Sex worker Open University 2011 will happen between the 12th and 16th of Octobre at the Arcola Theatre in London, near Dalston Junction. Here are the details of the workshops !
Some workshops require pre-enrollment, some are open to the public, some are for sex workers only.
See the full schedule here !
"Reflections" documentary viewing and discussion with APNSW from Bandhu Social Welfare Society
Reflections is a documentary film about a HIV and human rights based project focused on the life style of male sex worker in Bangladesh.
www.bandhu-bd.org
Escort Buddys – support and information to new and established sex workers
Passionate Penny
This is a voluntary scheme to help new sex workers keep safe and to support them while they set themselves up, as well as giving guidance and support to established sex workers. We'll discuss how it came to be set up and how it has been promoted and used in the industry +Q&A.
Attendance: sex workers and those who are thinking of entering the industry.
www.escortbuddys.com
Speak Up! Media Training for Sex Workers
Audacia Ray
Audacia Ray is the Director of the Red Umbrella Project (RedUP), which amplifies the voices of people who trade sex for things they need. RedUP’s programs include the Red Umbrella Diaries, a monthly live storytelling series in New York and a weekly free podcast on the internet; and the Speak Up! series of trainings, which include workshops on media, storytelling, and advocacy. Audacia was executive editor of $pread magazine for three years and has tangled with sex work and media for nearly a decade.
Speak Up! gives participants a peek into into how the media machine functions and what kinds of opportunities there are for sex worker activists to engage in news cycles. We will examine the types of stories that get told about the sex industry, discuss strategies for success with reactive and earned media, and hone our interview skills through roleplays.
Attendance restriction : current and former sex workers only (max 20)
http://redumbrellaproject.org
Participants are encouraged to pre-register by emailing audaciaray@redumbrellaproject.org Pre-registration will ensure a place in the class, and will create space for participants to make requests for specific skills they wish to develop.
Sex work and the law: organising to win decriminalization, safety and rights.
(English Collective of Prostitutes)
As raids and arrests increase against sex workers on the street and inside, with immigrant women being particularly targeted under bogus anti-trafficking initiatives, what are sex workers doing to protect ourselves and defend our rights and what have we won.
about ECP :
An organisation of sex workers who work in different areas of the sex industry – both on the streets and indoors. Since 1975, we have been campaigning for the abolition of the prostitution laws which criminalize sex workers and our families, and for economic alternatives and higher benefits and wages. After the murder of five women in Ipswich, we launched the Safety First Coalition. We work with women against criminalisation and are currently pressing for the prosecution of Sheila Farmer to be dropped.
http://www.prostitutescollective.net/
Using Meditation and Mindfulness in Sex Work (J)
This workshop will explore how techniques of mindfulness and meditation can be used in sex work practice to keep us happy and healthy, as well as to improve the service we offer to our clients. Participants will learn basic techniques that they can immediately practice at home and apply in their work.
Sex Worker Only (20)
Keeping yourself Emotionally Safe
(Dominic Davies- Pink Therapy)
This experiential workshop will give participants the opportunity to learn some useful techniques for managing anxiety, addictive cravings, phobias and even trauma using one of the most effective therapy techniques I've come across in my 30 years of clinical practice. Thought Field Therapy was the first 'Energy Psychology' and is highly effective and easy to learn.
Open to sex workers of all genders and sexualities (max 30)
http://www.pinktherapy.com
Intimacy and Relationships for Sex Workers
N (SWOU TEAM)
This workshop will be facilitated by N, from the SWOU team, who is a parent, in a relationship, and who is a sex worker with various experiences in the London industry. N has completed Gestalt-based counselling training, and has worked extensively co-ordinating groups and workshops for families in the area over the years, but the workshop will not be 'led' with any suggestion of expertise, but will focus on discussion and ideas shared and organised by the group itself. Sex workers only. (30)
THE IMPACT OF POLICING ON SEXWORKERS: AN ASIAN CONTEXT
Yukiko Kaname and Kaoru Aoyama from SWASH, Japan
SWASH, a group of Japanese sex workers and their supporters, has been conducting research and outreach work providing assistance to sex workers in Japan, including migrant sex workers. Together with input related to the situation within South Korea, SWASH will examine how Korea’s 2004 anti-prostitution law has changed working conditions and influenced the health and security of South Korean sex workers in both Korea and Japan. We will also focus on the violations of human rights caused by the annual US TIP Report.
