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Challenging Stereotypes and Stigma about Sex Work Ft. Dr. Francine Tremblay w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy
In a special series devoted to widening our circle of empathy to include people who often feel marginalized or misunderstood, watch this episode to hear an anthropologist and lifelong activist share her insights about the rights of sex workers and the ongoing stigma they face.
Dr. Francine Tremblay shares how her lived experience as a sex worker shaped her research and activism. She also argues that society should recognize the humanity of those working in the sex industry, and help promote their dignity, rights, and safety.
00:00 Preview
01:16 Introduction
03:02 About Dr. Francine Tremblay
05:02 Francine’s backstory
10:44 The origin of sex work and why stigma persists today
12:05 Why is sex work still criminalized?
15:11 Agency vs. exploitation in the sex industry
22:16 What was “My body, My Choice Movement” about?
25:25 The emotional realities behind sex work
29:35 Why is Francine still hesitant to talk about it?
34:38 What is “Lateral Violence”?
38:09 How sex work can be empowering
42:55 Having empathy for sex workers who don’t have agency
49:13 Holding space for Indigenous women in Canada, in particular
54:36 Why funding sex worker rights does not guarantee respect for sex workers
59:24 Real ways to support sex workers
1:04:06 Role of government to protect sex workers
1:07:55 Lessons from the Native Women’s Shelter
1:13:51 Advice to empower sex workers
1:19:21 Dr. Francine Tremblay’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email [email protected]
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH FRANCINE
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/francine-tremblay-a4722135/
✩ Concordia profile https://www.concordia.ca/faculty/francine-tremblay.html
SHOW NOTES
✩ Stella https://chezstella.org/en/
Native Women’s Shelter www.nwsm.info/
✩ Organizing for Sex Workers’ Rights in Montreal https://www.amazon.com/Organizing-Sex-Workers-Rights-Montréal/dp/1498593895
Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio
View all episodes
By Anita Nowak
4.8
55 ratings
In a special series devoted to widening our circle of empathy to include people who often feel marginalized or misunderstood, watch this episode to hear an anthropologist and lifelong activist share her insights about the rights of sex workers and the ongoing stigma they face.
Dr. Francine Tremblay shares how her lived experience as a sex worker shaped her research and activism. She also argues that society should recognize the humanity of those working in the sex industry, and help promote their dignity, rights, and safety.
00:00 Preview
01:16 Introduction
03:02 About Dr. Francine Tremblay
05:02 Francine’s backstory
10:44 The origin of sex work and why stigma persists today
12:05 Why is sex work still criminalized?
15:11 Agency vs. exploitation in the sex industry
22:16 What was “My body, My Choice Movement” about?
25:25 The emotional realities behind sex work
29:35 Why is Francine still hesitant to talk about it?
34:38 What is “Lateral Violence”?
38:09 How sex work can be empowering
42:55 Having empathy for sex workers who don’t have agency
49:13 Holding space for Indigenous women in Canada, in particular
54:36 Why funding sex worker rights does not guarantee respect for sex workers
59:24 Real ways to support sex workers
1:04:06 Role of government to protect sex workers
1:07:55 Lessons from the Native Women’s Shelter
1:13:51 Advice to empower sex workers
1:19:21 Dr. Francine Tremblay’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email [email protected]
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH FRANCINE
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/francine-tremblay-a4722135/
✩ Concordia profile https://www.concordia.ca/faculty/francine-tremblay.html
SHOW NOTES
✩ Stella https://chezstella.org/en/
Native Women’s Shelter www.nwsm.info/
✩ Organizing for Sex Workers’ Rights in Montreal https://www.amazon.com/Organizing-Sex-Workers-Rights-Montréal/dp/1498593895
Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio