Comments on: Learn Human Trafficking From Home

By: That Was the Week That Was (#444) | The Honest Courtesan

That Was the Week That Was (#444) | The Honest Courtesan — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 23:56:33 +0000

[…] Several sex worker activists recently decided to…[take] the online Human Trafficking course offered by Ohio State University’s Social Work program…The…discussion…was “about 99.99% about forcing women to stop doing sex work.” There was little or no moderation, with students up or down voting each other’s posts similarly to the way Reddit users do. The instructor, Dr. Jacquelyn Meshelemiah…rarely interacted with students and never corrected misinformation… “Several of the students have claimed that they’d immediately turn…a prostitute into the police ‘for their own good’,” one student commented…the first person to be banned from the course for offering information was Dr. [Thaddeus] Blanchette…a professor and well-known trafficking researcher… […]

By: Angel

Angel — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 20:28:14 +0000

The dominant discourse on the opposition to trafficking comes from abolitionists. Obviously, their assumption is that closing the market will stop trafficking. Most of the literature is at best veiled with decriminalizing overtones, but in the end they are about abolishing sex for sale. SWOP in Seattle is organizing its own panel and research around strategies to help stop trafficking. Allies or sex worker themselves have to organize space so that our voices can be heard on this subject. I think sex workers themselves are better positioned to stop trafficking by creating a anti-trafficking bias within sex industry. Perhaps sex workers could help fund anti-trafficking initiatives by taxing clients or educating clients (?)

By: Jayne

Jayne — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 23:12:29 +0000

Is anyone who is reading this located in central ohio? If so, want to get together and see if there’s anything we can do? Even if it’s something like “Ask a Ho” panel or “what is sex work presentation” at a class at OSU. There is A LOT of work to do here.

In solidarity, Jayne

By: Thaddeus Gregory Blanchette

Thaddeus Gregory Blanchette — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 22:42:06 +0000

I should point out that I only got reinstated after calling Dr. Meshelmiah’s department, long distance, from Brazil, on my own dime. Not many people have the income to use that sort of privilege, or the “Dr” in front of their names to be taken seriously when they complain. I am extremely worried about the ethical implications of OSU running a course like this, with no ethics oversight. OSU, of course, told me it wasn’t their responsibility. “Why is your university’s name associated with it in the banner, then?” I asked. “Why is the teaching and admin staff 100% from your institution?”