Selma James Archives - English Collective of Prostitutes https://prostitutescollective.net/tag/selma-james/ Since 1975, the English Collective of Prostitutes has been campaigning for the abolition of the prostitution laws which criminalize sex workers and our families, and for economic alternatives and higher benefits and wages. Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:56:01 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://prostitutescollective.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/favicon-260-x-260-150x150.png Selma James Archives - English Collective of Prostitutes https://prostitutescollective.net/tag/selma-james/ 32 32 OpenDemocracy: How Wages for Housework sparked an international solidarity movement https://prostitutescollective.net/opendemocracy-how-wages-for-housework-sparked-an-international-solidarity-movement/ Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:48:37 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=20036 The 1970s movement paved the way for queer, Black, trans and sex working feminist organising across the world todayJake HallThe first thing to know about the international Wages for Housework campaign that began in the 1970s is that you shouldn’t take the name at face value. This wasn't some single-issue movement committed to putting pennies […]

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]]> Tribune: Sex Workers Unite and Take Over https://prostitutescollective.net/tribune-sex-workers-unite-and-take-over/ Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:38:57 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=20028 By Brit DawsonThe English Collective of Prostitutes was founded fifty years ago to protect sex workers. Despite the progress they have made in the years since, the industry remains criminalised — and exploitative and unsafe as a result.(Credit: Crossroads AV Collective.)On November 17, 1982, fifteen masked women walked, in groups of twos and threes, into […]

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]]> Event: Hookers, dykes and women of colour celebrate 50 years of making trouble & history – 22 October https://prostitutescollective.net/event-hookers-dykes-and-women-of-colour-celebrate-50-years-of-making-trouble-history-22-october/ Tue, 12 Aug 2025 18:12:42 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=19614 When: Wednesday 22 October 18:30 - 20:30Where: Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate London EC2M 4QH(Full wheelchair access. Bar & refreshments)Price: £15 / £11(Please get in touch with womenofcolour@globalwomenstrike.net which is dealing with this for all three organisations if you want to come but can’t afford it)

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]]> Visit WFH & ECP in major exhibition ‘Hard Graft: Work, Health and Rights’ https://prostitutescollective.net/visit-wfh-ecp-in-major-exhibition-hard-graft-work-health-and-rights/ Wed, 05 Mar 2025 09:30:16 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=18139 As part of International Women’s Week celebrations, we’re planning a group visit to see ‘Hard Graft: Work, Health and Rights’ at the Wellcome Collection (183 Euston Road London NW1 2BE) on Sunday 9 March at 1pm.  If you would like to join us, please just turn up! The Home section of the exhibition includes magazines, flyers, press releases, […]

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]]> Audio: A Church Occupation by the English Collective of Prostitutes https://prostitutescollective.net/audio-a-church-occupation-by-the-english-collective-of-prostitutes/ Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:32:00 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=19408 Part I. Reflecting on the significance of the occupation of the Church of the Holy Cross (1982) in London to protest “police illegality and racism” against sex workers. Guest: Selma James is founder of the International Wages for Housework Campaign and author of Hookers in the House of the Lord and The Power of Women […]

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]]> Wages for Housework: The Story of a Movement, an Idea, a Promise https://prostitutescollective.net/wages-for-housework-the-story-of-a-movement-an-idea-a-promise/ Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:00:04 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=18127 "The Wages for Housework campaign asked a provocative question. More than 50 years later, it is still relevant" (The Guardian⁣)⁣A fascinating new book by Emily Callaci about the history of the International Wages for Housework Campaign is being launched in the UK next week. ⁣Wages for Housework The Story of a Movement, an Idea, a […]

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]]> ‘Money for prostitutes is money for Black women’: sex work, race and the English Collective of Prostitutes https://prostitutescollective.net/money-for-prostitutes-is-money-for-black-women-sex-work-race-and-the-english-collective-of-prostitutes/ Wed, 06 Mar 2024 11:48:00 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=17899 Lucy Cann, March 6th 2024 Figure 1: Engish Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) activists at their occupation of Holy Cross Church in November 1982 Introduction Formed in 1975 as an autonomous organisation within the Wages for Housework (WFH) movement, the English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) emerged at a time when prostitution resurfaced in feminist debate. They […]

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]]> Event: End Women’s Poverty – A Guaranteed Care Income for All Caregivers of People & Planet, 9-11 June https://prostitutescollective.net/event-end-womens-poverty/ Thu, 01 Jun 2023 16:25:11 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=17709 Dear friends, Please register for this international and community gathering! ECP’s Niki Adams will be speaking at the session on Saturday 10 June 1:30-4:30pm (EDT)  ‘End the Criminalization of Poverty and Protest’ All events are on Zoom as well as in personFor latest updates and speakers see the Global Women’s Strike website.

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]]> Camden New Journal: English Collective of Prostitutes hold reunion in King’s Cross https://prostitutescollective.net/camden-new-journal-english-collective-of-prostitutes-hold-reunion-in-kings-cross/ Fri, 28 Oct 2022 13:05:00 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=17445 40 years since occupation of Cromer Street churchBy Dan CarrierTHE sex workers and their supporters came into the church in small groups – and when the service came to an end the new arrivals on the pews proclaimed they were not going anywhere.This week marks the 40th anniversary of a historic occupation at Holy Cross […]

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]]> Ham & High: Sex workers protest 40th anniversary Holy Cross Kings Cross https://prostitutescollective.net/ham-high-sex-workers-protest-40th-anniversary-holy-cross-kings-cross%ef%bf%bc/ Tue, 18 Oct 2022 08:42:08 +0000 https://prostitutescollective.net/?p=17375 By Bridget GaltonForty years ago, a group of sex workers and their children occupied a King's Cross Church in protest against Police harrassment.The 12-day sit-in saw the masked women speak out in frustration at unfair laws which criminalised them while failing to protect them from violent assaults.TV crews and MPs visited the protest at Holy Cross Church […]

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