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In all of these points on sex work, I have to ask this to all:
ANO BA ANG DEFINITION MO NG SEX WORK?
Dito pa lang kasi may tensions at conflict na eh. Your understanding of what sex work is shapes your perception of it.
Dito pa lang, kailangan na linawin. #SexWorkIsWork
ANO BA ANG DEFINITION MO NG SEX WORK?
Dito pa lang kasi may tensions at conflict na eh. Your understanding of what sex work is shapes your perception of it.
Dito pa lang, kailangan na linawin. #SexWorkIsWork
One common problem kasi is this: there is a tendency to assume sex work and prostitution is the same.
Dito palang, exclusionary na agad kasi prostitution is centered on women (men and LGBTQIA+ prostitutes are out).
Even prostitution has been legally defined to cover women.
Dito palang, exclusionary na agad kasi prostitution is centered on women (men and LGBTQIA+ prostitutes are out).
Even prostitution has been legally defined to cover women.
Next: is sex work = to human trafficking?
Hindi rin. Consent, choice, and age are factors dito. Are you forced to do sex by someone? Yes or no? Kung no, sex work. Kung yes, trafficking yan.
So, bakit laging ang presumption ulit is pag sex work, human trafficking agad?
Hindi rin. Consent, choice, and age are factors dito. Are you forced to do sex by someone? Yes or no? Kung no, sex work. Kung yes, trafficking yan.
So, bakit laging ang presumption ulit is pag sex work, human trafficking agad?
Next question: does sex work covers ONLY physical contact?
BIG NO. You do not need to have direct sexual contact para masabing sex work. Even indirect sexual stimulation would count for sex work (at marami nito).
Also, yung physical ba dapat, sex? Hindi palagi.
BIG NO. You do not need to have direct sexual contact para masabing sex work. Even indirect sexual stimulation would count for sex work (at marami nito).
Also, yung physical ba dapat, sex? Hindi palagi.
Ngayon: would porn qualify under sex work?
Yes. They perform sex in front of camera and have it recorded. For goodness sake, even ito nga, may story pa na ginagawa for fetish/fantasy construction - and this has wide coverage and variety, okay? Porn studios to amateur porn.
Yes. They perform sex in front of camera and have it recorded. For goodness sake, even ito nga, may story pa na ginagawa for fetish/fantasy construction - and this has wide coverage and variety, okay? Porn studios to amateur porn.
In connection porn: are adult performers sex workers?
Yes, because they create sex in a visual manner. Di nila kailangan makipagsex sa iyo para maging sex worker sila.
Clear?
Yes, because they create sex in a visual manner. Di nila kailangan makipagsex sa iyo para maging sex worker sila.
Clear?
Ito next: yung masahista mo ba sex worker?
Depende. Dito magkakatalo. Remember na hindi lahat ng nagmamasahe nagooffer ng sex or extra service.
Pero kung ang ginagawa is kasama sex sa masahe, that qualifies as sex work.
Depende. Dito magkakatalo. Remember na hindi lahat ng nagmamasahe nagooffer ng sex or extra service.
Pero kung ang ginagawa is kasama sex sa masahe, that qualifies as sex work.
Eh ito ang tricky: paano yung lingam at yoni at lomi massages (yung mga sensual massages na walang sex pero stimulation/simulation)?
Dito blurred ang lines. In general, kung culture ang basis mo, di ka dapat lalabasan (no ejaculation) and these should be viewed as normal.
Dito blurred ang lines. In general, kung culture ang basis mo, di ka dapat lalabasan (no ejaculation) and these should be viewed as normal.
Pero the thing rin here is this: yung masahista ba na gumagawa nito would qualify as sex worker?
Definitely, hindi. Because they do not engage in sex with clients afterwards. Walang malisya dapat doon sa masahe.
Pero ang problema kasi: sensual is viewed as sexual kahit hindi.
Definitely, hindi. Because they do not engage in sex with clients afterwards. Walang malisya dapat doon sa masahe.
Pero ang problema kasi: sensual is viewed as sexual kahit hindi.
So malinaw sana bakit blurred yung lines doon sa ibang masahe.
Pero there is always that presumption that they would qualify as sex work given na sexual stimulation.
