A recent debate hosted by a Stellenbosch University (SU) society dealt with the ethics and legalities of sex work.
SMF News attended the debate, which was hosted by the SU Socratic Society at the Neelsie Cinema on 25 August.
“Our goal with this debate night, as with any, is to open up the complexities and nuances of the subject matter, expose our students to each other’s views, and give them a space to have their own views heard and challenged,” said Nine-Marie van Veijeren, a PhD student in philosophy at SU and the Socratic Society president, in correspondence with SMF News.
The aim of the student-run society is to facilitate critical thinking and philosophical criticism, exploring different positions and seeking truth, according to the Socratic Society’s website.
After the committee gave presentations on various topics relating to sex work, a microphone was passed around the room, encouraging the audience to participate in the discussion.
From left to right: Francis-Lynne Raper, Nine-Marie van Veijeren, Hanrié Viljoen, and Jackie Tulleners, members of the Stellenbosch University Socratic Society and the hosts of the debate on 28 August. ‘Selling sex’ was chosen as the debate discussion topic of their third event after a poll was taken on the Socratic Society’s Instagram page. The debate was aimed at discussing all the layers of sex work in a democratic society and its impact on the workers, said Nine-Marie van Veijeren, the Socratic Society president. PHOTO: Casey-Lee Anthony
‘Allowing for change to happen’
According to Van Veijeren, many people questioned the topic for the debate, as they were worried that conversations might get heated and fights would break out.
“One colleague even refused to attend the event, as they believed that we are insulting sex workers with the implication that this topic should be up for discussion,” said Van Veijeren, in correspondence with SMF News.
However, the engagement received for the event was overwhelming, as it was clear that the topic was one that young people care about, according to Chantelle Bocking, a first-year BA (Humanities) student at SU who attended the debate.
Bocking believes that this debate plays a role in how the development of sex work will occur in the future and the possibility of removing the stigma that surrounds the topic.
“Openly discussing topics like sex work allows others to also be aware of it, and start normalising it and allowing for change to happen,” said Bocking.
From left to right: Francis-Lynne Raper, Nine-Marie van Veijeren, and Hanrié Viljoen, members of the Stellenbosch University Socratic Society, discuss sex work and the law at a debate hosted at the Neelsie Cinema on 25 August. The society’s aim was to assist in shaping the way people view sex work, with various sub-topics discussed, according to Viljoen, the Socratic Society collaborations manager. PHOTO: Casey-Lee Anthony
Decriminalising sex work
The debate allowed people’s thoughts and views on sex work to be challenged, said Bocking.
Hanrié Viljoen, an MA (Philosophy) student at SU and the Socratic Society collaborations manager, presented the topic sex and the law, pertaining to whether sex work should be decriminalised or not.
“People have pointed to many positives of decriminalising [sex work], such as a greater access to healthcare, greater freedom of choice, and a plausible decrease in violence, exploitation, and coercion on both sides of the exchange,” said Viljoen.
The questions posed to the audience at the end of the presentation about sex work and the law at a debate hosted by the Stellenbosch University Socratic Society at the Neelsie Cinema on 25 August. “At the end of the day, there are real people in this industry who face real dangers and risks,” said Hanrié Viljoen, the Socratic Society collaborations manager. “We should be trying to reach a level of consensus towards solutions.” PHOTO: Casey-Lee Anthony