Disqus - Latest Comments for AudaciaRay

Re: http://blog.audaciaray.com/post/20228032642

Audacia Ray — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:00:33 -0000

Yeah - you called it correctly, the title is a bit of a red herring. I'm not a huge fan of absolutes: sex positivism feminism isn't per se bad for sex workers all the time and in all ways. However, there are negative impacts of the sex positive ethos on sex workers, and this impact is often the result of good intentions.

To be clear - feminist and sex positive IDEALS are still very much integrated into how I see things and how I do my work. I am not leaving those behind. However, I am underscoring the difference between ideals and how they play out in the world in this piece. I think there already is an "alternative" (in quotes because its not oppositional or really separate, but slightly different framing), which is the human rights-based framework. In the rights-based framework, the focus is on promoting and protecting the human rights of people in the sex industry, no matter whether they are in the sex industry by choice, circumstance, or coercion, by creating policy and programs that help them get their economic, physiological, emotional, etc needs met.

Re: http://blog.audaciaray.com/post/20228032642

Audacia Ray — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:43:21 -0000

Thanks for your comments. My piece is definitely aimed at people who self-identify with sex positivity. That said, it's important for me to think about the ways that this framework could be problematic in more mainstream conversations. I very much defend the rights of people in the sex industry to control their own bodies and business, and to feel however they want to feel about it. But when discussing the sex industry in mainstream media and conversations, its hard to critique the "happy hooker" mentality without immediately slipping into the "this is bad for everyone always" mindset. There isn't much space for nuance in most spaces... which is why I think its important to develop nuance in spaces where its allowed.

Re: http://blog.audaciaray.com/post/20228032642

Audacia Ray — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:46:10 -0000

Yes, its certainly true that the simple stereotypes about sex work are very much alive and well, and there's a big gap between online and offline representations of sex workers. My eye for this essay was firmly trained on the online sphere, though its more than worth considering both. Part of my read on the gap between online and offline representation is that the lack of racial and class diversity in the online conversations makes offline conversations really difficult. Most of the offline conversations (led by mainstream orgs and NGOs) about trafficking and exploitation in the sex industry are about poor cis women (and sometimes girls) of color who are sometimes migrant and undocumented workers - though these conversations largely do not include these women's voices. So its definitely problematic for privileged sex workers to bust in and say "my experiences in the sex biz aren't terrible!" and be on the defensive, when the women initially being talked about still aren't in the room.

But ultimately, as you point out, it's really hard to create a complex and nuanced argument when the whole debate is so polarized.

Re: http://blog.audaciaray.com/post/20228032642

Audacia Ray — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:09:28 -0000

I (perhaps lazily?) avoided defining sex positive in the piece, sorry. But - a brief, working definition of sex positive would include an emphasis on pleasure, consent, and enthusiasm of people involved in a sexual encounter. Sex positivism exists in opposition and reaction to moralistic frameworks, which frame sex as sinful and bad when it takes place outside of a very narrow acceptable sex zone (married, monogamous, procreative, not too experimental).

Re: http://blog.audaciaray.com/post/17593622586

Audacia Ray — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:06:59 -0000

I agree with you that the voices of survivors need to be included and centered in these conversations, and that they aren't at the moment. My hunch is that people who have had good experiences of the sex industry (or are still in the work and may or may not be in denial about their experiences) are just very defensive about being implicated as victims. Also, it's true that there are many different kinds of experiences people have of the sex industry, it's not all either/or. But it's difficult and painful to try and make space for all experiences.

Re: transphobia. I hear you - but many women's health and anti-trafficking groups that exist today do not provide services and support to trans women who are survivors. This is a big problem. And a lot of it probably has to do with funding - funders are most concerned with cis women, especially young women, and don't give attention to the experiences of other kinds of survivors.

Re: http://blog.audaciaray.com/post/17593622586

Audacia Ray — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:57:56 -0000

I am still very much working in and around feminism. At this point in my career/life work I can't exactly abandon it, and let's face it, feminisms (good and bad) are infused in many different aspects of the work I do.

