letters

Off Our Backs, Mar/Apr 2004

do not dishonor prostitution survivors

To the off our backs collective,

Thank you for your review of "Monster," the story of Aileen Wuornos (Jan/Feb, 2004). I was impressed by the movie, and thought they did a good job at documenting the slow, painful destruction of a human being through neglect and abuse. I have worked with women like Aileen for over ten years now. Her story is typical in that most people used in the sex industry have experienced an incredible amount of violence as children and young adults, both sexually and otherwise. They have been assaulted by an amazing number of individuals and groups (family members, schoolmates, police officers, social workers, and, of course, Johns), and left undefended by an even greater number of individuals who looked away, or looked on and did nothing.

And then there are those like the oob reviewer, Angelita Manzano, who looked on and came up with the unbelievable conclusion that "Aileen chose to become a prostitute... (p. 61)" Uh, excuse me, what? Did I miss the part where Aileen was offered a scholarship, a job, or a place to stay without having to get fucked for it? Aileen never had a chance to choose. And even if she did she would have needed a great deal of support in order to even make the right choice and to sustain that choice. Aileen was hurt really bad, and the Johns were ready and waiting for her. There was no one else. Not the doctors or nurses who helped her deliver a child at thirteen (the result of her stepfather raping her) without alerting the authorities. Not her other family members who turned their backs on her. Not her school teachers who took no notice when she eventually disappeared from their classrooms. Certainly not the cop who chose to prey on her, or the workers at the unemployment office who took great offense to the pain and frustration she showed.

To say Aileen chose prostitution is to only superficially understand the impact of what people did to her. It also protects the belief that somehow, some way, if all of these horrible things happened to one of us, we would not have turned out like Aileen. We would have fought back, somehow, or made sure we got some help.

The painful truth is, if any of us were assaulted as continuously and as viciously as Aileen was, we may have turned out even worse, or not even made it through for as long as she had. A person is forever changed from experiences like that. You're fucked up from it, and there aren't a lot of people out there who know how to help you recover. Very few agencies exist to specifically treat prostitution survivors. It is demanding, highly skilled work that takes years of training and practice.

Please, do not allow yourselves to turn away from Aileen's life with the idea that she chose prostitution. Do not dishonor her in this way. Understand how the sex industry depends on this belief, just as much as it depends on untreated childhood abuse and on an unsuspecting public.

Sincerely,

Patricia Barrera, MA

Director of Community Education

The Lola Greene Baldwin Foundation for Recovery

Portland, OR

Ms. Barrera,

I should have chosen my words more carefully! I did not mean to give the impression that I thought that women freely chose prostitution. I thought that the tone and content of my review (including my statement about how patriarchy constrains women's choices) made it clear that I was rejecting the claim that women freely chose prostitution. Thank you for allowing me to clear this up. And thank you for the truly revolutionary work you do.

-Angie Manzano

janet Jackson's breast

vs. political censorship

Dear oob:

At lunch today a friend of mine noted that the whole Janet Jackson incident took everyone's attention away from the fact that CBS refused to air the MoveOn 30-second spot "Child's Pay." I thought that was a very interesting observation.

The "boob incident" negated CBS's political censorship and at the same time raised the conservative banners to new heights. A classic magician's trick-keep people's attention focused and you can do all sorts of things in full view.

And of course the erectile dysfunction ad was enlightening and necessary to the continued well being of western civilization.

How many health plans will allow for those prescription charges vs. how many pay for women's birth control?

Kristin Franckiewicz

Ann Arbor, MI