If sex work is work and all work is performed via coercion under capitalism... Then sex work is coerced sex. We have a different word for that usually.

I don't support anything that will harm sex workers, but I do support the gradual elimination of the conditions that give rise to a sex industry and thus the elimination of the industry altogether and its reduction down to solely hobbiests doing it for free because they actually want to.

[–] LeninWeave@hexbear.net 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

If sex work is work and all work is performed via coercion under capitalism... Then sex work is coerced sex. We have a different word for that usually.

Yes, this always struck me when I saw people say "sex work is just work, all work is coercive". Of course, there are different degrees of coercion in sex work ("voluntary", meaning coercive only as much as work usually is so long as the laborer can find different work, vs. human trafficking where there is strictly no choice at all, etc.) and many measures people claim are for the benefit of sex workers are counterproductive, but I think just saying "sex work is work" ignores the clear difference in impact of, for example, being forced to re-shelve library books for a day vs. being forced to prostitute oneself for a day.

And also of course, the implication when saying "sex work is work" that it should be regulated and have safety standards like any other job is also correct.