Okay, I had to laugh when I first saw this anti-sex trafficking campaign from the Demi and Ashton Foundation. Some Hollywood heavyweights bandied together for a cause. Not unheard of. A good publicist makes sure his or her client has a sturdy cause to plaster a face to.
But this one? With these guys? Well, hello, hypocrisy! Why don't you sit a spell?
I'd bet, let's see, MY LIFE, that all three of these men have used the services of sex workers in the past (month, maybe). Have they all been of age? I'm sure they weren't fretting over it at the time, what with the champagne, cocaine and stuff.
"You want entertainment, get yourself a couple of hookers and an eight ball." - Sean Penn
But then there's this critical aspect that's more cringe-worthy: confusing sex trafficking with sex work. This campaign mindlessly muddies the two, but that's nothing unusual. Many anti-prostitution campaigns will do just that.
A few years ago, Craigslist was "forced" by 17 attorney generals to remove their adult services section of their website due to fears that it harbored sex trafficking activity.
"They're buying and selling children out there. Better arrest the hookers on Craigslist or they'll buy and sell more children!" roared the battle cry.
Of course, they arrested women. Working women. Lots of them. Whether you agree with the moral choice of a sex worker is not the issue. They arrested the "lowest hanging fruit" according to sex work activist and author Amanda Brooks and not sex traffickers:
"If you want to fight sex trafficking, go find sex traffickers and put them away. Be my guest. I don't know a single sex worker who will stop you from doing that. Arresting consenting adult sex workers isn't going to stop a sex trafficker. It has nothing to do with actually saving those who need help."
There are plenty of consenting sex workers who have been radically affected by these dubious crusades. And the religious right love this kind of double speak:
Sex work = sex-trafficking
Anti-trafficking = anti-prostitution
Pro-life = anti-life
Is sex trafficking a problem? Hell, yes. Human trafficking is a tremendous problem. (I guess Ashton is not as concerned about the children used for labor, which constitutes a substantial 20% of all trafficked individuals worldwide.) It is the fastest-growing business of organized crime and the third-largest criminal enterprise in the world.
So how does the Demi and Ashton Foundation offer help?
Kutcher claims that "once someone goes on record saying they are or
aren't going to do something, they tend to be a bit more accountable."
If he's means worldwide trafficking rings, this will not be brought up at their next board meeting, I promise.
If he's speaking directly to pedophiles, guess what? They're not listening
to advice from a glossy playboy celebrity about their severe sexual predilections.
And while I love me my Justin Timberlake, do we truly think his pretty face would have an iota of effect on human trafficking, where often massive rings extend worldwide? A cute t-shirt is not reaching them. As a matter of fact, that cute t-shirt insults and undercuts the extent and extremity of the problem. (And let's hope that underage forced labor isn't making said cute t-shirt.)
What this "campaign lite" does instead? Shames prostitutes. Shames Johns. Shames the oldest profession that ain't going nowhere, whether you like it or not. And conveniently, does not shame (nay exalts) the guys who have used their services. (Please trust me, they have. And they weren't checking ID.)
Interestingly, I've seen several feminists and feminist groups proudly post this ad on Facebook, which seems so obviously contradictory in its messaging. Filmmaker Iari Lee and A Girl's Guide to Taking Over the World (whom I truly respect) parrot this rhetoric without seeing the possible hypocrisy or outright damage. It's jump on a bandwagon for the bandwagon's sake. (Heck, they're cute guys!)
I've often heard male friends say, "I'd never pay for sex. I don't need to." Well, kudos to you. But some choose to. And in countries all over the world, it's a fine and legal working arrangement. So I can't help but note the underlying message:
"Real men (like us) don't have to pay for sex. We get it for free. Because we're Sean Penn, Ashton Kutcher and Justin Timberlake."
But that doesn't fit on a coffee mug as easily. I have a new slogan:
"Real women don't take social instruction, which ultimately shames and harms women, from Hollywood playboys who need a cause de jour."
Look at this darling video where Kutcher claims that "real men [like this Hollywood star] do laundry." Do you believe that too?:
Special thanks to Heather Bartlett and Lorraine Berry for their contributions.
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Comments
I agree that to have the impish charlatans telling us just how it is though is particularly annoying.
"Me thinks thou protests too much!"
I just watched the video...and I'm, like, totally ...wait, WHAT?
About that painting....
