For many, porn and sex work is equated to a salacious world of sleazy men with moustaches and pimps with gold chains.
So a common reaction to news that a porn star was treated in a degrading way becomes, ‘Well, what do they expect?’
But, as Australian porn star Madison Missina told Mia Freedman in her No Filter podcast, porn stars – like any employee – expect respect in the workplace.
Listen to what she had to say here:
Missina, 32, said there were some really great, professional adult actors out there. They were hygienic, respectful and keen communicators.
“There are some porn stars that I no longer work with that I’ve turned up to set and they’ve been all over me, wanting to touch me and say things to me like, ‘Oh, I’m just trying to make sure we get great chemistry for set’,” Missina said.
“And I’m like ‘Eugh. No. This is just sexual harassment. Stop it.”
Madison Missina. Image via Twitter.
And now just this week, there are numerous media reports about porn star James Deen exhibiting this behaviour with co-workers.
In recent days, three former co-stars of the world’s most famous porn star have gone public with allegations he raped or assaulted them.
The empire of the adult film industry’s “it boy” – a man who managed to amass an impressive 89 film and TV titles to his name in 2015 alone, as well as a huge legion of male and female fans – is crumbling around him, with porn studios and websites quickly severing ties with him.
It began on Sunday, when Deen’s former girlfriend and fellow porn star, Stoya, claimed she was raped by the 29-year-old
“James Deen held me down and f–ked me while I said no, stop, used my safe word. I just can’t nod and smile when people bring him up anymore,” she wrote on Twitter.
Top Comments
This seems a bit suss to me. Why have they not gone to the police and filed a complaint which would lead to a formal investigation. Why publicly shame him on twitter instead. Should this not be for the court and not the court of public opinion. On an interesting side not, on Stoya's twitter profile it has a link to her porn site, and the first video there is of James Deen, the man she accused of raping her. I'm sorry, but to me something does not add up here.
There is an element of "protection in numbers". Being the first one to make the complaint would be a very isolating and scary thing to do. I think once one comes out, then others feel brave enough that they will be heard, believed, or it will be considered serious enough to start an investigation. I don't blame them for keeping silent up to now.
As a sexual assault victim I can assure you that getting a charge of rape/assault to stick is very difficult. In my case, I was drugged and assaulted in the bathroom of a bar, but because I didn't complete a rape kit i was told by the (very sympathetic) police that 'often cases of he said she said don't hold up' and that many victims find the trauma of being prosecuted by defence lawyers in court overwhelming.
It's not always as easy as 'just go to the police'. If this is the only way for these women to get some closure so be it. I didn't get mine and had to deal with years of PTSD.
So you think that all three women are just liars? Interesting. That reveals a lot about you.
Interesting. So you think that all women are automatically always truthful and kind and sweet, are lies carried on the Y chromosome? That reveals a lot about you. Clinton asks a legitimate question- why are these women comfortable publicly discussing their rape but not comfortable reporting it to the police where there is then a chance (not a guarantee) that the justice system can deal with the perpetrator? Instead of resorting to cheap insinuations when you disagree with someone how about you address the issues they raised. Shutting down a conversation with pseudo psychology doesn't help change a system that fails many victims of sexual assault. Clinton, as a female I do not understand why these women would be more comfortable making these allegations from a platform that can not bring them legitimate justice, but I do know that when people are hurting they don't always respond in predictable logical ways. The current system is rubbish, but in my opinion publicly accusing someone and not giving the legal system a chance to address the issue makes no sense either. The legal system is far from perfect, but the alternative- public finger pointing with no REAL option of defending yourself is no different to the farce of witch trials. Getting a conviction is difficult, undergoing a rape kit would be traumatic, but you cant say the legal system failed you if you never gave the legal system a chance.
Sounds like the new Bill Cosby. Everyone called the first woman brave enough to come forward a liar, but suddenly other victims feel able to come forward.