Really disgusting. It diminishes what these women went through, because it seems to stand as an explanation for why they were killed. Or as though their deaths weren't worth as much as real deaths would have been. What would the editors equation be on that? Five hooker deaths = one real death? It that it?

I saw this article yesterday along with Julia Serano's article.

Sex workers and transpeople are what predators see as "perfect victims". Society and the criminal justice system do not look as hard for their killers as they do for the killers of middle class or higher socially approved of white women.

When a transperson or a sex worker is killed (often the transperson IS a sex worker) the news media refers to them in a derogatory or dismissive manner. "they deserved it for living outside the bounds of respectable women.

A respectable woman... Isn't sexual outside the ownership of her husband. And whole bunches of other restrictions.

Rape victims still are put on trial and their lives are used to excuse the acts of rapists.

I think we need an omni-hate crimes bill that insures that crimes against all deemed at the bottom of the social caste system are treated with the same seriousness as crimes committed against those deemed social paragons.

Brilliant insight. I saw this story yesterday and the word bothered me, but I didn't register it as a way of dehumanizing the victims. Perhaps CNN chose an inflammatory term in order to create some traffic-inducing sensationalism? What could have prompted them to use a derogatory term in the title of an ostensibly sympathetic piece?

CNN getting developing a bad record when it comes to women's issues. I just posted on their insistence on the 'diamonds vs. pearls' question to Hillary Clinton a couple of day ago, and now this.

And along those lines, why don't we ever hear this:

"Officer, I'd like to report that my car has been stolen."

"Really. Stolen? Hmm. Stolen, eh? Where was it parked?"

"Um, on the street in front of my house."

"Oh. On the street. Not in your garage? Or at least your driveway?"

"Well, I don't have a garage or a driveway."

"Oh." Silence. "Well. What kind of car was it?

and, continuing:

"What color was it?
"How new was it?
"How expensive was it?
"Have you driven other cars like this before?
"Was it a flashy color?
"Is it a popular model? Do lots of people want one like it?
"Are you sure you didn't just give it to someone?
"Are you sure that someone passing by didn't see that car in front of your house and understandably assume you were giving it away?
"Have you ever let anyone besides yourself drive it?

and on and on...

sgzax: Well, that's what the police seem to think, so why not the editors?

Seriously, most police don't seem to think a sex worker's murder is important until you get like four or five all the same and it looks like a serial killer.

I saw this yesterday and thought the word choice was horrible- I'm so glad you picked up on it!

Take particular note that it's "Hooker" deaths, not Hooker's deaths. Because CLEARLY it's a separate category of death from people that matter. It may be a small detail but it really bothers me.

Thanks for the car analogy, tinfoil hattie. It's a perfect illustration of how ridiculous and wrong victim blaming is. Thanks.

This really bothered me when I saw it too - it kind of made me think they were making light of the situation, especially given how many "dead hooker" (I know!) jokes get tossed around in pop culture.

Interesting. Showing my ignorance, I didn't realize that "hooker" was considered offensive and degrading. Well, that's why I come to the site--to learn things.

I consider any word such as hooker, gigolo, and prostitute to be offensive.

Wait, why is "prostitute" offensive?

What is particularly frustrating about this headline is that it is incredibly awkward-in order to get the "hooker" jab in. "Murders near Atlantic City a mystery a year later" sounds so much better. And "deaths"? Pretty freaking obvious that they were murders.

I'm with EG...I didn't know prostitute was a negative/derogatory term for a sex worker, at least in the sense that there isn't almost always a negative or derogatory connotation with being a prostitute of any kind. Is sex worker the preferred/only correct term? Thanks!

I'm with EG...I didn't know prostitute was a negative/derogatory term for a sex worker. Aside from the fact that a person being a sex worker/prostitute is almost always considered to be negative or calling someone such is seen as negative or derogatory. Is sex worker the preferred/only correct term? Thanks!

MAISY (http://www.marymound.com/events_MAISEY.htm) in Canada does a lot of work combating this kind of thing; they have some really good resources to use to reach out to media and get them to change the language they use.

Most people I talk with (including my conservative father!) actually think prostitution should be legal. Our bodies, who cares what we do with them. We aren't hurting anyone. But in the mix of everything going on today, like murder, drunk driving, and war, it seems to be a strange thing to pick to fight over. And I think that's the only reason it's even an issue.

Most people I talk with (including my conservative father!) actually think prostitution should be legal. Our bodies, who cares what we do with them. We aren't hurting anyone. But in the mix of everything going on today, like murder, drunk driving, and war, it seems to be a strange thing to pick to fight over. And I think that's the only reason it's even an issue.

Most people I talk with (including my conservative father!) actually think prostitution should be legal. Our bodies, who cares what we do with them. We aren't hurting anyone. But in the mix of everything going on today, like murder, drunk driving, and war, it seems to be a strange thing to pick to fight over. And I think that's the only reason it's even an issue.

Most people I talk with (including my conservative father!) actually think prostitution should be legal. Our bodies, who cares what we do with them. We aren't hurting anyone. But in the mix of everything going on today, like murder, drunk driving, and war, it seems to be a strange thing to pick to fight over. And I think that's the only reason it's even an issue.

