There are always outliers with strange opinions in any sufficiently large movement, but a much more common feminist position is to be strongly in support of sex workers rights and safety.
I can just point to Sweden. The meaning of prostitution has change in the public discussed to be the same as rape, regardless of consent. Being pro-prostitution here is the same as being pro-rape which is very anti-feminist in eye of the Swedish public and people with such views are seen as far-right.
The two arguments that people here use is that a person that do sex for money would not had done so voluntary, thus there no consent. The second argument is that paying a person to do something with their body is the same as buying a human being, which would be slavery.
How do either of the arguments not apply to every single job or task that anyone does for renumeration? I would not do my job without being paid, therefore I am being forced to work against my will?
I have seen multiple feminists make the argument that the phrase "selling their bodies" also applies to football players, chemical workers[1], coal miners. I find it fairly persuasive.
> The meaning of prostitution has change in the public discussed to be the same as rape, regardless of consent.
As a Swede, I say that that is an exageration. But it is true that very few, if any, public figure dare to speak up for legalizing prostitution. On the other hand, it's not a crime that the police prioritize, and last time I heard, no one have been more than fined for paying a sex-worker.
When the RFSL and Amnesty made their announcement to work for legalization there was a lot of media focus on the question. There was a lot of anger from people and articles about people leaving Amnesty and the Swedish branch making statement against the decision.
It was also not many months ago that V (the most left leaning party) suggested that the punishment for paying a sex-worker should be increased to similar levels as rape, with jail time as minimum.
We could say that V views are a fringe part of the feminist movement in Sweden, but I am not sure that is actually a correct assessment. As you say, few, if any, public figure dare to speak up with opposing views on the topic. It is hard to estimate popular opinion outside of political polls.
> I can just point to Sweden. The meaning of prostitution has change in the public discussed to be the same as rape
is this really representative of how the public thinks or just a small pocket within a pocket of politically correct snowflakes? Knowing plenty of Swedes (most are much closer to the far left than to the far right). I'm familiar with Sweden's (strange) view of what constitutes rape (see Assange), and personally think that is a step forward. But I never met anyone argue that "all prostitution is sex slavery" or "anti-feminist".
> paying a person to do something with their body is the same as buying a human being, which would be slavery.
This seems like a gross simplification. If I offer my body in exchange for money without a middle-man/pimp then it is still my choice. Consider an individual with below avg IQ unable to find meaningful work using his head but equipped with an unusually strong body/frame. Is it slavery if I freelance myself out to a moving company and lug around boxes and furniture all day? What about a male gay prostitute who voluntarily makes money on the side. It is even besides the point if the person is supporting a drug-habit or not.
You can't pretend to be pro choice and feminist if at the same time the system under which you think socially outcasts everyone who thinks differently.
I don't think it is representative of the public's view. See my other comment.
I think the problem with many feminists in Sweden are that they are a rather theoretical kind, centered around gender studies at the universities. And they think that they know better than the poor uneducated women who sell sex what they want and need themselves.
>paying a person to do something with their body is the same as buying a human being, which would be slavery
Just make a law so that persons must do something with payers bodies, not vice versa. It solves two problems with one shot: it’s no slavery anymore and finally you get some service.
It seems like neither outliers nor the consensus. Rather, it seems like lots of people call themselves feminists but there are passionate disagreements among those people about
Yeah I mean she is a pathological liar, she stated publicly twice that she had an abortion and admitted decades later that in fact she didn't. She also evaded taxes by keeping a bank account in Switzerland and paid employees of EMMA far worse than the common market price, all while renting a huge publicly owned property in cologne for the magazine for almost nothing.
My partner works as a government policy officer, researching and formulating sex work legislation, which means engaging with all stakeholder and advocacy groups in the community.
Her experience indicates that feminist groups who oppose legalised prostitution are a very small minority, at least in our Australian state.
