Resistance and Change

Sex tourism has seen resistance and support from the inside and out. There are many first world feminists who seek to change the sex tourism industry. These reformers often help to relocate women and girls or to reunite them with their families. Some organizations such as Humantrafficking.org have helplines for various countries that sex workers can call to get help leaving undesirable situations. Some of the organizations combating sex tourism and sex trafficking are really helpful in assisting women and girls in recovery and dealing with post-traumatic stress as well as with reintegrating themselves back into mainstream society. Other programs tend to forget that helping women and girls escape from the sex trade is not enough in and of itself.

An excellent project that was created by and for sex-workers in the Network of Sex Work Projects. This organization helps women throughout the world educate themselves and their sisters about the dangers of sex work, ways to get out of sex work and helps guide them through safer sex practices. This organization focuses on important issues that arise within sex work such as access to health care and prevention of HIV/AIDS. The Network of Sex Work Projects encourages "the participation of sex workers in policy and programme development." This organization is largely responsible for a shift in language that has largely replaced the word "prostitute" with "sex worker."

Many sex workers have formed their own unions and coalitions as well. The International Union of Sex Workers aims to decriminalize prostitution and promote acceptance of sex work as a profession. Many unions seek to educate the general public about the systemic and structural inequalities that force women into sex work. The union publishes a news letter four times each year.

So how can first world people help?

It is important to be able to recognize victims of trafficking and to be able to know who to contact if you do encounter someone who needs help. Again Humantrafficking.org is an excellent web resource that gives a great deal of information about sex trafficking.

Another everyday solution is to challenge all forms of misogyny or sexism. Challenging patriarchal systems that thrive upon the subordination of women will help to alleviate issues of misogyny and sexism. This includes challenging displays of masculinity that put women down or are disrespectful to women's bodies. Acknowledging the existence of a rape culture and actively trying to change the culture into one that respects and values the bodies of women can help create a respectful environment that is safer for (or does not require the existence of) sex work.