kserra's review against another edition
3.0
Not a bad book, but very unlikely to convince anyone who was not already convinced. Dr. Magnati's focus on particular players in British anti-sex worker feminism also makes the book a less compelling read for those outside the U.K.
nesdy's review
3.5
I really liked this. I've done research on the relationship of sexual violence and porn before, and everything Magnanti says here is pretty much true: all the academic articles you can read are either biased, don't prove anything at all, or are very inconclusive.
I don't agree with all of Magnanti's opinions here, but I think she does a great job of proving how a lot of the literature used to support certain anti-prostitution laws is garbage. It does become a bit boring at times, because she's refuting everything properly with data and such. As she should. I'm just saying, it's not a riveting read by any means.
I especially liked the final chapter, where she includes the deposition in full. I think that conversation clarifies a lot of questions readers might have about prostitution, especially regarding decrim vs legalization and such. I know I finally understood what the problems are in regards to the German and Swedish models, which is something I hadn't fully grasped before.
I would really recommend this book. Her main approach to all this is that you can't legislate prostitution without ever having talked to a sex worker before, and I think she's 100% right.
I don't agree with all of Magnanti's opinions here, but I think she does a great job of proving how a lot of the literature used to support certain anti-prostitution laws is garbage. It does become a bit boring at times, because she's refuting everything properly with data and such. As she should. I'm just saying, it's not a riveting read by any means.
I especially liked the final chapter, where she includes the deposition in full. I think that conversation clarifies a lot of questions readers might have about prostitution, especially regarding decrim vs legalization and such. I know I finally understood what the problems are in regards to the German and Swedish models, which is something I hadn't fully grasped before.
I would really recommend this book. Her main approach to all this is that you can't legislate prostitution without ever having talked to a sex worker before, and I think she's 100% right.
captainfez's review against another edition
4.0
A short review because there's really very little room here for me to make snark about characters or plot devices, seeing as this is something that's rooted in truth, and how it's perceived when passed through the lens of the media.
(Well, I could probably workshop a few cracks about Julie Bindel in here, but really, who can be bothered?)
What you're presented with here is a polemic. It's a justifiable attack on the way sex workers are represented in the media. It's a tear-down of bad actors and naive interpretations of the business, and most importantly an evisceration of the shitty statistics that are used to support retrograde portraits of people on the frontline of sex for sale.
This is an updated version of Magnanti's book, expanded to include the latest publications from the opposition, as well as verbatim transcripts of the author's appearance before an government panel looking into the legal status (and possible change thereof) of sex work in the UK. It's copiously annotated - seriously, have a look - and should prove compelling, regardless of your level of knowledge of sex work.
Sex, Lies & Statistics is pissed-off and rigorous, using numbers and facts to get behind the Helen Lovejoy take on things we're so often presented with. It's not a feel-good read, but it's a bracing dose of reality.
(Well, I could probably workshop a few cracks about Julie Bindel in here, but really, who can be bothered?)
What you're presented with here is a polemic. It's a justifiable attack on the way sex workers are represented in the media. It's a tear-down of bad actors and naive interpretations of the business, and most importantly an evisceration of the shitty statistics that are used to support retrograde portraits of people on the frontline of sex for sale.
It would be unthinkable to have a discussion about women’s rights that did not involve any women. Or a discussion about race that did not include people of color. But time and again when the topic is sex work, sex workers are not simply ignored, they are actively excluded.
This is an updated version of Magnanti's book, expanded to include the latest publications from the opposition, as well as verbatim transcripts of the author's appearance before an government panel looking into the legal status (and possible change thereof) of sex work in the UK. It's copiously annotated - seriously, have a look - and should prove compelling, regardless of your level of knowledge of sex work.
Sex, Lies & Statistics is pissed-off and rigorous, using numbers and facts to get behind the Helen Lovejoy take on things we're so often presented with. It's not a feel-good read, but it's a bracing dose of reality.
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