It's So Hard

Sasha Sinns has worked as a full-service sex worker under a range of legal models. She joins Tess for a chat about a Bill that was recently introduced by opposition leader Nicola Centofanti. This Bill proposes a Nordic model of criminalisation in South Australia.

Action Steps:

1. Follow @sashasinnsaus, @sinsouthaustralia, and @scarlet_alliance
2. Sign the petition to block this Bill
3. Contact an MP in SA and let them know that The Nordic Model would be even less safe than the current criminalisation model. Encourage them to discuss the full decriminalisation of sex work with SIN (Sex Industry Network in SA).

More information:

• Scarlet Alliance's media statements
• Tess's Interview with Joni Boyd from Indymedia:  Failures of the Nordic Model and Sex Work as a Labour Issue

Contains explicit descriptions.

It's So Hard is produced by - Jenn and Tess Louise®
Instagram - @softermedia
Website - itssohard.info

S3:E107

"We're both facing looking for work as out trans women now, and that's something that neither of us have dealt with before." -Joni Boyd

Follow on Instagram - V @puppygirlfemboy, Joni Boyd @checkout_chick463,

Contains explicit descriptions.

Mentions - Decrim WA and Indymedia It's So Hard is produced by - Jenn and Tess Louise® Instagram - @softermedia Website - itssohard.info

S3:E106

"I think, unequivocally, in my opinion, that eugenics, ableism, the whorearchy, and decriminalisation are in an intrinsic ecology. Disabled rights are sex workers' rights. Sex workers' rights are disability rights. It is all interconnected..." -Lua

Follow on Instagram for updates - @littlelua.s @mxstress.mercy @smutclubfilmfest

Contains explicit descriptions.

Mentions - Sex and Disability Zine, Smut Club Film Festival, Touching Base It's So Hard is produced by - Jenn and Tess Louise® Instagram - @sohardpod Website - itssohard.info

S3:E105

Lua and Mercy chat about neurodiversity and late ADHD/autism diagnoses. Lua touches on the grief of wishing they knew sooner and Mercy shares how their relationship with masking shifted over time. We'll continue this conversation in episode 105 by exploring the intersection between sex work and disability.

Follow on Instagram for updates - @littlelua.s @mxstress.mercy @smutclubfilmfest

Contains explicit descriptions.

Mentions - Smut Club Film Festival It's So Hard is produced by - Jenn and Tess Louise® Instagram - @sohardpod Website - itssohard.info

S3:E104

Before we peel back the layers of Child Sexual Abuse, what exactly is CSA? What did it mean for Jenn? And how does it still impact her life?

Lifeline 13 11 14 13YARN (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander folks) 13 92 76 1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

Bravehearts 1800 627 393 @braveheartsprotectkids

Blue Knot Foundation 1300 657 380 @blueknotfoundation

SAMSN 1800 472 676 @samsn_aus

The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse @NCACSA

Loud Fence Inc. @loudfence

The Grace Tame Foundation @gracetamefoundation

The Survivor Hub @thesurvivorhub

What Were You Wearing @whatwereyouwearing_

Contains explicit violent descriptions.

It's So Hard is produced by - Jenn and Tess Louise® Instagram - @sohardpod Website - itssohard.info

S3:E103

Ariela Moscowitz and Isidoro Rodriguez discuss the definition of sex work, who enters the industry, and the power of stigmas. Ariela unpacks the 4 legal models that govern sex workers all over the world: criminalisation, legalisation, the Nordic model, and decriminalisation.

Ariela is the Director of Communications for Decriminalize Sex Work, an organisation pursuing a state-by-state strategy to end the prohibition of consensual sex work in the United States.

Isidoro Rodriguez is a criminal justice journalist and former deputy editor for The Crime Report. In 2020, he wrote an in-depth article called Predators Behind the Badge: Confronting Police Sexual Misconduct. Izzy also discussed police sexual misconduct with Tess on episode 90 and he continues to research and report on this topic.

The Crime Report initially platformed this recording on 23rd September 2022. The Crime Report is a nonprofit outlet dedicated to providing an independent, non-partisan marketplace of news and ideas.

Many thanks to Ariela, Izzy, and The Crime Report for allowing us to also share this conversation in the interest of raising awareness.

"Decriminalisation is the only legal model that centres power around the worker." -Ariela Moscowitz

Follow on Instagram for updates - @decrimsexwork @isidoro_c_rodriguez @thecrimereportmedia

Contains explicit violent descriptions.

It's So Hard is produced by - Jenn and Tess Louise® Instagram - @sohardpod Website - itssohard.info

S3:E102

Tess gives an overview of Shirley Finn's story. We discuss Shirley's pressures and motivations, including but not limited to sex work.

It was beyond the scope of this episode to track Shirley's interactions with individual detectives and politicians. However, it is worth exploring. See links below.

Contains explicit violent descriptions.

Mentions - Decrim QLD Hosts - Jenn and Tess Louise® Website - itssohard.info

S3:E101

00:04:20 – 00:07:57: Perth society, especially in late 1800's and early 1900's. See The Petticoat Parade by Leigh Straw, Fremantle Press.

00:07:57 – 00:08:34: Police containment. See Scarlet Alliance.

00:10:22 – 00:14:30: Shirley's life. See documentary Getting Away With Murder by Australian Story.

00:14:30 – 0015:55: A later police commissioner discussing police containment. See documentary about Dorrie Flatman by Whicker's World.

00:15:55 – 00:22:34: Shirley's life. See documentary Getting Away With Murder by Australian Story.

00:22:34 - 00:25:15: Former police officer Mr Colynn Rowe, lost evidence, suspects. Article.

00:26:08 – 00:27:05: Suspects. Article.

00:27:18 – 00:29:26: Coroner Barry King's report. Article.

Also see Juliet Wills's book, Dirty Girl. It was written with help from Shirley's daughter, Bridget Shewring, and the witnesses who had come forward at the time of writing.

In this episode, we explore the fragile relationships between sex work representation, confidentiality, and intersectionality. We also discuss the future of It's So Hard.

Contains explicit sexual descriptions.

Mentions - Progressive Therapeutic Collective, Isidoro Rodriguez, Joni Boyd, and Decrim WA Hosts - Jenn and Tess Louise® Website - itssohard.info Music - "No Justice", The Empress 2021 by Lil Hoe

S2:E100

Lil Hoe asked, "What are you most grateful for that has come out of starting a podcast together?"

Contains explicit sexual descriptions.

Hosts - Jenn and Tess Louise® Website - itssohard.info Music - "No Justice", The Empress 2021 by Lil Hoe

S2:E99

After a stressful run-in with the medical system as a fat person, Jenn chats about self-advocacy and moving through her freeze/fawn responses.

Contains explicit sexual descriptions.

Hosts - Jenn and Tess Louise® Website - itssohard.info Music - "No Justice", The Empress 2021 by Lil Hoe

S2:E98