English-Japanese translation provided.
Reducing Stigma and Building Our capacity
A Public Education Workshop for Sex Workers
Nengeh Mensah, Stella and Université du Québec a Montréal
Tuulia Law, POWER, SPOC, SSWR and University of Ottawa
This workshop is an opportunity for sex workers to develop their knowledge as an educator, reinforce their capacity to live with stigma, learn about the principles of popular education, share knowledge and skills around diverse public trainings about sex work, and reflect upon stigma while learning how to do public education. This event was developed by “Sensibilisation XXX Awareness”, a Canadian public outreach project lead by Nengeh Mensah and Chris Bruckert, in collaboration with Stella and POWER.
The workshops’ objectives are to:
- Develop and reinforce sex worker’s capacity to reduce the negative impacts of stigma in public outreach settings;
- Reinforce participant’s capacity to effectively identify and maximize an educative moment on sex work;
- Develop and improve public education skills
Sex worker only (max 20) Pre-registration by email : nengeh@videotron.ca
Stella: chezstella.org
POWER: powerottawa.ca
SPOC: spoc.ca
SSWR: facebook.com/groups/1140632119921
Sex worker organising: A brief historical tour
Laura Agustín
Sex worker organising has been going on forseveral decades, taking different shapes according to local contexts. Not a country-by-country description, this workshop will take up themes: for example, attempts to unionise, harm-reduction projects, political lobbying groups. The more people who come from diverse contexts and want to participate, the better this workshop will be.
Sex workers only
The Naked Anthropologist http://www.lauraagustin.com
Sex workers organising : connecting sex work to critique of capitalism.
SWOU TEAM
During this workshop, we will explore the relationships between the sex workers' rights movement and the critique of capitalism. Theoretical discussion followed by practical ways of organising in cooperatives.
Career Transitions in the Sex Industry
Celso F Lopez
Just like sports men and women, most sex workers will have to go through a career transition or retirement before statutory retirement age. I want to help make your transition a success, it is important to prepare and plan ahead. This presentation/ workshop is designed to show key elements that can help with your career planning.
Aimed at sex workers or anybody that may benefit from it (25)
Mapping your identity (2 part workshop)
m.s.kultur :: mareen scholl kulturarbeiten
Mareen Scholl publishes and works on the links between culture and arts, politics, urban space and sustainability. She explores the potentials of creative and cooperative adoption of the urban as well as the personal habitat. She seeks this by inviting to devise methods of integrated development of both the individual and society. As reminiscence to the extensive and integrated work of Joseph Beuys, m.s.kultur claims the essential responsibility to support and protect the expression of each individual to forward a self-confident society which sees its diversity and differences not as menace but as the fundament of future development.
Workshop
Participants map their identity through creative questioning, imagination and visualisation. They find needs, necessities and motives in their own lives and work and share them to practice regard and understanding through active listening. The workshop deals with the topic of sexuality as broad aspect of human life in the context of everybody’s integrated identity. Moving from skin/body-level questions to their responses to inner and outer space, participants are completely free to explore creatively personal structure and topics. It may also help to self define one’s professional profile to address appropriate clients.
Everybody is welcome (max 10 attendees). Participants are asked to work on their mapping until sunday and to come back together to exchange their work.
https://www.xing.com/profile/Mareen_Scholl
the law to criminalize sex worker's clients and us - different places, different strategies
liad hussein kantorowicz
The law to criminalize clients, also known as the swedish model, has devastating effects of sex workers and the discourse surrounding sex work in countries in which it has passed or proposed as well as many other countries.
