Of “Talent Scouts,” “Hunt Clubs” and Predatory Men
June 29, 2011 by Laura Paskus · 7 Comments
Since 2009, when the bodies of eleven women–many of whom worked as prostitutes–were found in a mass grave on the west side of Albuquerque, I’ve been researching and reporting on those still-unsolved murders. So as news of a prostitution ring here in New Mexico broke last week, I couldn’t stop reading about the investigation–and wondering [...]
Sex-Trafficked Teens Find Protection in Georgia Law
May 26, 2011 by Diane Loupe · 1 Comment
When a young woman in Atlanta tried to escape her pimp in April 2010, his retaliation was swift and brutal. He ordered four other sex workers to beat the runaway until her eyes swelled shut and a bottle pierced her head. Then the pimp locked the 21-year-old woman in a 3-by-5 foot dog cage overnight, [...]
To Catch a Killer, Give Amnesty to Sex Workers
April 28, 2011 by Audacia Ray · 3 Comments
In the week leading up to December 17, 2010–the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers– the remains of four women, all of whom were involved with sex work, were discovered on a beach in Long Island. Since the end of March, the remains of six more bodies have been found in the same area. The [...]
Long Island Murders: Sex Trafficking Ring Involved?
April 25, 2011 by Caroline Heldman · 4 Comments
The “Art” of Exploiting Cambodian Sex Workers
April 18, 2011 by Aviva Dove-Viebahn · 3 Comments
Warning: Please be aware that clicking on many of the links in this post will lead to websites containing images that are NSFW and may be offensive and/or triggering. I consider myself fairly liberal when it comes to some of the most controversial 21st-century debates about sex. I’m not anti-pornography or sex work, as long [...]
The Real Story on Human Trafficking
April 11, 2011 by Caroline Heldman · 19 Comments
What exactly is human trafficking and how can we help stop it? One of the best people in the U.S. to answer such questions is Department of Justice-certified human-trafficking consultant Dottie Laster, who has trained more than 5,000 police officers on recognizing and combating trafficking. She hosts a weekly internet radio show, “Trafficked,” on Here Women [...]
Thanks to Uruguay, U.S. Sex Workers’ Human Rights Get Federal Attention
March 3, 2011 by Kari Lerum · Leave a Comment
For the past few months, I have been honored to be part of a team of activists and researchers engaging in dialogue with the State Department about human rights abuses against U.S. sex workers, in response to a UN review of the human rights record of the United States. In light of International Sex Workers’ [...]
Yes, Comment! Skins, Google Art, and High School Feminists
For us Ms. editors, by far the most rewarding part of the Ms. Blog has been reading the comments. Since we’re used to sending out a magazine into the void every three months and waiting with bated breath for letters to the editor, it’s been revelatory to hear back directly–instantly!–from Ms. readers. To be sure, [...]
Sex and Sexism and “Skins”
January 26, 2011 by Mia Fontaine · 43 Comments
MTV, you’ve come a long way baby. In six short years you’ve gone from pimpin’ rides to pimpin’ girls, starting with the recent premiere of Skins, a remake of the hit British program by the same name. Immediately labeled “the most dangerous show for teens,” by the Parents Television Counsel and lambasted for gratuitous sex [...]
UN Considers Rights of U.S. Sex Workers
November 5, 2010 by Cara Kulwicki · 2 Comments
Today, November 5, for the first time, the United Nations will, under its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) system, review the human rights record of the United States. That’s a pretty big deal period, especially since the process is comprised not only of self-assessments by the nation being reviewed, but also reports by civil society organizations. [...]