Most people I talk with (including my conservative father!) actually think prostitution should be legal. Our bodies, who cares what we do with them. We aren't hurting anyone. But in the mix of everything going on today, like murder, drunk driving, and war, it seems to be a strange thing to pick to fight over. And I think that's the only reason it's even an issue.

Is sex worker the preferred/only correct term?

It can't be, can it? Because not all sex workers are prostitutes.

I usually use "prostitute" as a non-derogatory description because that's actually what they are-- a person who practices prostitution. I usually figure "sex worker" is the only safe alternative, maybe "escort" if they're also offering a girl-on-the-arm service. Was I wrong?

I know I've made this point in other threads about sex work, but here (New Zealand), prostitution has been legal for just over 3 years.
First of all, prostitution/prostitute is not a derogatory term here, but just the description.
Of course, it is sometimes used as an insult, and carries alot of baggage.

Secondly, prostitution was legalised at the express wishes of the Prostitutes' Collective, many many health workers, the Police, and most feminists I know.
What it means in practical terms is that prostitutes can insist on condom use, they can report rapes and thefts without fear of arrest, and there are health standards they and their clients must follow.

I would love it if there was no such thing as prostitution.
I find the idea of renting someone's body repulsive.
Legalisation does not mean that everyone thinks going to a prostitute is normal or cool or whatever.
But considering it's going to happen whether it's legal or not, as a feminist I must support "best practice" for the men and women who work in the sex industry.

I know I've mentioned this before too, but when the law was given its final reading in Parliament, the world's first transgender Member of Parliament, Georgina Beyer, gave a highly emotional speech regarding her experiences as a sex worker.

Her speech is credited with swaying the votes several of the more conservative Members.

By the way, nobody, but nobody, uses the term "hooker", certainly not in the media.

"Sex workers and transpeople are what predators see as "perfect victims. Society and the criminal justice system do not look as hard for their killers as they do for the killers of middle class or higher socially approved of white women." -DallasSuz

The four victims were all white (but yes, prostitutes).

"I find the idea of renting someone's body repulsive.
Legalisation does not mean that everyone thinks going to a prostitute is normal or cool or whatever.
But considering it's going to happen whether it's legal or not, as a feminist I must support 'best practice' for the men and women who work in the sex industry." -anorak

I agree with both ideas, but in definitely agree more with anorak and find the prostitution inherently dangerous. Even if the law WAS more sympathetic towards sex workers, how much could they do, short of policing (supposedly mutually consensual) "renting" of bodies and private activity?

Maybe in other countries where prostitutes aren't so isolated from legal protection/"the mainstream", it's less dangerous. As I see it (and again I agree with anorak) prostitution is dangerous and degrading, period...and involves inherently dangerous behavior. Women follow complete strangers into their cars, goes with them to motels, into their homes...they don't simply associate with these strangers in private settings, they have sex with them. I don't see sex how sex with a complete stranger can be neutral, even when it isn't potentially life-threatening and your partner may or may not be a predator (how can you tell? If you're trying to feed yourself, how much time do you have to hesitate?)

And who will have the individual woman's "back?" A friend? Her (miserable) pimp? Who will know of her daily comings and goings and have her best interests at heart?

In this case on the reasons the police were slow to act is that one of the women had initially disappeared for months before...into rehab. The life of a prostitute--of a socioeconomically isolated person--is usually unstable in so many ways.

Porn and sex work itself reduces human beings (women) to bodies...means to an end for everyone, be it a (harmless) john or any lurking predator.

I remember reading about this in the NY Times last December....wonder where the person who killed these women is now).

I don't think of "hooker" as a derogatory term. As most of you probably know, it began as a kind of joking euphemism: "Hooker's ladies".

I do think it's far too slangy for a headline, though.

Seriously, most police don't seem to think a sex worker's murder is important until you get like four or five all the same and it looks like a serial killer.

Basiorana, I suspect that the only reason the authorities consider it important at that point is because it may only be a matter of time before a serial killer type becomes bold enough to murder a "real" person: someone sufficiently high enough up the social ladder to be worthy of concern/protection.

Seriously, most police don't seem to think a sex worker's murder is important until you get like four or five all the same and it looks like a serial killer.

Basiorana, I suspect that the only reason the authorities consider it important at that point is because it may only be a matter of time before a serial killer type becomes bold enough to murder a "real" person: someone sufficiently high enough up the social ladder to be worthy of concern/protection.

Seriously, most police don't seem to think a sex worker's murder is important until you get like four or five all the same and it looks like a serial killer.

Basiorana, I suspect that the only reason the authorities consider it important at that point is because it may only be a matter of time before a serial killer type becomes bold enough to murder a "real" person: someone sufficiently high enough up the social ladder to be worthy of concern/protection.

Oh dear. Someone please take pity on me in my idiocy and delete the two redundant posts. *headdesk*

@Skullhunter

Don't worry, something odd happened with my reply too.

Roni made a really good point about it being "hooker deaths" and not even "hookers' deaths." Very low-brow of CNN. I'm surprised no one has mentioned, though, that young women today regularly call each other hooker as a sort of teasing endearment. Do a quick search for "hooker" on myspace and you'll see how many people are using that name for themselves. (I don't get it.)