Issue No.12 (May 2002)

Table of Content

Moral consideration of sex industry
Perception of Sex Industry from a Buddhist Point of View
Reflection on Asia-Pacific Aids Conference
My Story
A must-go journey
Working reports

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Wishing you a prosperous new year, every gains in money and loving relationship!

We have published the newsletter for the whole last year. We are not taking leave, but rather have huge amount of work. Our three full-time staff have been doing never-ending jobs including site-visiting, case follow-up, and conducting groups. We also organised the conference on “The Movement of Sex Workers in Asia-Pacific Region”. The participating Jie Jie came from over 10 countries. ZiTeng, with few financial and manpower resources, was able to take up such a loaded task, thanks to the unreserved commitment of our staff, as well as our volunteers. Without their support, the event would not be possible. Apart from this conference, if looking back on ZiTeng days, the support of our volunteers is no doubt there.

This year, the group on “one apartment on Jie Jie” is likely to be set up. We are now working whole-heartedly to train up our Jie Jie in handling site-visiting, case follow-up and group conducting work. We also arrange them to visit different groups, so that they can understand the operation of those groups. As we move on our work this year, your participation and support are always welcome

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Moral consideration of sex industry -Kaung Tai Wai

Principle of Moral Judgement ------- Social Justice

The fundamental principle of social moral judgement is social justice.

The corresponding discussions on social justice spanned several thousand years, from Plato to John Rawls in the 20th century. Everyone speaks about justice, but what is it? I regard Aristotle’s saying in the fifth chapter of his “Morality”

as the most concise definition. Simply saying, social justice is treating everybody equal. That is, offering treatment to people on an equal basis, offering different treatment proportionally to people who are different. If an act is judged as immoral, other similar acts should also be viewed as immoral, or vice versa.

The question then, will be “who decides what circumstances are similar or different?” Human beings carry commonalties and differences. When we should pick up the commonalties or the differences has generated many debates over justice. The fact that slavery system has existed in human history for thousands of years is somehow attributed to how humans perceive differences and commonalties between slaves and free people. If they are different, it is reasonable to treat them differently. In our modern society, we have changed the perception of them. They are both humans and therefore one should have dignity and cannot be the slaves of others.

Common or different?

Sex industry is both common to and different from other industry. It should be treated equally on the areas where it is common to other industry. Some thinks sex workers are immoral as long as they sell their bodies to earn a living. If apply the “everybody equal” principle, all industry that involve the selling of bodies for money are immoral. Should that include those who sell their physical power? How about one’s soul, conscience? Are they more immoral than selling one’s body?

If the crucial point is not about the act of selling, then does it has to do with “voluntarily”. If an act does not cause harm to others, and is not committed under force, but rather on a voluntary basis, it is difficult to view it as immoral.

What are the differences of sex service and other service industry? Why is there differentiation between moral and immoral sex industry? Does the moral concern of sex industry mean that the industry per se involves moral issues or the professional ethics of service providers, such as “100% satisfaction guaranteed”, keeping customers’ personal information in confidence, and so on?. Should we judge the sex industry on the basis of the morality of the job itself or its social consequences?

Judge on the basis of sex industry per se or its social consequences?

By making use of their bodies and time, sex workers provide sex service in return for money. Any adults who choose to take up a job permitted by law has nothing to do with immorality. Any behaviour out of one’s natural tendency should not be blamed.

To judge the morality of an act on the basis of the positive or negative consequences, any behaviour cannot be regarded as immoral if it does not hurt oneself, others or the society. Reciprocally, any behaviour of benefits to oneself, others and the society is considered moral. Providing services for and saving those who are sexually in need is a good thing. Disturbing neighbours is negative.

Crushing the power or uplifting the weak or vice versa?

We give equal treatment to people who are equal; and give treatment to others on a proportional basis according to different situation. Since everything in this world is different, either stronger or weaker, crushing the power or uplifting the weak or vice versa comply with the principle of “proportional treatments”. “Matthew’s principle” says, “.........................” (Mt 25:29) In other words, shoe-shining, add flower to the brocade, crushing the weak and uplifting the power, attack on vulnerable, can be examples of “proportional” treatments.

However, our culture emphasises helping the weak people, “The rule of heaven is to cult out the abundance and supplement the inadequacy” (Dao Te Ching Chap. 77) There are also many examples in the Bible about helping the weak people. God was particularly receptive to orphans and widows. (Ex 22:21-24) Jesus came to rescue the lost people. In fact, it is the crushing the weak and uplifting the power that fits the examples of “proportional” treatment. Our society also prefer to offer assistance to the vulnerable groups. People belonging to these groups will come under protection.

To conclude, the moral consideration of sex industry depends on how we categorise this industry. If it belongs to the category of service industry, it should be treated the same as other similar industries. If it is treated as a vulnerable group, we should see them as the vulnerable people. The key for us is to be equal in our treatment, crushing the power or uplifting the weak.

