Sex work, Social connections, Workers Memorial Day
posted: Apr 29, 06:56 PM
So, my computer is still unhappy. This could be a long healing process and I’ll just have to learn to be patient. While I am developing my patience I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on how we benefit from easy contact with friends, colleagues and social networking to keep us current on items of interest and/or importance. Full circle to my erratic internet connection.
My lack of internet has reminded me of how frequently I visit certain sites and how much I value the resources these sites provide. I used to make fun of Twitter and those who “tweeted” but recently, yes, due to my computer angst, I’ve also found Twitter to be handy. Who knew!
Yesterday was “Workers Memorial Day“. A day to remember those who have lost their lives while in the workplace. I don’t know about you but I tend to think of the Canadian t.v. advertisements for men who have been killed or seriously injured in a warehouse accident or through working with heavy equipment. This is rather limited thinking.
I am not for one minute undermining the seriousness nor the sadness of lives lost through industrial work place accidents. I am concerned, however, that we may not immediately consider other possible workers who have lost their lives through the course of their day to day work. I am thinking of: youth workers, teachers, sex workers, fire fighters, police officers…the list is as extensive and as unique as each of us.
Elizabeth at Sex In The Public Square wrote most eloquently on remembering sex workers who have lost their lives while earning their living. Sex work is a profession where the worker is often only valued for what their body offers and, consequently, may be devalued as a human being.
Our society often forgets the many sex workers who have lost their lives and, due to their work, solving their murders may not have been prioritized. In the recent highly publicized case of Stephine Beck’s murder we may also find it difficult to understand how the justice system works. We may even ask “Has it worked?”
I am grateful to have my internet access back, no matter how fragile this connection may be. I am also grateful for the social networking sites which have kept me current during my limited periods of connection.
Thank you!