XXX: A Woman's Right to Pornography (30 page)

To combine the above mean results: working a forty-one-hour week, women earned $490 at non-sex work. Working a nineteen-hour week, women earned $2,360 at sex work. For less than half the hours, they made close to five times the money.

I asked Norma Jean (formerly employed by the Los Angeles Police Department as a traffic officer) whether she had entered prostitution because she perceived no other economic alternative? She replied:

"No. I am an artist. I have been doing ceramic dolls for many, many years. The money I could make as a prostitute was significantly greater than as an artist. I could have earned a living, but could I have made that much money? Of course not."

The next category of questions was aimed at shedding light on the contention that women are driven into sex work due to traumas from their past-e.g. childhood sexual abuse. I asked the women to assess their childhoods as happy, average, or unhappy. (As a caveat: Most women I know, who are not sex workers, consider their childhoods to have been unhappy.) Seven women (17%) reported happy childhoods; twenty (49%) checked average; and nine (22%) said unhappy.

Ten women (24%) said they had been sexually molested as children. Eight women (20%) reported having been physically molested-e.g. spankings or other forms of battery.

I asked a series of questions designed to ascertain whether the women-once they had entered sex work-felt free to enter the mainstream of society in other areas. I began with the query, "Are you engaged in charitable or community activities?" Twenty-two women (54%) replied yes. Eleven women (27%) were active in politics. Fifteen women (37%) attended church. In answer to the question, "Does sex work prevent involvement in the above?" twenty-two women (54%) replied no; ten (24%) said yes; and three (7%) answered "somewhat."

Next, I wanted to judge whether these sex workers had any interest in feminism. Twenty-five of the women (61%) had never attended a feminist meeting; sixteen of them (39%) had attended at least one meeting. In response to the question "Does modern feminism represent you?" fifteen women (37%) said yes, twelve women (29%) said no, ten women (24%) "didn't know," and four women (10%) felt "somewhat represented." The most common reason stated by those who felt represented was "because modern feminism is for equal rights between the sexes." The most common reason stated by those who felt unrepresented was "because modern feminism is anti sex workers."

Has becoming a sex worker changed the attitudes of the women toward themselves? Men? Other women? Sex in general? Since becoming sex workers, thirty-four women (83%) felt more comfortable/confident sexually; four women (10%) felt less confident. Thirty women (73%) experienced no change in their sexual orientation; five women (12%) altered their orientation, usually toward bisexualism.

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Regarding attitudes toward men, twenty-nine women (71%) reported a change; twelve women (29%) said none had occurred. Of the women whose attitudes had changed, typical comments in response to the question "How?" were:

· -I'm more understanding about men's sexuality and what they want from women.

· -I don't trust them as much. Think they mostly all cheat.

· -I'm not afraid of them anymore.

· -I'm not looking for my knight in a g-string with a great clean cock.

· -I see them as more vulnerable.

· -I realize that the majority of men are liars, pigs, and good for nothing.

Regarding attitudes toward other women, twenty-three women (56%) experienced no change; fifteen women (37%) did have a change of attitude. Of the latter group, eleven women reported that their attitudes toward women improved. The four with negative changes commented: · -Women who aren't sex workers are judgmental of sex workers.

· -If they find out I work for an escort service, they begin to look at me differently, like dirt under their feet.

· -Most women live in a fantasy, such as that their men don't cheat.

· -A lot of women will do a lot of things for money.

In answer to the final question, "What is the single greatest misconception people have about sex work?" the most common answer-given by 16 women (39%)-was that prostitutes are bad people (e.g., sluts, uneducated, drug addicts). The second most common misconception, cited by nine women (22%), was that sex work was degrading.

A SAMPLE SURVEY OF COYOTE MEMBERS

This questionnaire was distributed to the membership of COYOTE. The preceding survey results are based on the answers I received. The blank questionnaire is included to provide perspective on the survey and is not meant to be completed by readers.

