Foster Fitness is a humble little gym on SE Foster in Portland, OR. The atmosphere is chipper, the air perpetually sticky, and sometimes the young children of Troy, the owner, are toddling around. Foster offers a variety of martial arts classes: Jujitsu, Judo, Krav Maga, Karate, and my choice; Arnis (pronounced: Ar-niece). I like this… Continue reading Some of My Best Moves Can Hurt You: Elle’s Martial Arts Training
Category: Interviews
Leaving Las Vegas with Laurenn McCubbin
A few months ago, I came across an article about Laurenn McCubbin’s recent art show, which featured a variety of sex worker stilettos, in the University of Nevada Las Vegas student newspaper. I recognized her name as the former art director of Kitchen Sink magazine, and the illustrator of Rent Girl, Michelle Tea’s 2004 graphic novel/prostitution memoir. Laurenn and… Continue reading Leaving Las Vegas with Laurenn McCubbin
Tits and Sass <3's the Photography of Alicia Vera
When I think of (non-posed*) strip club photos taken by outsiders—typically aspiring photojournalist types—I tend to cringe. There was the guy who was nice enough, but always just there in the dressing room. I hated that I had to walk to the bathroom to check my tampon string because this man and his giant camera… Continue reading Tits and Sass <3's the Photography of Alicia Vera
“There Can’t Be Numbers:” An Interview With Laura Agustín, Part 2
Yesterday, we posted Part One of an interview with Sex at the Margins author Dr. Laura Agustín. Today we present our second and final segment. It’s incredibly common now to see abolitionists argue that when prostitution is legal, as it in Amsterdam, trafficking only increases. What does the most current research actually suggest? Everyone wants… Continue reading “There Can’t Be Numbers:” An Interview With Laura Agustín, Part 2
“There Can’t Be Numbers:” An Interview With Laura Agustín, Part 1
Upon the publication of her book, Sex at the Margins: Migration, Labor Markets and the Rescue Industry, anthropologist Laura Agustín became a hero to many sex worker activists. Her research cuts through the usual moral hysteria and emotionality invoked by the idea of trafficking to radically revise discussions about migration and sexual labor. Both her blog (linked above)… Continue reading “There Can’t Be Numbers:” An Interview With Laura Agustín, Part 1