This workshop calls on participants to share experiences from organizing against this law in different countries.
The content of this workshop is dependent on the participants who want to share their experiences. People living in countries which have been affected by the discourse surrounding this law are also welcome to take part.
open to the public, those who are looking for a discussion for and against this law are welcome to stay at home.
Families, Partners and Friends of Sex workers
SWOU TEAM- C
This is space to meet and share experiences as friends, Partners or/and family members of sex workers. We will do a short screening of Every Ho I Know Says So (dir. Beef Jerky and Lusty Day, 2010), followed by an open discussion. This is a space to share our experiences of being close to sex-workers, the problems that may have arisen from these experiences, and hopefully a reflexion on how to be both maintaining personal emotional sustainability and be supportive of our sex-worker partners/family members/friends.
(40)
Conscious Touch
Rebecca Lowrie
Rebecca has a wealth of experience in sexuality and healing. She helps people of all genders and sexual orientations to explore their physical, spiritual and sexual selves. Her work combines various forms of conscious, sacred sexuality to enable people to expand their possibilities of sensuality, intimacy and love. She runs one-to-one sessions and workshops in the UK and abroad.
When we pay attention to how we give and receive touch our experiences can transform from ‘great’ to ‘out of this world’! In this workshop we’ll explore various forms of touch and how bringing consciousness to it changes it for the giver and receiver. Come learn how to deepen intimacy, increase erotic potential and heighten sensual play with conscious touch
(16) £10, or £30 when booked with the two other professional skills workshops on Friday 14th, at the Pot. Pre-registration essential: buy tickets at http://swou11fridayatthepot.eventbrite.com/
http://rebeccalowrie.com/
An Introduction to Sacred Kink
London Faerie
Sacred Kink with London Faerie - London Faerie offers a unique style of Tantric BDSM for pleasure and personal growth. He works with energy, ritual and intention to create an expansive magical space, helping his clients to grow and move forward.
London Faerie will give an introduction to his practice in Sacred Kink. During this presentation Faerie will talk about his journey into BDSM and the ways it has changed his life. Then he will demonstrate a short scene, allowing you to see it and feel the energy for yourself. After the demo Faerie will talk about how he works with clients and the different services he offers.
http://sacredkink.co.uk/
(16) £10, or £30 when booked with the two other professional skills workshops on Friday 14th, at the Pot. Pre-registration essential: buy tickets at http://swou11fridayatthepot.eventbrite.com/
An Introduction to Erotic Bondage
Ms Tytania
This workshop is a 3 hour introduction to erotic, playful bondage, without the complexities of bondage usually found in more technical rope workshops. We will start with everyday things such as scarves, stockings and ribbon, and then progress to some easy to intermediate, but very erotic rope techniques like hogties, Japanese body harnesses and arms and legs binds. She will provide rope and other materials for others to use during the workshop.
Ms Tytania has been a professional Pro-Domme for 9 years and a personal interest in BDSM that predates it. She has a background in performance and the visual arts and a lifelong interest in sexual and gender identity, authenticity and feminism. She lives and works in London and describes herself as a misanthropic champagne anarchist.
(16) £15, or £30 when booked with the two other professional skills workshops on Friday 14th, at the Pot. Pre-registration essential: buy tickets at http://swou11fridayatthepot.eventbrite.com/
Whoring 101
Marcus
A talk about getting started in whoring, with q&a at end. For some, that may only mean a better understanding of it from a sex worker’s perspective. For others, it will allow them to make informed decisions as to whether to embark on it for themselves. For those already in the industry, it will be a setting to converse freely and exchange ideas. Covering issues such as health, the law, screening clients, specific acts, handling clients, and having a hot session. Also, profitability and money management, business organization, and advertising. Good for people who are thinking of doing this, people who are already doing this, or people who are just intrigued. Helpful for people who hire too, to give them a better understanding of basic issues sex workers face.