My name is Wendy McElroy. I am currently working on a book defending the rights of sex workers. To do so effectively, the book must provide an accurate sense of women in the industry.

To this end, Norma Jean Almodovar, Executive Director of COYOTE, has offered to forward this letter to you.

Please answer the following questions with as much or as little detail as you wish, using the back of pages to expand on answers. If any question seems intrusive, please skip it. A self-addressed stamped envelope is enclosed for your convenience in replying.

The survey is anonymous. If you wish to have me follow-up on your questionnaire (e.g., through a phone interview), please include your name and number. Otherwise, the line immediately following should be left blank.

Name & Number:

BACKGROUND IN SEX WORK

What type of sex work are you involved in? At what age did you enter sex work?

How did you enter sex work?

Were you coerced into the industry? yes no

If yes, please describe _____________________

Do you know of women who were coerced? yes no

If so, please describe _______________________

The attractions of sex work are/were: money-curiosity acceptance-rebellion- sense of control-other 121

The main attraction is/was ____________________________________

The disadvantages of sex work are ____________________________________

How long will you continue in sex work?

Do you want to quit? yes no not sure.

As a sex worker, have you been a victim of violence? If yes, by whom (e.g., a client).

Please describe circumstances. __________________________

Have you dealt with the police? yes no

If yes, please describe _______________________________

EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND

What jobs have you held?

On average, how much were you paid?

How much are you paid now?

On average, how many hours did you work a week?

How many now?

What about your present working conditions would you change?__________________________

What is your ideal job? ________________________

FAMILY BACKGROUND

Would you describe your childhood as: happy, average, unhappy, other Were you sexually abused as a child? yes no

Were you otherwise physically abused? yes no

Do you have children? yes no

Do family members know of your employment? yes no

Are they supportive?

Children _________________________

Husband _________________________

Parents __________________________

Are you engaged in political activities? yes no

If so, please describe __________________________

Does being a sex worker keep you from involvement?

If so, how? ___________________________________

Do you attend church? yes no

Have you ever attended a feminist meeting? yes no

Does modern feminism represent you? yes no

If yes, please explain. ___________________________

If no, please explain ________________________________

SEXUAL ATTITUDES

Since becoming a sex worker.. .

I am more comfortable/confident sexually I am less comfortable/confident sexually My sexual orientation (gay/hetero) has changed. If so how? __________________________

My attitude toward men has changed: yes no

If yes, how? ___________________________

My attitude toward women has changed: yes no

If yes, how? ____________________________

Please describe any other changes:

What is the single greatest misconception people have about sex work?

CONCLUSION

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The women who answered my survey ranged widely in age, educational background, and attitudes toward sex work. Some were bitter and suspicious; they told me their friends had cautioned them not to respond to my survey because it was obviously a "police trap." Others seemed charmed by a "straight" woman who wasn't passing judgment on them-who was purely and simply curious. These women crammed information into the small blanks of their surveys, then often attached sheet after sheet of handwritten notes of further explanation.

I was bowled over by the honesty and intelligence of the responses I received. I was left to wonder whether if I were engaged in an illegal/semi-illegal activity, I would stand up and so expose myself.

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FOOTNOTES

CHAPTER ONE. PORNOGRAPHY AS AN INDUSTRY

1. Press Release from Ad Hoc Committee of Feminists for Free Expression (February 14, 1992).

CHAPTER TWO. DEFINING PORNOGRAPHY

1
. Jacobellis v. Ohio,
378 U.S. 184, 197 (1964).

2. Andrea Dworkin,
Pornography: Men Possessing Women
(New York, NY: Penguin USA, 1989), p. 200.

3. D. H. Lawrence,
Pornography and Obscenity
(New York, NY: Knopf, 1930), pp. 1-2.

4. Catharine A. MacKinnon,
Only Words
(Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1993), p. 16.

5.
Only words, p.
3.

6.
Ms. Magazine,
January/February 1994,
p.
34.

7.
Pornography: Men Possessing Women, p.
13, 51, 53, 65.

8. The model antipornography ordinance can be found in Andrea Dworkin, "Against the Male Flood: Censorship, Pornography, and Equality," Harvard Women's Law journal 8 (1985).

