How are Anti-Prostitution Laws Impacting Transgender Individuals in the Sex Trade?, Kari Lerum (Labor Studies Workshare Series, 4/12/2019)
Posted: 4/8/2019 (Local Events)
Labor Studies Workshare Series
How are Anti-Prostitution Laws Impacting Transgender Individuals in the Sex Trade?
Kari Lerum, Associate Professor, UW Bothell
FRIDAY, APRIL 12 • 12:00PM-1:30PM
Smith Hall, Room 306 • University of Washington, Seattle
ABSTRACT: Sex workers have a long history of living in a context of hyper criminalization, surveillance, and state abandonment. But the stakes were raised in the U.S. on April 11, 2018 when President Trump signed into federal law FOSTA/SESTA — a bill that made it much more difficult for sex workers to screen their potential clients online. Since then, anecdotal and empirical evidence points to the reality that FOSTA/SESTA has placed individuals who rely on income from the sex trade are at increased risk of violence, poverty, homelessness. This paper will 1) summarize recent data collected with a local sex work coalition, and 2) argue for centering the needs of QTPOC individuals in policy discussions about sex work and human trafficking.
Kari Lerum (PhD Sociology) is an Associate Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences at University of Washington Bothell, an Adjunct Professor in Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies at University of Washington Seattle. She is an appointed member of the Seattle LGBTQ commission and former Chair of both the UWB General Faculty Organization and the UWB Campus Diversity Council. Professor Lerum’s research has critically evaluated popular discourses about the “sexualization of girls,” challenged normative assumptions of workplace sexuality, pushed for emotionally engaged epistemological approaches for critical theory, and advocated for non-carceral strategies for racial, economic, gender, & sexual justice. Her current work focuses on policies about sex work & human trafficking.
FORMAT: Lerum’s paper will be circulated to registered attendees a week in advance of the workshare. Participants are expected to read the paper before the meeting and be prepared for a discussion. Please feel free to bring your lunch. Coffee and cookies will be served.
Date: 04/12/2019
Time: 12:00PM-1:30 PM
Location: Smith Hall, Room 306