I really fear that women are never going to be respected and here's why. It's because we and society think that we need to have respect given to us and legislated to us. Respect is an inalienable right for every living being in existence anywhere. It is inherent. It is not to be "given." It does not have to be "earned." It simply is.
But until that is internalized by the masses, nothing is going to improve.
as for the other stuff..
"A cute t-shirt is not reaching them. As a matter of fact, that cute t-shirt insults and undercuts the extent and extremity of the problem. (And let's hope that underage forced labor isn't making said cute t-shirt.)"
agreed....especially that last part.
Don't you think a campaign about mothers huffing in front of their teenage daugters is more applicable?
I've always been confused about the machismo of celebrity. In the world of Hollywood, nothing is truly real.
The sign should read: "Artifice makes me feel tough and with a cause, I am more attractive to sensitive folks (mostly myself).
Sorry..this gets close to the issue of Celebs being criticized regardless of their best intentions. I understand that. Penn has put $ towards causes and I do believe him when he talks sincerely about them, the same (to some extent) with the others...but this message should have been discussed a little more before committing.
Glad you said it, not me.
Thanks.
More to say with a fresher mind in the am. As always, the feedback from this group is one of the main reasons I return.
I dunno. I know he deserves a second chance. But, it does mess with me a little to see him as a spokesperson for this.
Rated
A sloppy campaign doesn't necessarily increase awareness if it's doing damage to another demographic of women.
And really, raised awareness is not always enough. Not in the case of an extensive problem such as this. In short, I'd prefer people learn more about sex trafficking from smart, informative campaigns or their own research (hell the information abounds).
My daughter ran away from home once when she was 17. It turned out she had travelled around and stayed near a friend, and was fine; but for the 2 months before I knew where she was, I had contacted Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This is a really excellent organization to support and donate to. They scared the living crap out of me, because of what they've seen. The parent they matched me up with (they have a support group for parents called Team Hope), she is still looking for her child after 25 years.
The age of domestic trafficking of girls has gone down in the US in the past years because of many factors: the use of the internet to do business and share images, less family stability, cheap drugs making addiction among children more widespread, among other factors. According to 1-800-runaway.org, "Increases in calls from homeless and throwaway youth may be related to the current economic downturn in the United States….there has been a 30 percent increase in crisis callers who identify economics as an important problem in their lives over the past three years."
Different sources give different ages, but according to this information the average age for entry into prostitution of US females in the United States is now 12. In my state it is 13.
The study cited in this article says: "Foremost among the health risks of prostitution is premature death. In a recent US study of almost 2000 prostitutes followed over a 30-year period, by far the most common causes of death were homicide, suicide, drug- and alcohol-related problems, HIV infection and accidents — in that order. The homicide rate among active female prostitutes was 17 times higher than that of the age-matched general female population."
Another great organization to donate to is GEMS, who do both advocacy and direct intervention and services to victims of trafficking.
This transcript from NPR says that 75% of girls in prostitution are working for a pimp.
I agree with you, Beth, there is a ton of information out there, and hopefully, even if there's a lot of disagreement with this particular campaign, maybe it will get other people to do some research on their own, and hopefully donate, or just listen to the kids in their own lives. I guess what I didn't realize before my own daughter left home was that sometimes a girl has one risk factor, or two, but the more the risk factors pile up (single parent home, left high school, low income, gay or bisexual, abuse in home, substance abuse, etc.), the more and more chance she has of being a runaway and/or being victimized. Thanks for posting (& sorry my comment got so long!) :)
As for the stats, I'm usually quite suspicious of them. What organization gathered the information? There's usually an anti-prostitution agenda behind them. Street walkers are different than escorts, for instance. Strippers are different than phone sex operators. Sensual masseuses are different than a junkie needing to score a fix. It is VERY hard to generalize about sex work and how they die.
And, if they are in danger, is the implied answer to do away with it? Good luck. It will never happen. In countries where prostitution is legal, there is safety and legal protection, not a bunch of HIV deaths and killings in back alleys.
So yes, these men are talking about girls under 18...but to whom? Again, are they talking to the pedophiles out there? To the sex traffickers? Are they just reminding the public at large that they shouldn't have sex with underage girls? (And they do use the term "buy", which implies ownership of some sort as well, regardless of their message.)
Bono, Sting and Geldoff are all examples of celebrities who see their causes through. They can get on my nerve with their self-righteousness but they don't create cute, misguided campaigns. This strikes of sloppiness. And that sloppiness affects people. So if awareness raising is the ultimate goal, what if the awareness isn't correctly placed? What if the takeaway message is skewed? Then does it still help?