Kaya mahirap rin. Complicated din ito kasi even sex workers would offer these kinds of massages.
Pero there is always that presumption that they would qualify as sex work given na sexual stimulation.
Kaya mahirap rin. Complicated din ito kasi even sex workers would offer these kinds of massages.
This is particularly informed with the belief na pag linggam massage = masturbation/jakol agad.
So gets kung bakit misleading. Pero para safe, check what linggam is para ikaw magdecide.
So gets kung bakit misleading. Pero para safe, check what linggam is para ikaw magdecide.
Next: Guest Relations Officers (GRO)
Ito ba sex work agad? This is where tensions emerge ulit. Pero in a different manner.
Is being a GRO = sex worker?
Stereotypical thinking would say YES.
Interestingly, for sex workers (at least from my informants), NO.
Ito ba sex work agad? This is where tensions emerge ulit. Pero in a different manner.
Is being a GRO = sex worker?
Stereotypical thinking would say YES.
Interestingly, for sex workers (at least from my informants), NO.
GROs kasi is generally perceived to be women pero macho dancers also function as GRO.
Kapag tinable ka na ba, sex work ba agad yun?
Hindi, at least from my informants POV, kasi nakikipag-usap ka sa guest. Sinasamahan mo. Bayad ka sa oras at sa alak to keep them company.
Kapag tinable ka na ba, sex work ba agad yun?
Hindi, at least from my informants POV, kasi nakikipag-usap ka sa guest. Sinasamahan mo. Bayad ka sa oras at sa alak to keep them company.
Ngayon. Does a GRO potentially becomes a sex worker?
OO, because remember: it is an opportunity for transaction for them. May mga GRO, regardless kung babae or lalake, that negotiate for fees and rates para ilabas sila (for dates, dinners, lunch, and sex).
“Natipuhan.”
OO, because remember: it is an opportunity for transaction for them. May mga GRO, regardless kung babae or lalake, that negotiate for fees and rates para ilabas sila (for dates, dinners, lunch, and sex).
“Natipuhan.”
This natipuhan is an opportunity na nakikita ng mga GRO for them to engage in sex work.
Pero may iba na hindi kasi may limiting factors (such as family, relationship, etc that prevents them from doing so).
So, dito pa lang, kailangan na rin irework perception ng tao sa GRO.
Pero may iba na hindi kasi may limiting factors (such as family, relationship, etc that prevents them from doing so).
So, dito pa lang, kailangan na rin irework perception ng tao sa GRO.
Dancers sa Bars and Clubs: striptease/macho dancers, are they sex workers?
Ito ang kumplikado: may perception agad na sex workers agad sila. Even sa literature on sex work, ito rin ang tingin kasi nga they stimulate arousal through simulation of sex via dance.
Ito ang kumplikado: may perception agad na sex workers agad sila. Even sa literature on sex work, ito rin ang tingin kasi nga they stimulate arousal through simulation of sex via dance.
Pero interestingly:
Some of the dancers I have interviewed would say otherwise.
“Sumasayaw lang kami.”
Even those perceived as sex workers resist being called as such.
Pero nuances ulit kasi kahit ganito, may other dimension: paano yung naghuhubad at nagpapakita ng titi?
Some of the dancers I have interviewed would say otherwise.
“Sumasayaw lang kami.”
Even those perceived as sex workers resist being called as such.
Pero nuances ulit kasi kahit ganito, may other dimension: paano yung naghuhubad at nagpapakita ng titi?
Dito ulit nagkakagulo. Bakit?
1. Di lahat ng bars, may dancers na naghuhubad ng all the way.
2. Yung nagpapakita ba ng titi sex worker? Oo. Pero kumplikadong dimension rin ito.
Sa loob na ng bar, lahat ng dancers, sex worker? Uulitin ko: hindi. Kasi may ibang hindi talaga.
1. Di lahat ng bars, may dancers na naghuhubad ng all the way.
2. Yung nagpapakita ba ng titi sex worker? Oo. Pero kumplikadong dimension rin ito.
Sa loob na ng bar, lahat ng dancers, sex worker? Uulitin ko: hindi. Kasi may ibang hindi talaga.
Una, yung pinaghuhubad usually ang “hindi mabenta” pero “palaban” at yung mga tamang sayaw lang ang mabenta.
