Two weeks ago in my Gender and Work class we discussed Sex Work with our guest speaker Jenn Clamen. Without a doubt it was one of the most interesting guest lectures I have ever been to. She explained to the class how although sex work is no longer illegal in Canada there are still parts of the Criminal Code that make aspects surrounding sex work prohibited. For example, it is not illegal to be a prostitute but it is illegal to own or operate a bawdy house (brothel), transport someone to a bawdy house, or negotiate the terms of a sexual service.
You can find these exact laws illustrated in the Canadian Criminal Code:
210– (Bawdy house law)
211– (Transporting law)
212– (Pimping law)
213– (Communication law)
Now many of you are probably already aware of these laws but in my class we were shocked. Clamen explained to us how the application of these laws significantly decreases the safety for sex workers because in order to be legal you must never tell anyone where you are going or what services you are comfortable performing. One of their responses to this injustice was to unite on the web, which is where our class fits into the discussion.
The other day in class we were introduced to Hegland and Nelson’s (2002) article which demonstrated the ways that the internet is used by cross dressers because…
“the virtual world of the Internet provides a safe and anonymous place that allows those individuals who live at the fringes of society to reflect upon their own paths, meet others, and offer or receive advice and support without risking public condemnation or persecution.” (141)
I believe that this same concept is being used by sex workers. The power of the web has given sex workers the opportunity to establish a globalized community. Through these sites they can exchange studies, news, and campaign ideas to communities all over the world.
Then there are more local sites like POWER (Prostitution of Ottawa/Gatineau Work, Educate and Resist) or Maggies (Toronto sex Workers Action Project) who operate to assist local sex workers in making their jobs safer. Increasing their safety is done by offering advice and tips to protect themselves and also by documenting experiences by other workers in the neighbourhood.
Furthermore, they are using the internet to illustrate what Fuchs calls actuality/potentiality. They release documents to explain to workers what the current laws are (actuality) and how to get around them safely. They then focus much of their sites towards the shift of potentiality through campaigns, media releases, documents etc.
Thus, we are being given another example of how the internet can be used to empower an extremely marginalized group of people. Yet, thinking in Fuch’s terms we must still ask critical questions such as…
Which sex workers have the accessibility to these sites?
Or
Do sites such as these create a digital divide amongst the sex working community?
I would love to know your thoughts and reactions to this discussion!
socialmediawithjill 
Accessibility as a whole is so deeply intertwined with sabotaging ignorance on the internet. I found your post compelling as it draws upon the dangers sex workers face due to the criminal codes in Canada. It is so interesting that the laws within a country can both condone and criminalize controversial practices in society.
Organizations which provide information for sex workers seem so crucial in the state of society today. I also find it interesting that several other issues may arrise due to a lack of accessibility to information outside of the immediately obvious facets of sex-work, or more specifically, to those who the practices of sex-workers affect.
Although this example draws on one negative side of sex-work, it is important to note that ignorance toward issues can endanger those who are not educated. One example of this is a case where two young girls were persuaded online by a Pimp to “go on vacation” with him – a trip which instead was meant to turn the girls into prostitutes against their will. Examples such as these reinforce your statements of praise toward organizations which offer support and recognition to the vast array of issues presented by working or participating in the sex trade.
It seems to me that ignoring portions of society which can make some people feel uncomfortable only condones a perpetuation of negativity thought and misunderstanding. This also leads me to question Canadian law, which seems to purposely contradict itself so as not to appear against or in favour of the issues in society which cause the most heated debate.
An interesting article reinforces your post and asserts that sex-trade workers “can simply quit their jobs if they’re unsafe. But if it’s legal for them to earn their living that way, it’s certainly valid to question laws that push the sex trade into dangerous places.” Thus, as you stated, the programs which seek to make safety information accessible to sex-workers are extremely crucial, and must consistently find new ways to allow their information to reach the largest number of people. With these advancements, perhaps less crimes against these workers will occur, thus less negative press coverage.
I cannot help but wonder if through the internet it may become possible to diminish the negative stigmas currently surrounding prostitution in Canada. However, I feel you are absolutely correct in saying these programs can only be as helpful as the number of people who have access to them. Perhaps this is another demonstration of the ways in which increased computer accessibility can contribute to the betterment of society? I can only wonder.
I find the nuances surrounding sex work and sex workers rights absolutely fascinating. Although I have visited some of the sites you mention in your post, and although I may have been subconsicously aware; I have never really considered how the internet serves to empower sex workers. (I suppose this is a result of ‘domestication’.) When we consider empowerment, as you say; accessibility is a huge concern.
I can only hypothesize that while escorts, dancers, and other sex workers may have readily available access to the internet, and as an extension; these empowering websites/networks; street workers in North America may not be so fortunate. It’s my opinion that even within the marginalized umbrella group, ‘sex workers’ those who prostitute on the streets are even further marginalized and are possibly the most in need of support and empowerment efforts.
I guess that means that yes, when we consider the sex working community a digital divide does exist. Not only does the information on the websites require internet access, but further; literacy and language skills. I do not know the numbers and stats, but I have watched several documentaries surrounding Canada’s involvement in the sex trade, and a fair number of sex workers in Canada do not speak English or French. While language can be an oppressor in any instance, I feel like it is even more oppressive in it’s written form. While I do believe that these sites are absolutely positive entities that serve to empower, I feel the internet as a whole can really serve to further marginalize an already marginalized group as we see in Chow-White’s article regarding sex tourism. It truly is a complex but fascinating topic.