The New Era of Canadian Sex Work

The New Era of Canadian Sex Work

2015, Sexuality  -   48 Comments
6.19
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Ratings: 6.19/10 from 248 users.

The New Era of Canadian Sex Work is an insightful and educational look at those who consensually engage in sex work, and how the politicians behind Bill C36, also known as the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA), fail to give proper consideration to the willing participants of Canada's sex industry. Pop singer and former stripper Lowell takes viewers behind the scenes of the industry to explore the negative impact this specific piece of legislation could have on women's safety.

While technically still legal to sell sexual services under the new law, PCEPA criminalizes many related aspects of sex work. Introduced in 2013, Bill C36 made it illegal for sex workers to advertise through a third party and criminalized the discussion of transactions between prostitutes and their clients. By doing so it has become harder for women to vet potential clients in order to ensure cleanliness and personal safety. Lowell speaks to politicians, law enforcement officials, and sex industry professionals in both Canada and Nevada to better understand the varying attitudes and stigmas towards one of the world's oldest professions.

Lowell, as well as the workers and clients interviewed throughout the film, take care to distinguish the difference between consensual sex workers and victims of exploitation and rape. It is argued that pre-existing laws, such as assault and rape laws should be enough to criminalize the negative elements that find their way into sex work. Instead PCEPA, with all of its focus on protecting exploited persons, strips away some of the safety nets that non-exploited sex workers once relied on to optimize their well being. To demonstrate this point Lowell visits a legally operated brothel in Nevada, where the Madame in charge notes there has not been a single STD outbreak in 40 years of operation. Furthermore, if a client does anything to make one of the women on staff uncomfortable he is immediately ejected from the premises.

The New Era of Canadian Sex Work is a short but hard-hitting expose that aims to highlight and ultimately reduce the negative stigma surrounding sex workers, humanizing the women and men that choose to participate in the industry.

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whoreallygaf
whoreallygaf
2 years ago

Prostitution is largely illegal in the USA and many other nations because too many men, given the option, would much rather subscribe to sex than obtain it through relationships. This is bad for governments because relationships lead to child birth and an expanding tax base, economy, and pool of draftable soldiers.
This prohibition is often whitewashed as morally-based, but its simply all about ensuring a reliable source of peasants.

Unklg
Unklg
4 years ago

The language of discourse is critical to a more nourishing and fruitful understanding of the issues surrounding human sexuality! This Documentary is an engaging point of departure for a Historically challenging Human Dilemma!

Paul H Wilson
Paul H Wilson
4 years ago

women are parasite whore class of humans on the backs of men, now women in the Uk are paying for sex off men, "GOOD" so they should, men create everything and women take all and sh*t on men at every f*cking level! It's now said women paying for sex off men will come to parasity and might surpass men paying for it off women, "GOOD" it's about time women started to pay for things and giving to men!

MIzie
MIzie
6 years ago

To Lowell,
If you could pass this loophole to everyone that choose to be in the sex industry (please note, choose not forced/blackmailed) that they only have to change the narrative. Instead sex for money, say they offer companionship in exchange for money. The sex is free, byproduct. This can also decriminalized the johns. Hey, they are not trying to buy sex from the girls. Just buying their time. "Friend for Hire, with a selection of time amount that guarantee will fit your need and budget with a happy ending added". This ad can be posted on any third party publications as no mention of sex offered for money in the ad.
Remember, its time for money. The sex is free. (The statement you'll give if ask by any law enforcer). Be safe and i hope the girls get a voice so they can be heard, then the law makers will have both side of the story. A real solution then is possible that not only protect but provide safer environment to everyone involved.

Lovilove
Lovilove
6 years ago

Best documentary EVER! Keep on showing the truth!

Rose
Rose
6 years ago

Listening to the narrator's voice is like listening to nails on a chalkboard. It makes this impossible to watch... It's too bad, because it could have made for a great documentary if it was done more professionally. Personally, I'm in favor of legalizing prostitution and regulating it, and I think it's a disgrace to see productions like this documentary made, that hinder any progress on the issue by appearing condescending and poorly executed.

jean clement
jean clement
7 years ago

hahaha.hm,this world has not yet seen anything;sex workers,gangsters,killers, and all you can think of,all are asking for their rights.well,it is not strange in my eyes because WILLIAM MARRION BRANHAM had told us that it will be so.this our epoque is called LAODICEA...

