Not for Sale

[Edited to link to a better version on the European Women’s Lobby site. Thanks Anji - Catherine]

At Ladyfest London I watched a very powerful and moving anti-prostitution documentary called “Not For Sale”, by Marie Vermeiren.

The film is available to see at the European Women’s Lobby website.

Whatever your opinion on prostitution I think this is worth watching - as many people as possible should hear these women’s stories. It features interviews with women who have been involved in prostitution in the UK, Europe and the U.S.

It’s about 22 minutes long altogether.

Be warned it is very upsetting in places.

You can also buy the DVD from the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women website.

Your Comments

Anji said:

The whole video is also available here at the European Women's Lobby.

Posted on 29 May 2008 at 6:58 PM

Frombosa said:

This was incredibly incredibly moving. I am left speechless at how men can use and leave women and children in this situation everyday without the blink of an eye. It is so so frustrating that,what seems like, the majority of people think they're there by choice, and find it acceptable. Especailly in Amsterdam. If it's so damn fantastic, why aren't men leaping up in numbers to "volunteer" for prostitution too?Does anyone know where to go to get some statistics on this matter?

Posted on 29 May 2008 at 7:02 PM

tom hulley said:

The video moved me greatly and helped me finish the following bit of writing I had been struggling with:

real men

don't harm or wheedle
or mock or dishonour
or make excuses
for abuse

real men understand
that no means no
and don't fret

real men
respect children
listen to others
buy flowers
clean toilets
and don't shout

real men
never turn a blind eye
but are willing to call
their best friends
to account

real men
always try to calm
never seek to inflame
but refuse to be
bullied

real men
share their time
instead
of keeping it all
for themselves

real men never tell
people what to do
unless they ask

real men don't take
silence as consent

real men say no to
patriarchy and privilege
and putting other people
down

ps I am not claiming to be a fully realised real man just trying to get there

Posted on 30 May 2008 at 12:49 PM

Torygirl said:

I can't watch the film as I'm on rubbish dial-up, but I agree strongly that the perception that some people seem to have that sex workers do it for fun, the money is a perk and if only it were legal everybody would be happy bunnies, is so distateful it literally makes me want to vomit.

Posted on 30 May 2008 at 9:39 PM

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