** Please note time change to 12:00**
D216 Mac-Corry Hall
Queen's University
Christine Bruckert
Professor
Department of Criminology
University of Ottawa
Tuulia Law
MA Candidate
Institute of Women’s Studies
University of Ottawa
Both
in its intent and its effect, the surveillance of sex workers does not
promote their safety, but rather functions to regulate sexual morality
by discrediting the labour of sex workers and undermining their
security. This presentation addresses the intersections of surveillance
and stigma as they pertain to sex work in Canada. The aim is to
discuss contemporary surveillance, self-surveillance and
counter-surveillance strategies enacted by the state, communities and
sex workers, as well as the social consequences of stigmatic
surveillance. Secondly, the presentation will draw on the recently
released POWER report exploring the hyper-surveillance of Ottawa-area
street-based sex workers by police and examine how this is layer over,
and indeed intersects with, the 'watchful eyes' of vigilant community
members. We will consider if the social profiling experienced by this
population is rooted in structural and interpersonal stigma that plays
out in the denial of sex workers human social and civil rights. The
presentation ends with some reflections on sex workers informal and
formal resistance strategies.
Everyone welcome!
The Surveillance Studies Centre
c/o David Murakami Wood
Department of Criminology
University of Ottawa
Canada