A University is under fire after a stall on campus was accused of encouraging students to take up prostitution to “top up fees.”
A UK university has come under intense scrutiny after being accused of encouraging students to turn to sex work in order to help pay tuition fees.
The controversy begun at Brighton University's annual fair for new students, where a stall representing the Sex Workers’ Outreach Project Sussex (SWOP), was seen.
During the event, SWOP distributed condoms, lubricant and flyers to students — as well as handing out underwear prizes — and also provided advice on how to get into sex work.
And in several tweets promoting the group’s attendance at the fair, it posted: “1 in 6 students does sex work or thinks about turning to sex work. We can help.”
It also tweeted: “If you’re topping up your fees with sex work, or struggling to balance work and studies, or want to talk and don’t know where to go... we’re here for you. We respect your autonomy, privacy and confidentiality.”
The group describes itself as “a discreet and confidential trans inclusive service for women working in the sex industry who live or work in Sussex.”
Included in the information were tips on “safer escorting”, including: “If you don’t have anyone to look out for you, fake it!
“Make your punter think that someone else knows where you are.
“Pretend to make a call... to make it look like you are confirming your arrival... put men’s shoes or clothes out.”
This is beyond disgraceful. It makes me so angry that the sex trade's
become normalised & pimped to women as though it is a harmless and respectable way to earn a living. There should be an enquiry by the University into this: https://t.co/ls2N03jmNh— Julie Bindel (@bindelj) September 30, 2018
Since the fair, the stall has been widely condemned.
Law reform group Justice for Women co-founder Julie Bindel said the stall was “beyond disgraceful.”
“It makes me so angry that the sex trade’s become normalised and pimped to women as though it is a harmless and respectable way to earn a living,” Ms Bindel posted on Twitter.
Other social media users described the stall as “disgusting”, “appalling” and “sad.”