A legendary guru. A bisexual switch. A polyamorous lover. A most adventurous man. Marcus (also known as Dave, and a few other pseudonyms) lives in Washington, DC. He works full time as an escort for men and women. He hosts All Male group sex parties each month. He sells his piss and cum-soaked underwear online. And his blog “Welcome to The Fuck House” was a Best Sex Blog finalist in the U.K.’s Erotic Awards. An activist for sex worker rights, bisexual rights, and the sex-positive movement, Marcus has taught about sex in a variety of places including Dark Odyssey’s Sex Camp, The Center for Sex and Culture, Leather Retreat, and accredited university classes. He presented at last year's Desire Alliance conference in Las Vegas.
Attendance: Everyone. Sex workers, those who are thinking of entering the industry, those who are curious about the profession, clients, and those who are thinking of hiring.
marcusteaches.blogspot.com, daveinfo.blogspot.com, openmindedevents.blogspot.com, thefuckhouse.blogspot.com
Feminist Self Defence
Caz & Billy
Self -defence workshop for sex workers only. Radical, practical and feminist-we'll be practising both verbal and physical tactics, and sharing our safety strategies. All genders, ages and abilities welcome. Wear comfortable clothes.
White sex workers and privilege
Anna Peak
Workshop description:
what is white privilege?
what does it look like in the context of sex work and sex worker activism?
what can anti-racist practise look like when white people start to analyze racism from a very personal point of view?
how can we learn to be accountable?
how can we learn to overcome white shame?
and ask for and give support?
this workshop can only be a brief beginning...
lets share experiences and give each other advice!
sex worker only (20)
Safer sex: Peer-to-Peer discussions
SWOU team: L; joined by local sexual health nurse for SW project
During a fundraiser for SWOU, Christian Vega of the Scarlet Alliance spoke passionately of the peer-to-peer education and empowerment programmes in Australia. Peer-to-peer education is premised on the idea that people actually in the industry are best placed to know and understand the needs of workers.
We'll have a box at the SWOU entrance on the preceeding days where you can post questions you've always wanted answered, or might be too embarrassed to ask. At the workshop, we'll sit down together and come up with answers collectively. This workshop won't be sex worker only, as you can anonymise yourself by placing your question in the box. We're also proud to share our knowledge and skills with our allies, partners and friends; this is our employment health and safety. Sex workers rarely catch STIs at work.
L is a London-based sex worker; human rights activist mostly working on sex worker and queer rights, sometime writer/performer/artist. They mostly bore the pants off their clients by talking about politics; it's a unique niche market.
S is a sexual health nurse, who is always there for L when L runs out of condoms or lube, and who listens patiently about panics over spots which are not herpes.
Response to EWL Video: Filming
SWOU TEAM
The European Women's Lobby has recently launched a video campaign called Together For a Europe Free from Prostitution.
Their view of the sex industry is once more reducing women to victims, and prostitution to a system of violence against women. Once more, some women sitting in comfortable chairs in some official EU building are deciding what we should or should not do with our bodies. Once more, we are being silenced and victimised. Once more, our voices are being confiscated and we are not sex workers anymore but prostituted women.
It is time to make our voices heard, loud and clear.
Our aim in this workshop is to analyse that piece of anti-sex-worker-rights propaganda and to shoot a video showing the diversity of sex workers and sex work. Show us as humans with free will. Show us as actors of our own lives.
We want to show that sex work is work. This is how we make a living. This is how we pay our rent, our bills, our sex changes and our children's studies.
