Editorial: The Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women held its annual conference at the C.P. Prince Edward, November. 16-18, 1990. the university of Prince Edward Island was well represented by several students and faculty. The conference focused on women with disabilities and highlights the need for us as women of varying degrees of ability to join together and overcome our differences. Presenters from all over Canada and the United States chaired various information sessions, panels, and workshops during the conference. UPEI students would have been very proud of our own Laurie Murphy who presented an original poem in remembrance of the 14 students who were massacred in Montreal, December 6, 1989. I must say this was a personally empowering conference for all who attended. |

Tracy’s story part II of our series on pornography. Calendar of Events

Gender Issues Brown Bag Lunch December 1, 1990 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm. Topic Dalton Reception Area Violence Against Women!

Reserve 12 noon December 6, 1990 for Memorial to Montreal Massacre. Look for your salespersons.

Quote of the Week

A number of universities in Canada are closing their doors December 6, 1990 respect of the 14 women massacred in Montreal, December 6, 1989. Why isn’t ours?

Due to situations beyond my control I’ve had to reverse parts II and III. This weeks article will be. on Prostitution not Pornography.

Don’t Believe it When They Tell You Pornography Is A Victimless Crime. .

Linda Marchiano (formerly Linda Lovelace) Tracy Smith

Is prostitution a "profession" chosen by people as the profession they wanted? Are they there because they want to be? Because

_ the money is good? Gathering from my research the answer is no.

Then why are they there? Many prostitutes are runaways from broken homes, group homes, abusive homes or from alcohol and drug addicted parents/spouses although this may not be the case for all prostitutes it is the story for many. Many prostitutes have also dropped out of school. ~

It is a widely held belief that these women, men and children are there for the money. That it is easy money. This is not the case, lets look at how easy the money is. According to a report on Sexual Offences Against Children when asked what they thought of during a Sexual incounter many said they thought about anything but what they were doing and that they sometimes felt hate for what the tricks were doing to them. Some also stated that they were afraid and felt guilty for what they were doing. With these kinds of feelings so much for easy money.

About money, according to the same report the average earnings for a female prostitute per day was aprox. $215.00 out of this the prostitutes studied from the above mentioned report states that out of thoose studied 18% were given $20.00 of that daily earnings, 16% were given $5.00 and 12% were given nothing at all. The remaining 54% was sparse ranging from nothing to $100.00 a day. So much for good money.

Besides money what do the prostitutes get from their jobs? Many are addicted to drugs and alcohol, and many suffer abuse from their pimps, pass byers and from their tricks. For instance one girl lost some money so her pimp sat her in a chair and beat her for two hours then he slashed her wrists. She spent four months in the hospital.

This exam ple was taken from the report mentioned earlier in the article. There are also many girls who are shot stabbed or given overdoses of drugs.

So much for easy money and an easy job, What can be done for those who want help to get off the streets? I can’t answer this. I do know that we have to change the way we look at prostitution and as you will later see pornograhy it is not glamourous and it is not profitable at least not for those who are being exploited. So if you are one of those people who thinks it’s good money please think again.

Next weeks article part III will deal with Pornography.

The UPEI X-Press

November 22, 1990

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