Kita mo rin ito sa usapin ng pagiging GRO nila ng sabay.
Sapilitan ba ang paghuhubad? Di sila pinipilit. Choice nila. Pero napili kaagad sila dahil nakita na kaagad.
Kita mo rin ito sa usapin ng pagiging GRO nila ng sabay.
Sapilitan ba ang paghuhubad? Di sila pinipilit. Choice nila. Pero napili kaagad sila dahil nakita na kaagad.
Kumplikado, di ba? Kasi ikaw mismo, kailangan mo ientertain yung aspect na sino ba ang nagdedefine kung sino or ano ang sex worker.
Ang problema kasi, kung di mo maintindihan ang nuances na, hindi nirerecognize yung agency ng isang sex worker kung siya ba ay ganun o hindi.
Ang problema kasi, kung di mo maintindihan ang nuances na, hindi nirerecognize yung agency ng isang sex worker kung siya ba ay ganun o hindi.
Another example: only fans pati yung mga porn videos, premium subs na yan.
Are the content creators sex workers?
Ikaw mismo mahihirapan kasi una mong iisipin, sex worker sila. But have they viewed themselves as sex workers?
O pinagkakitaan nila katawan nila but ignored it?
Are the content creators sex workers?
Ikaw mismo mahihirapan kasi una mong iisipin, sex worker sila. But have they viewed themselves as sex workers?
O pinagkakitaan nila katawan nila but ignored it?
So, even only fans, which is considered repository of amateur porn and collabs, have its fair share of problems.
Or let’s use another more complicated yet familiar term: pokpok ba itong mga taong sinusundan mo sa only fans na nagbabayad ka ng subscription?
Or let’s use another more complicated yet familiar term: pokpok ba itong mga taong sinusundan mo sa only fans na nagbabayad ka ng subscription?
Let’s make this more complicated: sex worker rin ba yung mga nagbebenta ng porn na pinapakalat? The fact that they distribute sexual content?
In relations to this, di mo rin ba naisip that these content creators, whose copyrights, are also violated?
In relations to this, di mo rin ba naisip that these content creators, whose copyrights, are also violated?
Next: street walkers/crusing:
Is this sex work? Ito nga ang original eh. Before the advent of all the previous examples I cited, kalsada ang unang place where sex work happens.
Kalsada tapos motel. Pero hindi lahat ng nasa kalsada, sex workers. Yung iba, sex lang hanap.
Is this sex work? Ito nga ang original eh. Before the advent of all the previous examples I cited, kalsada ang unang place where sex work happens.
Kalsada tapos motel. Pero hindi lahat ng nasa kalsada, sex workers. Yung iba, sex lang hanap.
At dito prone to violence ang sex workers dahil high risk ito. They can be killed, not paid, threatened, even extorted.
Next: escort services (babae or lalake or LGBTQIA+)?
Ito sex work rin lalo na being an escort requires providing a lot of services (ranging from sexual to non-sexual) for a certain fee.
Ito sex work rin lalo na being an escort requires providing a lot of services (ranging from sexual to non-sexual) for a certain fee.
Ngayon, sa lahat ng examples na ito ng sex work, anong definition mo? For sure kasi, kahit ikaw, mahihirapan i-pin down.
Worst case scenario: you choose the definition that fits your agenda, which, at any rate, puts sex workers in a bad light.
Worst case scenario: you choose the definition that fits your agenda, which, at any rate, puts sex workers in a bad light.
So, in general, sex work is not a monolithic phenomenon. Di lang iisa ang mukha. Di lang yan nakukulong sa iisang gender or sex.
Also, even what sex work constitutes depends on who views it: outsiders, insiders, and the sex workers.
Also, even what sex work constitutes depends on who views it: outsiders, insiders, and the sex workers.
To end this thread, I would always say that when talking about sex work: do exercise caution when forming opinions and using terms KASI nakakadala makita na hindi man lang sinusuring mabuti yung pagkakaiba.
SEX WORK =/= PROSTITUTION =/= TRAFFICKING
Hindi sila iisa o parehas.
SEX WORK =/= PROSTITUTION =/= TRAFFICKING
Hindi sila iisa o parehas.
