$pread

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An example of a typical issue of $pread.

$pread Magazine is a quarterly magazine by and for sex workers and those who support their rights. The magazine's focus is: "personal experiences and political insights" and it "contains practical information like news, features, health columns, and resources related to the sex industry."[1]

History

Articles were written by readers as well as by figures from academic, cultural, and literary backgrounds, most of whom are current or former sex workers. The magazine was launched on March 15, 2005 by Rachel Aimee, Rebecca Lynn, and Raven Strega.[2] $pread was based in New York City, and was sold throughout the United States and Canada at independent bookstores and via national distributors.

A co-editor said, "We want the general public to become aware of issues such as the physical working conditions of sex workers and their health care and housing needs, and to start considering sex workers as real people rather than mythical beasts who only come to life when someone drops a quarter into a slot."[3]

$pread published personal experiences, political insights, and contained practical information, such as news, features, health columns, and sex industry resources. $pread supported the sex work community by donating 15% of each print run to the workplaces of and the outreach organizations utilized by sex workers. The tax outreach program "helps sex workers who don't know they can and should file taxes," said Audacia Ray, an executive editor at the magazine.[4]

Criticism

Because $pread was part of the sex workers rights movement, it was criticized by feminists who believe that sex work is inherently degrading:

Among feminists, perceptions are no less polarized – sex workers are either fully empowered agents using their sexuality in unassailably positive ways, or victims of a job that degrades them by its very nature. Most feminist dialogues about sex work sound more like monologues; defensiveness, mischaracterizations, and willful ignorance abound, making casualties of complexity and nuance.[5]

Closure

As of August 30, 2010, $pread has ceased printed publication due to both financial issues and not having enough people to keep the operation running, even if "there was $100k made available."[6]

Relaunch

The magazine recommenced publication and is active, again based in New York, in December 2013.[7] According to the publication's website, the mission statement of $pread is:

We believe that all sex workers have a right to self-determination; to choose how we make a living and what we do with our bodies. We aim to build community and destigmatize sex work by providing a forum for the diverse voices of individuals working in the sex industry.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "About". Spread Magazine. $pread Magazine. December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013. 
  2. ↑
    • Rough Trade Time Out New York. March 24–30, 2005. Accessed March 26, 2009. Archived April 18, 2009.
  3. ↑ Whore Pride, Rachel Kramer Bussel, The Village Voice, January 11, 2005 Accessed March 26, 2009. Archived April 18, 2009.
  4. ↑ An Old Profession That's New to Doing Taxes. COREY KILGANNON, New York Times. April 5, 2006
  5. ↑ Hot & Bothered, Bitch Magazine, Issue 33, Fall 2006 Accessed March 26, 2009.Archived April 18, 2009.
  6. ↑ $pread is Dead, Really. Accessed September 6, 2010. $pread Blog, August 30, 2010
  7. ↑ "Contact Us". $pread Magazine. $pread Magazine. 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013. 
  8. ↑ "Mission Statement". $pread Magazine. $pread Magazine. 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013. 

External links

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