Importantly, I don't wish to engage in ideological battles about what is or is not feminist. I don't want to get all meta and talk endlessly about language. I want to do the work. And talking is not the same as doing.

However, I am not actively self-identifying as feminist, because it often signals harmful ideology to people who I want to be an ally to. If people of color and trans women are telling me they don't trust feminists, then it is more important for me to examine my relationship to feminism and the ways in which some of feminism's bad attitudes are enmeshed in my attitudes. It is not a good use of my time (or theirs) to try and convince them that feminism is not all bad and they should be feminists too!

Re: http://blog.audaciaray.com/post/17593622586

Audacia Ray — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:52:43 -0000

I would love to talk with you more about this. I think we need to talk publicly more about this struggle. It's so so important, and the discourse urgently needs to change, because its fucking people over and shutting people out.

Re: http://blog.audaciaray.com/post/17669631784

Audacia Ray — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:51:09 -0000

There's a decent article about condoms being used as evidence here:
http://www.alternet.org/rig...

Also, there is a report that looks at this practice in seven cities (including some international ones) that will be out this summer, which is put together by the Open Society Institute and Human Rights Watch.

Re: http://blog.audaciaray.com/post/10774833750

Audacia Ray — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:25:56 -0000

Yeah, for sure. Direct contact with legislators via phone or personalized emails is infinitely better than typing your name, city, and state into one of these petitions.

One of the big problems with internet petitions, too, is that the people who organize them don't think about who the precise target is for the petition, and people who are not constituents of the target sign on to it, which just makes everyone look stupid.

Re: http://blog.audaciaray.com/post/7543384035

Audacia Ray — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:35:40 -0000

If you'll cover the cost of shipping, I am happy to send magazines to Australia. If you tell me how many you'd like (40 weight about 25 pounds) I can figure out how much it will cost.

Re: The Red Umbrella Diaries

Audacia Ray — Mon, 16 May 2011 10:21:48 -0000

Thanks for saying such kind things about the Red Umbrella Diaries. You totally captured the intention of the project!

Re: http://audaciaray.tumblr.com/post/4985610165

Audacia Ray — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 07:59:06 -0000

Yeah, Trixie, you're right that they are offering training. My reading comprehension got clouded by rage. I think that the tactic of public announcement is not great, privately and discreetly (aka off the radar) connecting with folks who might need the help would be preferable.

Re: http://audaciaray.tumblr.com/post/4420491705

Audacia Ray — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:23:40 -0000

Right, but why focus on just reproduction and the right to do so or not? I'm arguing for a more expansive movement. I'm not saying reproductive rights aren't worth advocating for, just that I think the movement focuses too exclusively on the rights of cisgender women who are sexually active with people who have the ability to reproduce with people who can impregnate them.

Re: http://audaciaray.tumblr.com/post/4420491705

Audacia Ray — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:18:57 -0000

Yeah, but only if the statement and the movement are inclusive of people for whom their body is actually their business, aka sex workers.

The whole thing also makes me think about surrogacy, another way that bodies (and uteri) are used in business transactions.

Re: http://audaciaray.tumblr.com/post/4239832326

Audacia Ray — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:23:39 -0000

As in: if I eat more cheeseburgers with Sean & Jess, life will be better? Intriguing. Perhaps we will test this out in April and then I will make a chart.

Re: Walk of Shame? Baby, I Strut

Audacia Ray — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:27:56 -0000

I edited Naked City (and produced a video podcast: http://nakedcity.blip.tv/) from April to August 2008, and it got shut down then for similar reasons.

I think one of the mistakes that gets made with blogs like this, and was certainly a big problem when I was editing Naked City, is that the Village Voice assumed that sex sells, so they didn't have to work very hard to promote the site. It was a struggle to get them to place links to the site on the main Village Voice page, and getting them to highlight content from the blog was an ongoing battle.

I wrote two pieces in October 2008 about some of these issues:

The End of the Sex Writer? http://www.wakingvixen.auda...

Commerce, Activism, and the Frivolous World of Sex http://www.wakingvixen.auda...

