If you are part of any organization (club, society), describe the activities of that organization and your reasons for being part of it.

If you are not part of any organization, describe one whose activities (and activists) you admire.

Post your assignment (150-250 words) on the Mixxer link.

Although I myself am not part of any organizations, I would like to share one with you today. It is a French organization for sex workers called STRASS (Syndicat du Travail Sexuel). It was created in 2009 by sex workers during a European meeting about prostitution that took place in Paris.

In France, as in most countries, sex work is prohibited. Because of this, sex work is not recognized as a “real” profession, and sex workers do not have the same rights as people working in other fields. They salaries are not regulated, they do not have access to appropriate healthcare, they do not have vacation days, retirement, etc. STRASS fights so that each and every sex worker has the same rights as any one and any worker.

Every year they organize an event called “Putain de rencontres”, which is difficult to translate. During these events, which are open to anyone, sex workers are encouraged to share their experience in order to raise awareness. I went to one last year, and it was very eye-opening. When we talk about prostitution, it is usually in a very negative way. This event helped me, and many others, to see sex workers in the same way as any other people.