The sex industry, the No More Page Three campaign and why feminism needs to do better

I don't like women telling other women what to do, we have enough of that permeating society as it is. It is especially jarring for me when this is dressed up as feminism. One place where this is evident is where sex is involved, because everyone seems to think they have a right to comment on what they think is 'right' and 'appropriate'. Issues of sex are closely linked with issues of gender, and as such are feminist issues. But as with a lot of things the simple moto 'feminism = equality' is actually not as simple as it sounds. What is equality? What does it look like? How do we get there? Unfortunately a lot of the time it seems mainstream feminism wants to get there by tackling symptoms of the issues, and in doing so is actually being oppressive towards the group it is trying to help.

The sex industry sees a lot of this. The stances feminism takes often lies on opposite sides of the scale, with anti-sex work feminists arguing that the sex industry is always demeaning, always abusive, and always degrading, and sex positives on the other end of the spectrum arguing for freedom of choice and sexual empowerment. Neither of these perspectives are particularly helpful in characterising the complex and multifaceted experiences of sex workers, and neither are useful in gaining better legal and working rights, which is really the main issue in hand for the majority of sex workers. When a campaign is purely against something, it does so with little regard of the people it might be affecting. Sex work is a reality and it is often a choice made under the constructs of a capitalist patriarchal society which does not favour women, disadvantaged women especially. It is not kind to those in poverty, especially not women. But criminalising sex work, or criminalising the buyer, does not reduce the likelihood of sex work happening, but only increases the risk of violence and abuse when their work is pushed out of the sight of state support.

I'm a little bit late to the party to be talking about the NMP3 campaign, as it's 'success' came and went in a blink, but it never sat quite right for me. I feel it is a different stroke of the same brush and reflective of wider attitudes around the sex industry, and one which is appealing to mainstream feminism. However being critical of it is treading a tricky line. How can I as a feminist say that I am critical of a movement which is against the objectification of women's bodies for male consumption? I see the issue, women should be represented in the media for much more than their bodies. I hate The Sun and everything it stands for, which is misogyny, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ageism, god I could continue. They promote hatred and they should never be considered a 'family newspaper', I mean who the hell would give their kids that to read?! But I guess it is partly this which makes me feel that consensual pictures of women with their tops off is the least offensive part. How about all those gossip mags which take non consensual pictures of celebrity women to criticize and plaster over their pages? 

The NMP3 campaign was good intentioned, the accounts of women feeling undermined and abused due to Page 3 are real and should not be ignored, and to stand up against that culture and feel the heat of the backlash is a brave thing. However I am still critical of it.  At its best it felt misplaced: we can't fight the deep rooted structural imbalances which is ultimately the cause of rape and inequality (and let's not get confused, it is the structures of society, and not a consensual smiling glamour model which causes rape and inequality) by censoring one page of one appalling newspaper, but I guess it feels kind of productive to try. My more serious accusation is that I think on a deeper level there is a whiff of classism and snobbery about the whole thing which is reflective of wider attitudes towards those involved in the sex industry. Page three is not considered an acceptable way to be sexual. It represents largely working class women, for largely working class men (compared to other middle class expressions of nudity such as burlesque and others considered an 'art').  And along with all sorts of sex work, it is held up as a poor choice, and at times blamed for fuelling the abuse of women. These women are essentially being held up as responsible for their poor choices as contributing to sexual violence. It seems to be considered a right held by privileged educated middle class and feminists to comment on what are 'good' and what are 'bad' career choices, and glamour modelling is not a valid choice to be making, and this kind of thinking is often extended to any involvement in the sex industry.

By focusing on the act we are looking at a symptom and not an instigator of the same cause. By attempting to destroy these symptoms we are either demonising those involved by questioning their life choices,  or 'saving' them by campaigning to have their place of work shut down. This is dangerous, and potentially making vulnerable a group of people who are already marginalized. On the opposite end of the scale, celebrating those choices as acts of freedom and empowerment lends no help to recognising the sometimes negative realities in which the women involved are campaigning to make better. Most feminists are well meaning in their approach, but some also neglect to look further than their own privileged experience when judging other's choices. More attention and consideration needs to be paid to recognising and tackling structural inequalities, and campaigning for better labour rights for those involved in the industry.

If you are interested in how to support sex worker rights please see here and here