bodies of others is extremely troubling

Sorry OP just reading back my post it looked like I was disagreeing with you on something that I wasn't!

But people always try to imply that feminists who support the Nordic model somehow want to shame/stigmatise prostitutes (despite the mountain of evidence to the contrary).

Also, how was the party line, so to speak, decided on?

Well that's very bizarre. & just plain incorrect.

If sex work is simply the exchange of money for labour, just like any other job then:

Why aren't children allowed to do it (within the amount of hours that they are allowed to work at various ages)
Why aren't jobseekers compelled to do it

?

Are they going to fight for these rules to be changed?

The slightly ranty labelling of anyone who disagrees with their stance is really odd. Is that someone they do a lot? I don't know much about the NUS. I can see "we believe this" and "our stance is such and such" but the whole "anyone who thinks otherwise is XYZ" just reads really strangely in what I assume is supposed to be a serious document detailing their stance on a serious issue

It is strange isn't it? I mean, you can detail all the other positions without adding "and anyone who disagrees is a fascist"

(I knew you were being sarcastic but it's also a very good point - prostitution must be an incredibly tough way of life. And it doesn't play well in job interviews)

I think the success of the Nordic model depends on having a wide range of support in place for women -esp financial and health support.

Of you are going to criminalise perpetrators you need a safety net for these women.

But yes the closing down of debate is what's most troubling.

Reminds me of Rik in the Young Ones indiscriminately calling people 'fascist!' when he was pissed off.

I know it's not the done thing to say people with different views are 'bad' at feminism but the nus women's campaign really are shite at feminism.

The youth of today, eh.

Sorry, x-post! You can express any opinion you like, as long as the NUS deem it acceptable.

Is it to do with.... what is it to do with? I was an NUS member (to get the discounts at top shop ) but they didn't really impinge on me when I was young. Have they always been like this, are they like this about lots of topics?

I imagine many of them will have their views mellow / develop as they get older.

Have they made any statements about what to do about the harmful side of all of this? Or are they excluding anyone who is harmed as a victim of criminality and therefore not something they need to consider when thinking about this eg underage people, trafficked ones etc.