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In Britain's latest attempt at fighting sex trafficking, it's simply calling johns rapists. Men visiting the loo at their local pub may soon start to notice posters showing an open door -- along what seems a wall smeared with blood or other bodily fluids -- leading to an illegal sex den. (Note that prostitution isn't illegal in Britain, but brothels are.) The advertisement reads: "Walk in a punter. Walk out a rapist." Then, in smaller text, the ad throws out a dare to any man who comes across a sex worker he suspects was trafficked: "If you're man enough, call Crimestoppers."
Not all johns are rapists, of course; and, I'm uncomfortable calling anyone who sleeps with a trafficked girl a rapist, even though she is being forced to have sex against her will. Certainly, johns who know they are having sex with a trafficked girl are rapists, and it could be argued that there are many more cases of involuntary rape caused by willful blindness -- but I don't think all men who unwittingly sleep with trafficked girls are guilty of rape.
The ad is clearly aiming to draw a line between willful and forced prostitution, but it's a matter of perspective whether the ad is applying the rapist label to all clients of trafficked prostitutes. If it is, it raises a host of questions. For instance: If a man has sex with a drug-addicted sex worker, or a prostitute who has an abusive pimp, is he a rapist?
All that being said, I salute the advertisement for pushing any man considering sex-for-pay to consider that he very well could end up unwittingly having sex with a trafficked woman.
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I disagree wholeheartedly with Tracy in her statement: “Not all johns are rapists, of course; and, I'm uncomfortable calling anyone who sleeps with a trafficked girl a rapist, even though she is being forced to have sex against her will.” I am wondering what exactly a rapist would be then. What makes this scenario different? Is it because the johns are paying? Because the girls have been purchased? It seems to be we are grabbing at some pretty thin straws here. Why are we trying so hard to protect the rights of these johns that are abusing every imaginable right these women and children are supposed to have?
And why does she mean by willful blindness? Sure…some of them are CHOOSING to be there? Right? Yes, yes…let’s argue that. Although research will show that more johns then you could imagine do actually believe that the women and children they have sexual encounters with are actually “getting off” or having an enjoyable experience when with them. This is simply not true. This might be the willful blindness Tracy speaks of.
I applaud the UK for this aggressive ad campaign and hope it will scare a few people, make them think a little more before walking into a punter and perhaps save a few lives.
Here is the ad:
2 comments:
I am a big fan of always carefully using the word rapist because I never want it to lose the intensity it carries. When I worked in the victim services field we had it pounded into our heads that a rapist is someone who uses sex to obtain power. I think people tend to forget that sometimes.
In light of your blog and the other woman's comments its not too far of a leap, in my opinion to pin those who control the lives of, or have sex with trafficked or drug addicted women as rapists.
I do think it is a gray area though, and may benefit from a specialized term that specifically refers to those who have sex with trafficked individuals whether they know it or not. I also think we should emphasize that ignorance is no defense. In the U.S. if an adult has sex with a minor that adult is guilty of statutory rape whether that person knew the victim was a child or not.
The same should be so for people who "unknowingly" have sex with trafficked people. I mean GEEZ if I am drive over the speed limit I can't get out of a ticket by saying I didn't know what the speed limit was!!!
The biggest problem I foresee with the ad though, is that it is hard enough to convince clear cut rapists that they are rapists. I don't think that the type of people who solicit prostitutes who might be trafficked will have an "aha" moment and suddenly believe they are going to stop their raping ways, which kind of defeats the purpose. I think the ads will have a stronger appeal to those who are less likely to need the message.
Danielle,
Thanks for sharing. I do think you need to be careful - but I also think that "using sex to obtain power" is a hard thing to define - so many of the girls I work with would say a lot of the guys they run into can fit this. And I would say most of the men that walk into a brothel can fit that - if only because of the fact that the women working in (most) brothels are there as slaves and have no choices in the matter. Power is being exerted over them.
Although you might be right that these ads are more likely to scare those who are already scared of entering a brothel...I think the fact that there are ads out there most often now is helping. The fact that we are willing to talk about this and not push it under the rug will make it easier and easier to break it down.
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