Sex industry taking over
2004-01-20 11:10
Brussels - The internet and increasingly sophisticated cellphones are among media helping the global sex industry including hardcore pornography to enter our daily lives, experts lamented on Monday.
Speaking at a mini-conference at the European Parliament, one lawmaker called for tough new laws notably against prostitution, citing a Swedish law which clamps down on prostitutes' clients as a good model.
"Only a few years ago, if you wanted pornography and prostitution you really had to look for it; today we have to make an effort to avoid it," said Swedish MEP Marianne Eriksson.
"We come across sex for sale in our e-mails, in our cellphones and on television on a daily basis," she added.
Janice Raymond, a US professor and joint head of Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, pointed out that the mainstreaming of the sex industry was reflected in the changing vocabulary applied to it.
"The sex industry thrives on renaming its sexual exploitation as 'sex'," she said. "Pornography is called 'erotica' or 'adult videos'; prostitution is renamed 'sex work' or 'sexual services'; pimps are now called 'third party business managers' or 'erotic entrepreneurs.'"
She cited recent figures indicating that in Britain 33% of all internet users access hardcore porn, with the heaviest demand for material featuring children, bondage, sadomasochism, and sex acts with various animals.
"Pornography is most men's sex education unfortunately. It certainly affects what men demand of women in sexual relations," she said.
Both women, speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting, singled out a Swedish law which criminalises men who use prostitutes as a model for other EU countries.
"It's a model that should be emulated elsewhere .. We can't keep only addressing the supply," said Raymond, adding: "We need tough legislation that ultimately is as powerful as the industry itself."
- AFP