9. Jillian Ridington,
Confronting Pornography: A Feminist on the Front Lines
(Vancouver, Can.: CRIAW/ICREF,1989), p. 27.

10. Joanna Russ,
Magic Mommas, Trembling Sisters, Puritans and Perverts
(Trumansburg, NY: The Crossing Press), p. 90.

CHAPTER THREE. FEMINISM AND PORN: FELLOW TRAVELERS

1. Judith Walkowitz,
Prostitution and Victorian Society
(New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1980).

2. Yves Guyot,
English and French Morality from a Frenchman's Point of View
(London, England: 1885), p. 66.

3.
Prostitution and Victorian Society, p.
248.

4. Act for the Suppression of Trade in and Circulation of, Obscene Literature and Articles of Immoral Use,
(Congressional Globe,
1873), p. 297.

5. Abbie Kelly as quoted in Carrie Hapman Catt and Nettie Roger Shuler,
Woman Suffrage and
Politics
(Seattle, Wash.: University of Washington Press, 1969), p. 37.

6. Sarah Grimke,
Letters on the Equality of the Sexes and the Condition of Woman
(New York, NY: Burt Franklin, 1837), Letter XII.

7. Linda Gordon,
Woman's Body, Woman's Right
(New York, NY: Penguin USA, 1976), pp.

117-118.

8. Angela Heywood in
The Word
(April, 1881). The Massachusetts State Historical Society has a full run on this periodical.

9. Anthony Comstock as quoted in Hal D. Sears
The Sex Radicals: Free Love in High Victorian
America
(Lawrence, KS: Regents Press, 1977), p. 165.

10. United States v. Bennett,
24 Fed. Cas. (1879).

11.
Regina v. Hicklin,
England, L.R. 3 (1868).

12. Moses Harman,
Lucifer, the Light Bearer
(April 9, 1886).

13. The Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, has a full run of
Lucifer.
The State Library in the State House, Topeka, has additional items on Harman.

14.
The New York Times,
(September 1, 1905), p. 1.

15. George Bernard Shaw in "Shaw v. America" in
London Opinion,
(January 30, 1909), p. 202.

124

16. Lizzie Holmes in
Lucifer
(August 28, 1891).

17. Lawrence Ladler,
The Margaret Sanger Story and the Fight for Birth Control
(Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1955), p. 115.

18.
Butler v. Regina,
1 S.C.R. (1992, Canada).

19.
Only words,
p. 102.

CHAPTER FOUR. A CRITIQUE OF ANTIPORNOGRAPHY FEMINISM

1.
Regina v. Hicklin,
England, L.R. 3 (1868).

2.
Roth v. United States
354 U.S. 976 (1957).

3.
Memoirs v. Massachusetts,
383 U.S. 413 (1966).

4.
Roe v. Wade,
410 U.S. 179 (1973).

5.
Miller v. California,
413 U.S. 15, 34 (1973).

6. Susan Brownmiller,
Against Our Will
(New York, NY: Bantam, 1976), p. 5.

7. Catharine A. MacKinnon,
Toward A Feminist Theory of the State
(Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard, 1989).

8.
Only Words, p.
28.

9.
American Booksellers Association, Inc. v. Hudnut,
771 F. 2d. (1985).

10.
Barnes v. Glen Theatre, Ill S.C.
(1991).

11
. Butler v. Regina,
1 S.C.R. (1992, Canada).

12. Press Release from Ad Hoc Committee of Feminists for Free Expression (February 14, 1992).

13. Dorchen Leidholdt and Janice G. Raymond, eds.,
Sexual Liberals and the Attack on
Feminism
(New York, NY: Pergamon Press, 1990), p. 136, 150, 157.

14.
The New York Times,
March 12, 1993, p. B16.

15. Nadine Strossen,
Virginia Law Review,
August 1993, p. 1183.