Prostitution stigmas will exist until industry is decriminalized

By Jenna Jasmine

Thank you for attempting to feature my work and SWOP-UCLA in a
positive light in the May 9 articles “Battling a
stigma” and “More than modeling.” But I feel that
in many ways you missed the mark.

It seems clear after reading the articles that I failed to
communicate the issue of decriminalizing prostitution. The very
fact that the work some sex workers do is outlawed ““ and for
other sex workers is not outlawed ““ is part of the very
problem we fight against.

Workers are not free to come out and say that they are
prostitutes or do “full body sensual massage” because
it’s still illegal. The massage and escort euphemisms are
known within the industry to represent commercial sex acts that
have been outlawed.

Also, I am appalled at the caption under my photo. Sensitivity
to this issue is key ““ sex workers, like sexual assault
survivors and members of the queer community, require discretion
because of the violence and misunderstanding that exists in the
world.

Imagine if the caption had read, “Jenna Jasmine, head of
SWOP-UCLA, is a first-year graduate student who has worked on the
decriminalization of prostitution and labor rights for exotic
dancers.” Instead, as it was printed, it says nothing about
the politics and work that I stand for.

My problem is not just about being outed, but being outed in a
way that totally de-politicizes the core issues that SWOP-USA,
Carol Leigh and I have fought for. To use SWOP’s name and not
mention decriminalization is almost blasphemy.

Though both the articles last week had battling a stigma in
them, what is battling a stigma if you don’t explicitly
mention that stigmas can only be changed when the laws that
reinforce them are changed?

Our revolution begins only when the violence against prostitutes
ends, and when the media no longer feels the need to flash sex
workers’ photos and occupations as attention-getters.

The article comes off to me like a girl flashing her boobs on
“Girls Gone Wild.” It comes off like I was just dying
to let everyone know this cool and unique thing that I am part
of.

I am in no way interested in letting the UCLA community know
about my business unless it furthers my mission in decriminalizing
prostitution and fighting for labor rights and the
self-determination for sex workers.

A sex worker is a political identity and a movement, and I have
chosen to be a sex worker for specific reasons. If the media wishes
to cover the issues of our movement in the future, it needs to have
more political fire to them.

I hope that future stories about our community can be more
focused on the real political issues.

Jasmine is the founder of SWOP-UCLA.