At the 13th World congress of Sexology, the Valencia Declaration of Sexual Rights was created. This declaration has been a kind of root document regarding sexual rights over the years. It is used as basis for arguments regarding many sexual rights issues. However, when dealing with some aspects of sexuality and the sex industry, some of this document might seem difficult to apply.
The purchase of Erotic Services is as old as humankind, if not older. Recent studies have suggested that monkeys pay for sex as well. Yet, with such a large history, rights of those within the sex industry are still not being addressed openly in most countries. This declaration, if clarified some, may offer us a stepping stone into discussion over sex industry rights and safety.
The declaration is written in a form that seems to exclude the sex industry and/or domination because we often assocation words such as 'coercion,' 'exploitation' and 'abuse' with the sex industry and domination. Individuals have a tough time realizing that with informed consent that these words won't apply the same way. One may cause pain to another in sex play but if the individual has genuinely asked you to do so, it is not abuse. Our rights to enjoy our bodies should include our rights to earn money from them as an erotic element and also to alter or even torture them when we can derive pleasure from it.
Informed Consent should be considered in light of:
To many of us the first thing to consider should be obvious - however, with child sexual abuse being so widespread, this is a very important issue to be aware of. For this particular post, though, I'm just going to outline why we don't consider individuals below a certain age as capable of consent. Sexaul Interactions with children increases their risk for mental disorders tremendously. As a result of this serious consequence and because a youth is not likely to understand human sexuality in the same way an adult can it is important that a line be drawn to make a distinction between those who are likely to be able to offer informed consent and those who are not.
Mental Capacity for Understanding has similar issues to face as age does. An individual with limited mental capabilities is more likely to be traumatized by an experience, making it important for caution to be used when dealing with them in a sexual manner.
Having all the information that you can before proceeding in any interaction is important in gaining consent as well. Things such as the physical state of the individual might change an individual's opinion about if they want a sexual experience with that person. Disase is a primary concern in this regard. It is important to be open and honest with a person before, during and after a sex or any sexual interaction with them.
For what should probably be obvious reasons, an individual's desires are going to play an important role in the sex industry. What we want is not always what we are saying and what we agree to is sometimes not really what we want. Sometimes it is the case that we agree to something only because another individual wants it and we want to please them. In the case of assessing one's desires it then becomes a matter of deciding what one is willing to do to please another and what is not ok to do for the individual.
Sexual safety is always something to consider in any interaction. Using condoms, dental dams, safe words, contracts and discussing sex before having sex are all ways to address issues of sexual safety. Even in the context of working in the sex industry it is a good idea to mention your limits where appropriate so that you and your client are safe.
It is also important to remember that, just like with anything else, whatever you do sexually is likely to have consequences. Of course, the consequences we want from an interaction are the positive and pleasureable ones - but it is possible to face consequences which are unwanted and possibly dangerous or problematic in another way.
I have more to say, but for lack of time will return to this post later.
Well Sophie, I figured out why no one has commented to this blog....it is so well written there is nothing else to say!