(Acknowledge with thanks the permission of the Christian Institute to publicize this article from its “Reflection” 74 issue, p. 11-12. Our own translation.)

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Perception of Sex Industry from a Buddhist Point of View-Cheng Man Ho

To view sex industry from a Buddhist angle, the first feeling is great divergence, or even contradiction. But how Buddhism perceive sex workers?

Before answering the above question, we must first have a general understanding of Buddhism. The basics of Buddhism is reincarnation. You get the fruits of what you have sown. Simply speaking, good cause brings good results and vice versa. If one wants to leave the reincarnation, go beyond the life and death cycle, they have to get rid of the bad cause. The five bad causes are: killing, stealing, sex, immoral words, and wines. Killing refers to all kinds of lives and therefore Buddhists promotes vegetarianism. Stealing means our greed for others’ property. Sex means the sexual desire between men and women. Immoral words refer to the sins related to speaking, such as lies and impolite words. Wines can lose one’s reasoning and therefore should be avoided.

Buddhists have to detach from sex. The Buddhist monks have to strictly adhere to the rule and should avoid the sexual desire. In modern society, for those Buddhist believers who practice at home, the rule on avoiding sex desire means not have a sexual desire with people other than your partner.

In other words, Buddhism and sex industry are mutually exclusive. A sex worker would continue to commit bad causes from a Buddhist angle and will never get liberation. Therefore, we can deduce that most Buddhists would advise the sex workers to give up their job and thereby stop committing bad causes.

But would Buddhism deny that sex industry is a job? As a Buddhist, from our angle, every job is a job. Sex workers have nothing different from businessmen, slaughterers. They are all committing faults and therefore are jobs. But Buddhists will persuade others to right the wrongs and choose jobs that do not commit faults. In this connection, I would say Buddhism would not condemn sex industry, but would preach among sex workers.

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Reflection on Asia-Pacific Aids Conference-Fung

On 3 October 2001, I went to Australia with the staff of Zi Teng to attend the 6th Asia-Pacific Aids Conference. After nine hours’ flight, we arrived at Melbourne. The weather is cool. We hurried to a seminar on networking of sex workers in the Asia-Pacific region. When I introduced myself, I emphasized my identity as a sex worker and I was joining the seminar with this identity. There was no language barrier and we were welcomed by many sex workers. Participants actively involved in the discussions and we also spoke about the sex industry and sex workers in Hong Kong. Although no substantial outputs came out, we could have an opportunity to exchange views.

The second day came the official opening of the event. We joined a few seminars and workshops on sex workers. During those few days, we also visited brothels and sex workers’ organisations. Our scope was broadened and I was particularly impressed.

After the conference, I think the Hong Kong society is still very conservative. People tend to avoid discussing the issue and the Government has adopted an ambiguous position. There are few organisations providing services to sex workers (the relatively organised groups are Zi Teng and 青鳥.) In other advanced societies, people’s thinking is more liberal and restrictions are limited. People can perceive the sex industry from different angles. The relevant ordinances are clearer. Sex workers are able to survive. For less developed countries, the working conditions are poor and hygiene problems are acute. People there are in great need of sex education and promotion of safe sex. It is therefore natural that they will receive foreign funding and donations for promoting sex education and helping solve their other problems. We met many people from South-east Asian and South Asian countries, which are very poor. They obtained sponsorship and joined the conference in different capacities. They were eager to improve the condition of sex workers in their home country, provide latest information and avoid the spread of disease. They also came to be aware of their own rights and began to fight for more benefits and protection.

Hong Kong is situating “in the middle”. As a well-developed place, the Government is financially affluent. Other advanced countries will unlikely support and sponsor the organisations in Hong Kong. And the Hong Kong Government has not granted any support to these organisations. The local groups are facing huge difficulties. At present the Hong Kong Government has not perceived sex industry as a job and the outmoded laws have provided the police with huge flexibility to control sex workers. Without legal protection, the sex workers are forced to work under grey areas. They have to suffer from the harassment of the police, the blackmailing by the triads, the threat of robbers, and potential risk of being hurt by their violent customers. The poor economic situation in Hong Kong has increased their difficulty. To cope with the problems, we must establish contacts with sex workers in other places and enhance our competitiveness by learning with each other. We a group of sisters must build up a stronger solidarity and fight for our benefits and protection. We should take back our pride and our contribution could not be underestimated. The society must respect the right of women to choose their jobs. The awareness of the safety issues in sex behaviour and protection of ourselves also need to be enhanced.

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My story-Fung

I received the “phoenix order” from Zi Teng to write my story. It is a difficult task for me, for I do not know how to write and from where I should begin my story. I am just an ordinary housewife, nothing special. Perhaps it is because of my job nature that makes my story sound attractive.