Re: http://audaciaray.tumblr.com/post/3974128461

Audacia Ray — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:08:32 -0000

Welcome to the neighborhood! Windsor Terrace is definitely different than Park Slope (gotta make sure you make it to the store before 10 pm!) but I have loved living here and wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Re: http://katstories.tumblr.com/post/599937461

Audacia Ray — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:00:43 -0000

For the last year, I've been running a co-hosted reading series called Sex Worker Literati in my hometown of NYC, but now I'm striking out on my own to create a monthly event, The Red Umbrella Diaries, with a solid online dimension. I love my city, but I know that by putting down my roots and hosting events here I'm discriminating against those who can't be here!

Lots of people ask how they can be involved with the Red Umbrella Diaries if they can't get to New York to see or perform in the show. The Blog Carnival is a way for sex workers and their allies to participate in the Red Umbrella Diaries from afar. Every month, I'll do a carnival of pieces of writing on the upcoming event's theme.

For the next event, the theme is Coworkers and Co-conspirators. Here's a little something to get you started thinking:
In every industry, quirky coworkers keep jobs entertaining, livable, or sometimes downright miserable. But what’s too much information and even sexual harassment at other jobs is just a day in the life in the sex industry.

Send me a piece that is up to 700 words long, and I'll pick my favorite to read at the event - and of course then I'll put the recording in the new Red Umbrella Diaries audio podcast, which will launch in July. Your piece can be previously published on your own blog or elsewhere, or you can conceal your identity and email me a piece that you can't put your name on. The themes can be interpreted all kinds of different ways, I love to see creativity. Send your links or text to stories@redumbrellaproject.com by the 15th of the month.

And of course, should you be planning a trip to NYC, I'd love to have you perform!

Dacia

Re: New York: Year One (Part 1) | Uncle Sean

Audacia Ray — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:54:56 -0000

Aw, thanks for the bloggy shout out! I'm glad you're here, and that your first year in NYC hasn't made you (too) crazy. Here's to many more!

Re: New York: Year One (Part 1) | Uncle Sean

Audacia Ray — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:54:08 -0000

Aw, thanks for the bloggy shout out. I'm glad we're friends and that your first year in New York hasn't made you (too) insane. Here's to many more!

Re: sex, art, and politics

Audacia Ray — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:33:13 -0000

I validate your selfish motivation.

Plus, if you do the work, then you have something to talk about, instead of being all awkward "I think you're cool." Busting my ass on cool stuff has done wonders for pushing me past my shyness. I know for sure I've got something to talk about.

Re: sex, art, and politics

Audacia Ray — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:12:43 -0000

Oh! I know Katrien! She's fabulous. I met her a few years ago when she curated an event called C'lick Me in Amsterdam (June 2007) - there's an anthology of writings that she co-edited after the conference. It's called C'Lick Me: A Netporn Studies Reader. Available as a free PDF here: http://networkcultures.org/...

(extra Audacia trivia: I took this pic for my C'lick Me talk, and it's my all time most viewed pic on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photo...

Re: rollertrain

Audacia Ray — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:37:28 -0000

oh goodness, she's a fave of mine too. girl gets fucking serious with a strap-on.

Re: rollertrain

Audacia Ray — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:05:49 -0000

My unfortunate recipe for Getting Shit Done while full time working is this:
-Don't sleep a lot, especially on work days
-Hate myself and berate myself at least a little bit everyday for not Getting More Shit Done
-Eschew property ownership, family-making, interpersonal relationships in favor of aforementioned Getting Shit Done
-Love the Shit I'm trying to Get Done

Do all the above until I am sick or need to get drunk to shut my brain up.

Repeat.

Why yes, it is three am and I have to be at work at 8 and my Shit is Not Done and I'm commenting on yer blaagh instead of Doing My Shit. Fuck.

I wonder what this is going to look like in another 5 or 10 years.

Re: rollertrain

Audacia Ray — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:42:33 -0000

You are amazing in your rage and hilarity. Maybe you should join the "slow blogging" movement - because all work styles need a name and a manifesto.