Show notes
Dr. Sandie Morgan is joined by Dr. Melissa Farley. The two discuss the issues surrounding the legalization of prostitution.
Dr. Melissa Farley
Dr. Melissa Farley. She's a feminist psychologist who has authored or co-authored 52 peer reviewed articles on trauma, healthcare, prostitution, pornography, and sex trafficking as well as two books, "Prostitution, Trafficking and Traumatic Stress" and "Prostitution and Trrafficking in Nevada: Making the Connections." Her research and publications have been used by governments in South Africa, Cambodia, Canada, France, New Zealand, Ghana, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States for education and policy development on prostitution and trafficking. Dr. Farley founded Prostitution Research and Education, a nonprofit research institute, which disseminates educational materials by survivors and others who contribute to the movement to abolish prostitution.
Main Points
Prostitution, pornography, and trafficking are linked and are difficult to separate because they all affect each other.
Research should include survivor voices and cultural representation from leaders and experts should be a part of the process.
Trafficking is essentially pimping, and in simple terms is the control of one human being by another who uses them for the purpose of making money by selling them for sexual use.
The common narrative that permeates the nuanced issue of prostitution, and it is often pushed by the pimps themselves, is that most people engage in prostitution voluntarily but there are few who have been trafficked.
Prostitution is not a freely made choice because coercive control is involved and social conditions that surround an individual.
When prostitution is legalized, the stigma around it remains.
Resources
Prostitution, Trafficking and Traumatic Stress by Melissa Farley
Prostitution and Trafficking in Nevada: Making the Connections by Melissa Farley
Prostitution Research and Education
Federal US Trafficking Victim Protection Act
Project SWOP
Episode #197, with Dr. Donna Hughes
No on K
SAGE: Standing Against Global Exploitation
Safe House San Francisco
Episode #219, with Bradley Myles
Traffic Jamming Blog
Transcript
Sandra Morgan 0:00
You're listening to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast. This is episode #303: Prostitution Research with Dr. Melissa Farley.
Welcome to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast here at Vanguard University's Global Center for Women and Justice in Orange County, California. This is the show where we empower you to study the issues, be a voice, and make a difference in ending human trafficking. We're going to have a conversation with Dr. Melissa Farley. She's a feminist psychologist who has authored or co-authored 52 peer reviewed articles on trauma, healthcare, prostitution, pornography, and sex trafficking as well as two books, "Prostitution, Trafficking and Traumatic Stress" and "Prostitution and Trrafficking in Nevada: Making the Connections." Her research and publications have been used by governments in South Africa, Cambodia, Canada, France, New Zealand, Ghana, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States for education and policy development on prostitution and trafficking. Dr. Farley founded Prostitution Research and Education, a nonprofit research institute, which disseminates educational materials by survivors and others who contribute to the movement to abolish prostitution. Dr. Farley has also been a speaker at the Global Center for Women and Justice's Ensure Justice Conference. We are so glad to have this conversation. It is such a pleasure to have you with me today Dr. Melissa Farley. Thank you.
Dr. Melissa Farley 2:25
I am so happy to be here, Sandie Morgan. It's been many, many years. When we first met and began working on this challenging human rights abuse. But it's a pleasure. Thanks.
Sandra Morgan 2:41
Well, you have been doing prostitution research for how many years?