Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers' Rights by Molly Smith, Juno Mac

18 reviews

catherinedsharp's review

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

Did I like this book? Yes and no. Let’s start with the negative.

The writing style was quite dense and academic so although this is to be expected for a piece of non - fiction, it was quite inaccessible in my opinion. Additionally there was a lot on what is happening that does not help sex workers and very little in comparison on what would help.

Despite this I found it a very interesting read! Despite the slow pace, I was always reading more and enjoyed learning about an area that I don’t know much about. There was lots of data and references to further information.

Overall I enjoyed this text although I found it difficult to read at times which has brought the rating down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Abortion, Alcoholism, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Hate crime, Infidelity, Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Racism, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

lauradvb's review

challenging informative inspiring

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, and Murder

ambero's review against another edition

challenging informative slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Drug use, Rape, Murder, Police brutality, Sexism, and Homophobia

susannaobrien's review

challenging informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

An incredibly important read for anyone who claims to be a feminist or supporter of worker & human rights. Molly Smith and Juno Mac present a clear, compelling and thoroughly researched case for decriminalisation of sex work and surrounding policy reform. Their argument is based on the material experiences of actual, current sex workers (as opposed to misguided, paternalisti instincts of anti-prostitution feminists) and is underpinned by principles of harm reduction methods, that give sex workers more, not less, power as workers. They don't shy away from complexity in their arguments or solutions: they present the relative strengths and failings of various models; explain how sex worker's issues are inseparable from issues of poverty, migration controls, policing, racism, transphobia and more; and debunk myths that are pervasive in the "saviouristic" rhetoric around sex work. This is a brilliant introduction to the sex worker's rights movement and I want to recommend it to everyone. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Transphobia, Trafficking, Racism, Rape, Murder, Misogyny, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Abortion

snowhitereads's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

 

Revolting Prostitutes is a non fiction book about sex workers’ rights, written by two sex workers/activists.

It’s a really short book but a powerful one.

It's a succinct and reflective book that offers real insight into the actual lives of sex workers and the impacts of various legal models.

I learned so much with such a short book, it really helped me understand the basics of a very complex situation.

It does not sugarcoat the struggles of sex workers, nor does it demonizes them. 

The authors are also honest about their privelege and shortcoming as white sex workers and activists and about how BIPOC and LGBTQ+ sex workers are often the largest of those targeted under the harms of laws/opinions against sex workers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Trafficking

tieflingkisser's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Death, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Transphobia

lenin_lover_69's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I learnt so much from this book, and in spite of the complexity and depth of information, it explains the most basic concepts of sex worker rights and justice so it made me feel like I could finally articulate those views myself when asked. In particular the chapter on Borders is invaluable and so important the way it discusses trafficking. While some of the content is unavoidably grim and dispiriting, there are call to arms throughout and I particularly appreciated the Susan Sontag quote at the beginning of the concluding chapter - it is good to be reminded how important it is to keep fighting even when it feels futile. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence and Physical abuse

kapbanana's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Sexual violence