Whore in a box: Report back on June 2, 2018 (by D. Beatty)

Some chalk, an open spot in a park and a whore. Or many. That’s what comprised last Sunday’s exhibition of performance art in Washington Square Park. Named, “Whore in a Box,” the event’s name reflects the motives behind the spectacle. The goal was to invite the public to come over and ask question of and make statements about sex workers to their faces. This sort of in person, one-on-one conversation facilitated the compassion and connection that is often lost in the world of protest.

Instead of yelling through a microphone in a mass group (which, at times, can be quite effective), this form of personal activism produced genuine connections that allowed those with stereotypical views of sex work to engage in conversation with sex workers to understand the industry from a genuine human perspective.  

The event was conceived and led by the Black Sex Worker Collective, with the support of the New Jersey Red Umbrella Alliance, Best Practices Policy Project, Glits Inc, and the Outlaw Project on June 2nd to commemorate the work done by French Sex Workers in 1975. The “Whore in a Box” idea was created by Joy, a representative of the Black Sex Worker Collective. The event was conducted between Washington Square Park and the steps of Judson Memorial Church, and the use of performance art as a way to resist against systematic oppression caught the eye of many walking bye, producing some unique conversations.

Akynos, the founder of the Black Sex Worker Collective shared the conversation she had with a pedestrian who came by to ask the “whore in a box” a question. “He came into the conversation voicing every stereotypical comment made about sex workers,” she observed. The man referenced trafficking, violence, and disease in his critique of sex work. Not only are these tropes the most commonly referred to when discussing the industry, but they are predicated on a scrutiny that applies to sex work and is largely void in conversations about other industries.

Akynos discussed with him how the “trafficking” trope is overused when it comes to sex and underused when it comes to other forms of trafficking, such as trafficking within the food and factory industries. People turn a blind eye towards other forms of trafficking but hone in on its presence in sex work. Akynos elaborated on this with a comment about the media, saying “the media doesn’t always represent the other side of the sex work industry, and that is the side of those people who don’t feel coerced or forced into sex."

The conversation concluded with the man sharing that even he had seen a sex worker once or twice. His mind had been opened by the interaction with sex worker rights organizers. Akynos viewed this conversation as “ good and insightful,” as she felt that this “man on the street” accepted her occupation and the interaction with her “very well.” Filmmaker and activist PJ Starr voiced a similar conclusion to the event at large, saying that “because of the way the action was set up, people could make a real connection.”

Other conversations were held with passersby, including local students. One student was so moved by the dialogue she had with Akynos that she felt compelled to act. She offered to volunteer and intern with the Black Sex Worker Collective, a much needed infusion of support and energy for the summer.

After four hours in the over 90 degree heat--and a symbolic storming of Judson Memorial Church to recreate a photo of the 1975 protests in Lyon--the demonstration concluded. Akynos reflected on the event saying their “message was taken [by the public] really well.” She added that she was “happy to have taken the route of performance art to bring awareness to sex work and the industry in general.” This creative platform, as opposed to a megaphone protest style, brought about interpersonal connections facilitated dialogues that would have otherwise not been possible.

Beyond a way to gain presence and educate the public, the Whore in a Box was a powerful coalition of diverse leaders within the sex worker community. Leadership from five different groups were present at the event, each individual coming from a very different background. There was representation from cis-men and women, transgender individuals, immigrants and queer bodies, each of integral importance to their organization and sex work activism in general. The diversity of this event and within the organizations that sponsored it is a remind of the importance of heterogeneity within activism. To approach the issue of sex work without an intersectional lens is a disservice to the cause. Sex work (and all types of work for that matter) is not done by any one kind of person. Activist groups should seek to reflect this workforce diversity in their organizing to ensure that the group is accessible to everyone and all individuals feel welcome.

Report back by Dayna Beatty for No Human Involved

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