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《A must-go journey: viewing Bubu's "Record of Selling Girls ------ Erotic Films Shooted with Customers"》-顧玉玲

I have never seen such an erotic film. The actress has evolved from a sex object being “fucked to death” into a dominant figure. In the twenty-minute film, BuBu is the producer, actress, and photographer. The supporting actor is a customer Mr. M. Through the camera, we have watched her naked body moving around in the house and setting up the camera. She massaged with Mr M in the bathroom, making funs with each other. She took the V8 camera and pointed towards Mr M who was sucking her vagina. She also let Mr M film her. She laid in bed watching the film shoot a moment ago and laughed, and invited Mr M to watch with her joyfully......... Without professional lighting, shooting skills, fast-forwarding or backwarding or jumping techniques, the filming was just like a spontaneous exercise. However, under Bubu’s natural and uncovered management, the film was smooth and expressed things explicitly, telling us the erotic dialogue between a woman and the world.

Lai Kwan and I first met BuBu in 1997 in an overseas meeting. I remembered that when we were watching a gay man who was handsome, expert at dancing in a gay bar, BuBu jumped on the table and said, “I have also prepared a performance.” With a child-like tiny body, wearing socks, and low-cut clothes, she danced with confidence and introduced herself like a proclamation, “I am a sex worker.” She earned the applause of everyone.

Before becoming a sex worker, BuBu was a teacher at higher secondary school. With the assistance of the interpreter, Lai Kwan requested me to ask BuBu whether she had a wrong marriage or suffered from a serious blow? When Bubu gently took Lai Kwan’s hands, laughed and said, “I think this job is better than a secondary school teacher”, Lai Kwan laughed as well.

Lai Kwan talked to me privately, “Even a teacher will become a sex worker. I always believe only those without money to study or knowledge like me will be a sex worker.” Before that, Lai Kwan could only see from the angle of “poor woman”, which was in line with outsiders’ general perception. However, the confidence and bravery of BuBu impressed Lai Kwan considerably. Later Lai Kwan changed her wording, “ We legalised prostitutes in Taipei are sex workers.”

On return to Taiwan, I have heard more than once that Lai Kwan spoke, “Oh Bubu wears short dresses......” She used her hands to indicate the length, “and jumped onto the table and shook her hips.” Her body also shook accordingly. She finally said, “She prefers to be a sex worker rather than a secondary school teacher.”

I sense that Lai Kwan was released after meeting Bubu. There is no need to feel miserable. People can enter the industry out of their wish. People can freely express their sexuality and get rid of the bad label of being a sex worker.

“Record of selling girls” of course is not a meaningless product. It is the weapon of Bubu to fight against the prevalent social pressure caused by morality and laws. An Japanese sex worker, who has to hide away from the policemen, disregarded by law, showed her record openly on making love, oral sex, nudity, lure, playing games. In order to “turn a winter into spring”, she selected to “walk towards another direction” As she said, “I am lack of confidence to walk alone, but I must go.” In Japan, Bubu formed a group with other sex workers to struggle for the rights of sex workers. She also sent me some sexy postcards with herself as a model. This is how she acted out the road to be the sex worker.

On that road, she took the initiative to invite Mr M to accompany her. “If anyone who gives me courage is my friend, Mr M is my friend.” Between the buyer and seller in the context of sex service, we see no grievances and humiliation of sex workers, nor the “patriarchal oppression” of customers. Mr M was invited to join the journey of Bubu, and be a partner with her in the performance. In her road to fight against social oppression, Bubu has not treated other differently according to one’s biological sex, but regarded all with the same position as friends. She broke away the hypocritical statement that “sex industry is the men’s control over women to sell their body”. Bubu chose an illegal profession. She chose to use her body to declare war on social stigma. Shooting this film has become her must-go journey.

Note: “The quotes in” is the voice-over of Bubu in the film.

(The article is published with the permission of Tai wan Human Right Promotion Group.)

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Working reports

February	The first annual meeting of Zi Teng
June	jointly organised the Asian Conference for Sex Workers  in Hong Kong with AMRC
June	jointly organised a seminar on sex workers with the Polytechnic University
July	flat-based Jie Jie met with the Police Public Relations Branch
August	flat-based Jie Jie met with Yau-Tsim-Mong and Kowloon West Serious Crime division and discussed the handling of robbery
September	Attended the "four-sex" seminar in Taiwan
October	Met with the Legislator James To, Tsuen Wan Police Station, and Yau-Tsim-Mong Police Station
	Jie Jie and Zi teng staff participated in the Sixth Asia-Pacific International Aids Conference in Australia
	Two Jie Jies and Zi Teng staff participated in the Korean sex workers' conference
November	Organised a Chinese sex worker conference in Qingdao, and with the participants from both Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland

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