Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers' Rights by Molly Smith, Juno Mac

4 reviews

sedgewren's review

informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.75

A clear and sharp analysis of the failings of the regulations around the world that exacerbate the difficulties and dangers of sex workers' daily lives. Sex work is work, and most sex workers do sex work for the same reasons most people work: for an income to survive.

This book clarified my views and helped me think through my intersectional feminist politics and applying it to the controversial topic of sex work — the combination of thorough research and compelling anecdotes provided a compelling argument for decriminalisation of sex work (this leading to sex work being regulated just like the rest of the labour market). We should be centering the experiences of sex workers when talking about regulating sex work, and criminalisation does not lead to abolition.

I would thoroughly recommend this book to any feminists who are unsure what to think about prostitution, and also to any policymakers who want to help alleviate the suffering and difficulties of the most marginalised in our society.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Drug use, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Death, Drug abuse, Deportation, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Trafficking, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Sexual assault, and Racism

catherinedsharp's review

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

Did I like this book? Yes and no. Let’s start with the negative.

The writing style was quite dense and academic so although this is to be expected for a piece of non - fiction, it was quite inaccessible in my opinion. Additionally there was a lot on what is happening that does not help sex workers and very little in comparison on what would help.

Despite this I found it a very interesting read! Despite the slow pace, I was always reading more and enjoyed learning about an area that I don’t know much about. There was lots of data and references to further information.

Overall I enjoyed this text although I found it difficult to read at times which has brought the rating down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Abortion, Alcoholism, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Hate crime, Infidelity, Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Racism, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

snowhitereads's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

 

Revolting Prostitutes is a non fiction book about sex workers’ rights, written by two sex workers/activists.

It’s a really short book but a powerful one.

It's a succinct and reflective book that offers real insight into the actual lives of sex workers and the impacts of various legal models.

I learned so much with such a short book, it really helped me understand the basics of a very complex situation.

It does not sugarcoat the struggles of sex workers, nor does it demonizes them. 

The authors are also honest about their privelege and shortcoming as white sex workers and activists and about how BIPOC and LGBTQ+ sex workers are often the largest of those targeted under the harms of laws/opinions against sex workers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Trafficking

tieflingkisser's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Death, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Transphobia