And as for the campaign, I think that something, is a lot better than nothing. We here in Greece, also have campaigns by famous, and I do not need them to tell me what I should know or do, sometimes to me is a little insulting, having an actor or a singer, telling me a historian, how to raise my kid, or how to be a good human, or what to do or not do it. I mean, the fact that one is famous, does not make him/her a saint, to the contrary, some of them are among the most bad influences a child can have, and I can understand your saying, in your article. I mean, be ethical and than talk to me about ethics, is the minimum common sense. But trafficking is out there, and a motivation must be out there also. Do not know, what is right or wrong, I know that I am scared about trafficking, and I do not feel safe.
I hang my bibs out in the sunshine.
I get sad when I follow Fearsome.
`
I mean:
`
I just got here and saw a kind Greek.
It's a big `Sigh to be aware of`Evil.
I recal` Greece and a stay at Crete.
On a boat Ferry ride folk danced.
`
To be aware of demented folks?
It's sad. Scary. I request`No Fear.
I do Understand. I've known FEAR.
`
When Ya get dumped in a` Warfare?
Ya sense FEAR. Fear means`Respect.
I have been reviewing Greek` Words.
`
It is a Joy to browse the old `Word Studies.
This post deserves more quiet` Reflections.
I follow innocently. I am no threat to a`Flea.
`
I am still Sad. I am a domestic threat to`Who?
I learned this. Government put me on dirt`List.
I go wash my dirty wallpaper with kind` Graffiti.
I write scribble in outhouse? tease. I hand in Sun?
I fear someone in NSA or @ Salon or Open` Steal.
If I wash bibs and outhouse graffiti Kerry may`Rob.
I no worry or FEAR Kerry steal mu underpants? No.
I never wear any. The undies itch. I no wear `Anymore.
If I sleep . . . I may wear a nee length Welsh` Pa Pa Shirt.
It's modest. It comes down to my knees. Read Joan Walsh?
I saw @ Salon a creepy `Walsh (not Joan) slanders Amputee.
Read Joan Walsh @ Salon? I've spoken with her. Sad Legless.
`
Jow Walsh - he a blowhard? He plays bagpipes with Kerry?
I may go get a bath. I go to banker theft Laundromat? huh?
Waynesboro, lawyers (2) robbed boat-woman`Kim Doan.
I get wear mentioning it. Eric Holder is busy as a`Beaver.
Respect . . .
I will ponder the word`Fear. FEAR can be paralyze `People.
I go walk slow in rain. `Sing in the rain. What Wonderful Day.
Maybe we can bum soap and grow legs? No kill or Slander Folk.
I can't comment @ Salon.
`
bebop-0
clownsense
GoodCelery!
goat gouda blueberry
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Kerry deleted those?
Why respect creeps?
Cat ate editor nose?
He wiggle as worm.
He fear trout fish.
He baffle people.
Stathi, thanks for your background. And yes, I get it. It's truly frightening. I've researched sthe sex trafficking industry; they work in such a broad, massive and invisible manner. It's like a giant spider web. There's no kingpin, per se. Just this global network making billions and ensuring that they remain invisible. Its stark evil of immense proportions.
You are right; sex workers do not have the same forms of protection. But perhaps you'd need to think again as far as other professions and addictions, harassment and abuse. They all contain varying degrees of it. But again, sex work is stigmatized. And when it's illegal, it does drive people to darker aspects of it.
I don't believe something is better than nothing in this case. When the "something" is misinformed, misleading and self-serving, no I don't. There's a massive anti-prostitution crusade here that goes after working women and wastes tax dollars. That's harmful. Straight up. It's got that anti-woman witch hunt feel to it as well, which is becoming increasingly prevalent as women lose rights in a myriad of areas because of this far right leaning agenda.
vzn, as a feminist I have always been pro sex work. I have friends in the sex work industry and happily so. To me, feminism and sex work go hand in hand. I don't think there is anything wrong with it and I never have.
The problem is when it's illegal and the workers aren't protected. Look at an example like New Zealand and you'll see that sex work is not just a bunch of addicts down on their luck. They are professional, hard-working women, just like me. So I stand behind them and their choices.
Whereupon Mr. Mayer punched the actor in the nose.
Times change. Today, Stroheim would have added "But that's OK." And Mayer would have replied, "I admire and respect women too. Let's have a drink, Erich."
This is progress?
What? :D
Again, RATED!!!!
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