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Legalised Prostitution: What Sex Workers Say
by Troy Martens and Vivian Attwood for THE DAILY NEWS/South Africa (9.17.07)

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Africa Youth Ministries is an international Christian NGO that uses, among other things, sports evangelism and medical missions in its outreaches.

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"No little girl sits on her mother's knee, dreaming of her future, and says, 'When I grow up I want to be a prostitute'. We all have big hopes and dreams."

Debbie Toughey is a 46-year-old former prostitute who was once the madam at a highly successful Durban brothel. Having spent most of her adult life in degradation, fear and isolation as a worker in the sex industry, she is passionately anti legalisation.

"There's been a lot of discussion regarding the subject. 'Let's dignify the trade', the pro lobby says. 'Let's call them sex workers, not prostitutes'. The bottom line is, it's not a job like any other," she said. "It is an occupation that dehumanises you and robs you of your womanhood."

Debbie asserted that low self esteem, coupled with lack of a supportive family structure and financial need, are key reasons why many women become prostitutes.

"If you had to fill in a CV to apply for a job as a prostitute, the one vital criterion would be poor self-worth," she said.

Read the full article here.

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