Those are our decisions. Our bodies. Our voices. Our lives. We are from all genders and races. Stop invisibilising trans people from the debate on sex work. Invisibilising us is a form of violence and discrimination. Stop pretending that sex work is only male to female penetration. The services we offer are as varied as we are. Sex, companionship, BDSM, fetish.... Sex is not disgusting and the only thing that makes us sick is your insulting and degrading video. To stop exploitation and abuse in the sex industry, we need to be heard. We want rights--human and labour rights, not more criminalisation. Criminalising our clients will only force us to work in more underground and less safe conditions.
check the original EWL video here :
http://www.womenlobby.org/spip.php?rubrique187&lang=en
Workshop facilitated by Luca, Clare and Stuart, a temporary mini-collective of sex workers, former sex workers and / or film makers !
Sex work and disability.
Video viewing and discussion
for personal reasons, William could not attend SWOU this year as expected but we will watch his video and discuss about our experiences ( or lack of experience !) with disabled clients.
Like all other clients, people with disabilities see sex workers for emotional warmth, pleasure and sexual gratification. Disabled clients may be needing reassurance of their sexual worth, and help in finding ways to give pleasure to other people.
People with disabilities have the same desires and needs as everyone else. Erotic Dancers, Escorts, and other Adult Industry Professionals can provide a service that can dramatically improve the lives of the disabled. This presentation is intended to be a guide to help Adult Industry Professionals interact with people with disabilities in the best possible way. I will begin with a brief discussion about how people with disabilities should be viewed by the Adult Industry. I will then provide correct terminology and etiquette, which may be utilized with people who have different disabilities.
Our presentation then covers: The Art of Lap Dancing for disabled customers. During an interview with a dancer, she said: “When I dance for a guy in a wheelchair, I ask him if he would like to move to a chair or couch. If he is able, we move. If he needs to remain in his chair, I ask if he minds if I move the wheelchair foot pedals out of the way. Being a nurse, I am able to do that quickly and efficiently. I ask if he minds if I sit in his lap. Then I dance normally. Even if he is paralyzed and can't feel a thing, it's still visual, and he still gets to imagine what it feels like.”
Concerning initial contact between escorts and disabled customers, one of the interesting dilemmas that happens for Escorts, and their potential clients who have a speech or hearing problem, is how does the client contact the Escort? Normally, clients would contact the worker by calling them on the phone, but what if the client cannot speak clearly? Or the client cannot hear the person talking to him/her? There are various solutions to these issues. With the growing use of technology a person can easily access email, instant messaging or text messaging as a form of initial limited contact. If the worker has a website then he/she could indicate that disabled clients can email, instant message or text message with basic and/or very specific information.
Our presentation covers correct sexual etiquette between escorts and disabled customers. We discuss specific sexual positions that work best with different disabilities. This presentation concludes with a discusses Spinal Cord Injury and Sexuality, Catheters and Sexuality, and Ostomies.
Presenter Bios:
William Takahashi is a Univ. of Illinois graduate with a background in graphic arts and social work. He is disabled. His disability is Cerebral Palsy. He decided to enter the adult entertainment industry five years ago because he saw a real need for education, understanding, and integration of the disabled into the adult industry. William has written for Spread Magazine and has also written a resource guide called “ENTERTAINER’S GUIDE TO DISABLED CUSTOMERS”. He presented the content of this guide in a workshop at the 2008 Desiree Alliance Conference in Chicago. In addition, he produces videos. His first video was shown at the 2009 Sex Worker Film Festival in San Francisco event: Intersections: Krip Sex! Krip Sex Work! (An evening of film and discussion on interconnections, sex work and the Krip community) presented by Desiree Alliance, ISWFACE, BAYSWAN and SWOP-USA. His work was featured on Playboy Radio's Nightcalls show hosted by Christy Canyon in late June 2009. William splits his time between doing disability awareness training in the adult entertainment industry, and marketing his videos. writing, and erotic art greeting cards to adult retail stores. He also enjoys being in front of a camera. William has worked with two photographers, which involved adult wheelchair art content.
William's websites include:
http://www.adult-performer-resources.com
http://www.ap-educators.com/
http://www.myspace.com/williamtakahashi
Self defence and martial art for sex workers
CANCELLED
