Why is the BBC Promoting Sex Work?

[WootMoggie]

I know the BBC tries oh-so-hard to be "progressive" but this is really taking the piss:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/5e7dad06-c48d-4509-b3e4-6a7a2783ce30

The BBC state at the top of the article that selling explicit content online can be a lucrative business, and the opening quote of the article is "My biggest fear is going back into an office and being normal again"

Other choice quotes include "I like the freedom it gives me and the celebration of the female form" and also '"I used to make £20,000 a year, and now I make a lot more than that every single month" Lauren says coyly'

"Lauren says coyly"?? WTAF?

I see no problem in writing articles about this subject, but the tone and position of this article is dubious in the extreme IMO.

When 80% of female accountants, bankers, personal assistants, nannies, therapists, retail staff, and other workers report being raped by their clients, and 50% by their bosses, then I'll start agreeing that sex work is work like any other work. Until then, that claim can go do one.

The BBC asking the question on everyone's lips

What does a drag queen do during lockdown?

www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/a9833a93-fe83-4cca-a8e1-06701d3fdf53

Outside the echo chambers of Mumsnet feminism, I don’t think many people dispute that selling sex, as a free choice, is work

I think you will find a very small proportion of people would agree that 'sex work' is the same as other work. Hardly any would be happy for there daughters to be encouraged into this 'career' or their sisters or mothers. And if any school offered an assembly promoting prostitution as a career then there would be a definite outcry. What rubbish to suggest people think it us just 'work'!!!!

Because the BBC has gone beyond woke to laughable. I long ago used to be the first person to defend the licence fee. Not any more...

Excuse my ignorance but is feminism not all about choosing what you want to do in life and being unapologetic about your body and what you want to do with it?

A grown woman should have the choice surely to decide how she makes money? Take advantage of those sad enough to pay for onlyfans or any sex site! I don't see how this is exploitation when she wants to do it?

I am a young woman and I feel that this thread is the opposite of what I thought feminism was about.

If I wanted to create an Onlyfans account I thought other feminists would be like, 'Hell yeah. Make money. Do what you want with your body. You can do whatever you want!'

It's not a conventional career because so many people have their own personal feeling about sex and can't help but put themselves into other peoples shoes.Of course there are very dark elements to sex work but, I can also say that about my job in commercials. There is so little tolerance for women who decide to do something like sex work.

I am a young woman and I feel that this thread is the opposite of what I thought feminism was about.

If I wanted to create an Onlyfans account I thought other feminists would be like, 'Hell yeah. Make money. Do what you want with your body. You can do whatever you want!'

Stick around. Much new stuff to learn, then.

Take advantage of those sad enough to pay for onlyfans or any sex site! I don't see how this is exploitation when she wants to do it?

That is one of the reasons I reject prostitution and the like as being work. And no , it has nothing to do with "men's feelings" , feeling sorry for men.

There is something repugnant about the idea of a "business model" which starts from the premise that its customer base are saddos to be exploited.

It's a dehumanising mindset and it's not a healthy mindset for either the seller or the vendor. Having looked at the websites where punters review prostitutes the dehumanisation and contempt clearly goes both ways. Selling sex is not good for the mental and physical health of those directly involved and it is not good for society as a whole.

Ofcourse there are very dark elements to sex work but, I can also say that about my job in commercials

I don't buy this justification for a minute. There are many, many jobs which are physically and mentally dangerous and taxing. We all know what they are. They are the jobs done to keep us all safe and provide a structure to society.

There are many, many jobs involving selling goods or services which cause no harm but which are merely frivolous and fun and which we don't really need, but life would be duller without them.

There are other jobs which are routine and mundane but keep society ticking.

The "sex trade" fails on all counts. It isn't needed; it's dangerous and exploitative and damaging to the wellbeing of society.

Much of what is called “sex work” today is not really sex work.
It’s sexy, but no sex is being sold and no one is getting actual sex for money.

