SWERF

swerf English Etymology en sex worker-exclusionary radical feminist, on the model of en TERF. Pronunciation en /swɝf/ GA en /swɜːf/ RP en LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-SWERF.wav US Noun en see usage notes A sex worker-exclusionary radical feminist; a feminist who opposes the sex industry, particularly the production and distribution of pornography, typically viewing it as coercive or abusive of the women involved. en 2016 Afxentis Afxentiou; Michael Neu; Robin Dunford Giuliana Monteverde Navigating Complicity in Contemporary Feminist Discourse Exploring Complicity: Concept, Cases and Critique https://www.google.com/books/edition/Exploring_Complicity/a-PaDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22swerfs%22 108 Conversely, many intersectional feminists see TERFs or sex worker exclusionary radical feminists (SWERFs) as bigots and bullies. en 2021 Julie Bindel Feminism for Women: The Real Route to Liberation https://www.google.com/books/edition/Feminism_for_Women/5TVTEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22swerfs%22&pg=PT92 unnumbered SWERFs (sex worker exclusionary radical feminists), they also dubbed us TERFs (transgender exclusionary radical feminists) because, as one protester shouted, 'Trans women sex workers of colour are dying thanks to SWERFs!' en 2022 Stacey Clare The Ethical Stripper: Sex, Work and Labour Rights in the Night-Time Economy https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Ethical_Stripper/HGVcEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22swerfs%22&pg=PT225 unnumbered When national mainstream media outlets bought into the myth that lap-dancing clubs caused sexual violence in Camden, SWERFs gained huge ground in terms of public opinion about sex work, and with that came significant power. Usage notes This term is used mainly in critical discourse by sex-positive feminists and others who support the right to engage in sex work. Feminists who hold views opposed to the sex industry have maintained that the term is derogatory or a slur.Janice Turner 17 December 2021 Porn Apologists Are Running Out of Excuses https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/porn-apologists-are-running-out-of-excuses-rzxrs3087 The Times London https://web.archive.org/web/20240123175323/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/porn-apologists-are-running-out-of-excuses-rzxrs3087 23 January 2024. Derived terms en SWERFy See also en TERF References Anagrams en efrsw Frews en acronyms en Feminism Sex