"Should universities be offering sex work advice to their students?"

herbivorouscarnivore · 2021-11-14T00:36:38+00:00

I hit a paywall, but I think universities should be offering more affordable tuition and housing. Make it so students don’t feel cornered.

SeaNegotiation8 · 2021-11-14T01:18:19+00:00

Are they offering the same “advice“ to their male students?

fuzzydrmartens · 2021-11-14T00:56:52+00:00

Personally, I don’t think they should be offering sex work advice to students. We know that sex work isn’t empowering. I’ve always heard things like if you send nudes and they get shared to potential and current employees, then you will have a hard time maintaining or finding a job. I’m sure people’s previous background in sex work also gives them a harder time to get job opportunities. I can’t believe this is honestly a thing. Education isn’t so you can go become a sex-worker. A doctor, a lawyer, teacher, sure. But a sex-worker education? I agree with the top comment mentioning tuition and housing. Those fees are crazy and they’re only going to keep going up

Mysterious_Call_924 · 2021-11-14T00:36:48+00:00

Would you mind dropping an excerpt in the comments? Most of the article is behind a pay-wall

iheartnoodlez · 2021-11-14T03:39:47+00:00

Friday, Durham University sparked a backlash when it was revealed the establishment was offering training sessions to support students involved in sex work. The one-hour sessions, organised by the Durham Students Union (DSU) and led by external trainers, comprise two levels and offer an understanding of the challenges and obstacles that student sex workers might struggle to overcome when wishing to seek support.

However, many people took issue with the concept, with Michelle Donelan, the minister for higher and further education, accusing the Russell Group university of “legitimising a dangerous industry” and “badly failing in their duty to protect” students. Additionally, several students complained that the university was normalising sex work among students, with one person telling The Times: “It suggests that being an adult sex worker is another run-of-the-mill activity and is put down as an official DSU position.”

Now, Durham University has issued a statement defending the sessions, which were advertised in an email sent to staff and students last week by the DSU. Re

"As a responsible University, we strive to ensure that students who may be vulnerable or at risk are protected and have access to the support to which they are entitled,” it said.

“The University brought in the external Students Involved in the Adult Sex Industry session in response to requests received over a number of years from a small number of concerned students.” It added that the session was developed by external trainers who are experts in delivering support to those engaged in sex work.

We are emphatically not seeking to encourage sex work, but we are seeking to provide support to our students Durham University

“We are emphatically not seeking to encourage sex work, but we are seeking to provide support to our students,” it clarified. “The intent here is to ensure that social stigma does not prevent students who might be vulnerable or at risk from accessing the support they need and to which they are entitled. “It teaches them how those stigmas can be overcome to ensure that any affected student can receive appropriate support and feel comfortable in requesting it.

“We make no apologies for working to ensure that Durham is a safe environment for all of our students and staff. We are extremely disappointed by the way the intentions for, and content of, this session have been misinterpreted.” It’s not the first time that a university has extended support to students involved in the sex industry.

Last month, Leicester University was criticised for its online “tool kit”, a landmark resource introduced to support student sex workers. The kit offers advice and support on a range of issues, including help with how to distinguish between legal and illegal activities. However, more than 10,000 people have signed a petition calling on the university to revoke the toolkit, arguing that it “reads more like a guide to getting into the sex trade”. Several other universities, including Newcastle and Manchester, also offer support to student sex workers.

Having to sell sex to keep up with the rising cost of a university education can often be a lonely and isolating experience Sex Worker Advocacy and Resistance Movement The number of students turning to sex work doubled between 2017 and 2019, a survey found, with one in 25 students (4 per cent) admitting to trying adult work, which the survey classified as any job that involves nudity or erotica.

The survey, of more than 3,300 undergraduates, carried out by money advice website Save the Student, found that students are most likely to sell intimate photos or used underwear to get cash. Advocacy groups have spoken out in support of Durham University’s sessions, highlighting the importance of protection for student sex workers and pointing out that many are driven to the industry as a means of funding their education. In 2015, a survey by Swansea University found that 57 per cent of student sex workers entered into the industry to finance their studies. "Having to sell sex to keep up with the rising cost of a university education can often be a lonely and isolating experience,” said a spokesperson for the Sex Worker Advocacy and Resistance Movement (SWARM).

“These attacks on universities for trying to create an environment where students selling sex feel able to seek support only harm the students who need somewhere to turn to. “It is a gross contortion to claim that these seminars are part of a dark, shadowy effort to entice young people into prostitution themselves, instead of trying to keep the ones who already are safe and healthy." However, a spokesperson for Leceister University said the reason students may be entering sex work isn’t “exclusively” financial. The spokesperson explained: “We know that there are a number of reasons students may decide to undertake different types of sex work, and that these are not exclusively financial.

“We recognise this is very much a reality at universities across the world. Our priority remains the care and wellbeing of all students, who have the right to be safe and free from harm whether they are studying or working. “The resources for students focus on personal safety and freedom of choice, and Leicester-led training in this area has engaged close to 1,000 staff at more than 60 universities to date.” Speaking to The Independent, Love Island star and former sex worker Megan Barton-Hanson agrees that Durham is setting a positive example to other universities.

Junior-Lion7893 · 2021-11-14T12:36:13+00:00

🙈🙉🙊🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🙅🏻‍♀️

Why?!!!!!😩😩😩

They should be teaching students about the dangers of sex work, how it follows you everywhere and how to get out of the industry by providing various outlets, and guidance.

My worst fears have come to life.

hikurangi2019 · 2021-11-14T10:23:38+00:00

Oh god this makes me ill.

MrsValentine · 2021-11-14T13:34:03+00:00

Perhaps instead of offering "support sessions", they should offer financial assistance. These student sex workers who are being offered "support" are paying to attend this university. It's shameful that students are prostituting themselves in order to make higher education a financially tenable option. Instead of universities offering students advice on how to prostitute themselves safely because they can't earn enough money from a normal job while keeping university commitments, perhaps they should be offering fiancial support.

I'm guessing they won't, and that Durham University would rather it's students prostitute themselves for the financial benefit of Durham University than surrender any profits. Pimps.

Technusgirl · 2021-11-14T02:43:16+00:00

Women shouldn't have to go into sex work to pay for college and life expenses, this is why higher education should be free for everyone.

shiningsuns · 2021-11-14T13:41:46+00:00

🤡

ello-motto · 2021-11-14T16:27:55+00:00

This is the societal version of the Travis Scott concert.

Title	"Should universities be offering sex work advice to their students?"
Author	anxious-american
Upvotes	71
Comments	19
Date	November 14, 2021 12:25 AM UTC (4 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/FemaleDatingStrategy
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/FemaleDatingStrategy/comments/qtdu9m/should_universities_be_offering_sex_work_advice/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/FemaleDatingStrategy/should-universities-be-offering-sex-work-advice-to.1084221 https://theredarchive.com/post/1084221

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