Selling nude pictures is completely different from prostitution. It’s part of the normalisation campaign to make people think, oh it’s all the same “kind” of work. And if this “sex work” is alright, then all sex work must be alright. Just because everything sexy that is not selling sex is alright, it does not make actual prostitution alright.

@wheetos, the only reason that a woman who is being used as a prostitute is with a "John" is because of the money.
She cannot give her consent to have sex with whomever she chooses because her survival depends on it. Therefore it is rape as she is not able to give consent.

Now, don't get confused and compare it with your job, which you would not do for free. Everyone does their job for the money as we all need money to live, right?

The difference is that a John is buying access to your body and would be prosecuted for sexual offences if he withheld payment.
Rape. Somehow it's ok if you pay the woman off, but it is still rape.

I don't see how this affects physical or mental health for a willing account owner

This is something which has been discussed. You are dealing with the thin edge of the wedge here. You are assuming that a person selling themselves in this way is not at risk because there is no physical contact. I don't think that is true. I think someone posted a link recently to studies showing the risks to mental health were considerable.

@heyduggee I see what you mean yes. Thank you! Thanks for explaining. I know it sounds silly but, I never thought about how the prostitute HAD to have sex because of a financial situation. I understand now why it's a problem.

I think as @PlanDeRaccordement has said Onlyfans is just selling images so I am getting a little confused as to why a woman is looked down upon for choosing to do Onlyfans when she signs up and consents etc but as you've explained it's completely different situations (not always of course).

I always find it interesting when this topic comes up that we are almost without fail discussing women being sold and how thats ok because "sex work is work" (I know that's not the prevailing view on here!).

No one ever comes on and says straight men should be getting out there selling their bodies more, it's just a job isn't it? Maybe they could let other men have sex with them since it's not about wanting to actually have sex with anyone it's just getting on with your work. Wonder why this is?

I'm going to start some what aboutery for all the poor men who could be doing important sex work but for some reason 🤔 don't seem to be.

How is it damaging to the wellbeing of society? An Onlyfans account is a frivolous way to spend money for millions of people! If women do so well on it there is obviously a healthy market

Objectification. Lack of self esteem. Being paid to have a lack self- esteem. Thinking/ fooling yourself? "I'm being paid to take my clothes off because I'm beautiful and sexy" - the person paying thinks "tart/ slut/ what else can pay her to do- how far can I push this"

@DidoLamenting I will definitely have a read at the study! Thanks.

I wonder if Onlyfans are at least telling women about the link between mental health and selling images etc Or at least giving a space where they can contact someone for advice/help.

I am going to investigate.

I am getting a little confused as to why a woman is looked down upon for choosing to do Onlyfans when she signs up and consents etc but as you've explained it's completely different situations (not always of course)

You are a little confused if you think any one here is "looking down" on women.

The "looking down on" part however is at the very heart of the sex "industry". "Looking down" on women is as much a part of it as looking at women.

Hmm @DidoLamenting I'm sure that is the case some of the time.
That is a worse case scenario. I'm sure being paid to take your clothes off is a fast track to getting an inflated ego and lots of self esteem. It all depends on your feelings around your own body and whether it bothers you that others have seen it I guess.

You cannot just limit it to the feelings of one individual. There are wider societal implications in normalising commercialisation of sex and bodies.

The BBC appears to be committed to spreading the COVID 19 virus through their advertising efforts.

Excuse my ignorance but is feminism not all about choosing what you want to do in life and being unapologetic about your body and what you want to do with it?

No, it isn't. Feminism is the political movement for the liberation of women. Rape torture and abuse of women in pornstitution is high on the list of things Feminism is committed to liberating women from.

I don't see the BBC as promoting this, they are just reporting it. We know it goes on and surely better that it is out in the open, when things are buried all sorts of abuse can occur.

£20,000 in a month? Blimey.

I'm sure being paid to take your clothes off is a fast track to getting an inflated ego and lots of self esteem. It all depends on your feelings around your own body and whether it bothers you that others have seen it I guess.

According to the women who do it, being paid to take your clothes off is dehumanizing and results in low self esteem.

Who you gonna believe? The exploiters or the exploited?