Mama dada
Mama dada
7 years ago

If Canada considers it as a work , the responsibility of the government to plan and provide a suitable education and training for its workers or potential workers , so , does anyone think universities and colleges will open programs for that ?

Kym
Kym
7 years ago

This might be the worst doc i've ever seen-- so bad that I even had to comment.

klsjdf
klsjdf
8 years ago

dont understand the low rating. Great documentary

Steve
Steve
8 years ago

I think people are confusing morality with law here. If we wish to live in a free society then people should be allowed to trade their bodies for money under their own terms. Who cares if it offends you? I personally would never date someone in the sex trade like what that stripper woman was crying about in the end of the movie but I am not trying to stop any willing adult from being a stripper. I don't like strip clubs and I don't pay for sex but I'm ok with anyone who wants to doing it. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it shouldn't be legal.

Also there is a HUGE difference between prostitution and sex slavery and I think some good points are made about this in the documentary. The documentary host seemed on one hand worldly but on the other hand very naive and impressionable. It is easy for us to sit back and judge and marginalize people in the sex trade which is what Canada has done.

BJL
BJL
8 years ago

Id like to speak with these women 10 years from now to learn how far prostitution has taken them. In the US or anywhere in the world, providing sex for money is something most people do when in crisis, not as a "career". I'd much rather hear about women who acknowledge the damage prostitution has caused and how they recover.

Waverly
Waverly
8 years ago

they make it sound as if people who become sex workers are these totally liberal, progressive, sexually empowered "cool" girls and that there is nothing wrong with the concept of prostitution itself. I agree there shouldn't be a stigma against sex workers but it shouldn't be an ideal or anything to strive for within a society. A society that is so well adept and at a point of actualization where selling your body for money doesn't exist is what we should be aiming for. There are a LOT more victims then people who are genuinely happy. Most sex workers claim their happy when in reality they are stuck doing this profession so they settle for what they have and try to make the best out of it. I think it is totally right to try to ban prostitution altogether. Though very unlikely that will happen, if legalized I don't think it would help individuals reach self-actualization when they can talk the easy way out and sell their body for money. Since unemployment and debt are high, I feel like more and more girls will have to go down that route due to monetary issues and NOT because they want too. It would reinforce guys to objectify women more than they already do and let them be pigs with no consequences... the women who is the narrator is clearly biased and twisted.

JDM
JDM
8 years ago

Nothing better that curling up with a lovely prostitute and watching a movie about prostitution. I'm with one now! Love the movie!

Musafir
Musafir
8 years ago

The pimps and drug dealers are predators that circle like sharks and
what leads these people to think it's empowering? Of course they will
never admit it.

Beau Ste croix
Beau Ste croix
8 years ago

The problem with the reporter covering this story and the "sex workers" she interviewed is that they have no idea how stupid they are. Crazy people don't realize they're crazy. "I was a sex worker till I could get enough money together to make an album."? Yikes!!!!!

Kamar Raimo
Kamar Raimo
8 years ago

This makes me wonder: How does Canadian legislation view pornography after this recent change? AFAIK in the U.S. there have been court decisions that performers do not count as prostitutes because they are not paid for their sex act by the consumers directly. Any idea how that works in Canada now?

Diane
Diane
8 years ago

I've experienced the Canadian 'aura' and will confirm that, in my opinion, they tend to be provincial and condescending. This law reflects both characteristics.

rad rick
rad rick
8 years ago

another feminist propaganda film

JohnHechtman
JohnHechtman
8 years ago

The simple reality is that no law will ever eliminate sex work/prostitution. In all the long history of humanity, it never has and it never will. As long as people want to buy, other people will want to sell - for a myriad of reasons, some good, some bad. Given that to be true, does it not require us to focus on protecting the workers themselves (and their customers) from exploitation and violence?

Blaice
Blaice
8 years ago

The lead for this documentary made it unbearable for me to watch. The bias was too overwhelming. I honestly have nothing against self-proclaimed sex workers, but she acts as if she is the end all statistician in sex-trafficking, having chosen sex-work for herself.