'Sex worker' is politically incorrect

A LEADER of an organization of prostituted women and children insisted Thursday that prostituted women is the politically correct term and not commercial sex workers, referring to women who engage in prostitution.

"Mas ha-um sa amo. Wala namo gigusto mahimong sex workers. Dili man gud ni siya trabaho, pagpahimalos man gud ni sya sa amoa. Ang gusto namo kadtong haum sa amoa, prostituted women (The term prostituted women is more appropriate. We never wanted to become sex workers)," said Analou Calix, head of Lawig Bubay, during the I-Speak Forum held at the City Hall Thursday.

Lawig Bubay is an organization of prostituted women and children. They work hand-in-hand with the Talikala Inc., headed by Jeanette Ampog.

Based on the primer of Talikala, "using the term sex worker is premised on the idea that catering to mens sexuality is indeed an area of labor."

"It poses no critique whatsoever of prostitution as a gender-based institution, and in fact normalizes it by creating the category of sex worker to stand alongside such mainstream occupations as social worker, community health worker, overseas contract workers, etc.

"On the other hand, the term prostituted women, appears to be more appropriate because it describes the situation of women who are forced by circumstances like abuse, abject poverty and lack of opportunities to survive. Moreover, it also connotes the many facet of abuse they endure as victim of the situation form their handlers."

Based on the latest data released by Talikala, there are 1,500 prostituted women and children in Davao City.

They are found in clubs, KTVs, and massage parlors and employed as GROs, taxi drivers and masseuse.

Until now, Ampog said they question the implementation of "pink cards" issued by the City Government Health Office to women who work in the entertainment industry.

"It creates stigma, questions to these women," Ampog said.

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'Sex worker' is politically incorrect