Saturday, October 4, 2008

Newspaper sex ads pissing women off

Over the last few years, advocates for women have mounted campaigns to persuade several New York publications to stop printing small advertisements for illegal massage parlors and escort services, which advocates say are thinly veiled ads for sex workers. They have had some success: For example, last year, the National Organization for Women persuaded New York magazine — among others — to stop printing the ads. One of the few that continues to do so is The Village Voice.

Escort and Massage Ads Rankle Women’s Advocates

Policies on advertising for massage and escort services have long been a contentious issue, with some publishers defending the services as a matter of personal choice. (The International Herald Tribune, before The Times fully owned it, accepted ads for escort services.)

Recently, the racy ads have been showing up in greater number in amNewYork, the free tabloid owned by Cablevision, the company that owns Newsday.


And let's not forget the Queens Tribune!

19 comments:

georgetheatheist said...

I give credit to Vicki Schnepps (publisher of the Courier) who editorialized once against the Tribune's running of these ads.

Anonymous said...

I am surprised at the blatant boldness of the ads and the willingness of publications to accept them in a format that suggests outright illegal services.

I don't understand why law enforcement doesn't pick up on these leads - but this is Queens and Brooklyn and these services need to be based anywhere but Manhattan.

Anonymous said...

I am so happy this topic is being given some attention. I find it SO offensive when I look through a legitimate newspaper and find these "massage" ads. It goes to show you that sex always sells. I wonder sometimes how many of these girls are coerced into doing it.

Anonymous said...

How do you think that prominent
sex addict and crook Donald Manes
got serviced?

Probably through his friend
Nussbaum at the Trib!

That's where DennisGallagher does a lot of his reading!

Anonymous said...

and let's not even talk about the ads for she-males, trannies.

Everyone knows those ads are for pay for sex prostitutes.
If prostitution were legalized it could be taxed.

As for Asian women being featured in the ads, I suppose it's better than breathing in fumes at a nail salon and poking customers with sharp instruments or selling DVD's. You ever notice how many Asian women are selling DVD's door to door in Queens?

Anonymous said...

"As for Asian women being featured in the ads, I suppose it's better than breathing in fumes at a nail salon and poking customers with sharp instruments or selling DVD's."

Let me get this straight. You think being a hooker is better than working at a nail salon? Holy crap! I'm at a loss for words.......

Anonymous said...

"I don't understand why law enforcement doesn't pick up on these leads"

Just take a ride to the Flushing area near 32nd Ave around Farrington Street, Miller Place, and Downing Street (north of Northern Blvd). There are hookers there every night, because of the proximity to the Whitestone Expwy and Northern Blvd - as well as Home Depot. And there's even a small NYPD office right on a corner in this hooker zone! I guess it's not an anti-prositution squad, since there's never anyone from that office out on the street. Just ignore them and hope they go away...

Unknown said...

Ha every morning when I read the AMNY I notice how the 'Looking and Feeling Good' section gets larger and larger, on friday it was even spilling over onto a second page. I guess business is booming

Anonymous said...

hey, does anyone notice Ridgewoodian is missing.

Maybe he had to go back to school and internship is over for the summer.

Anonymous said...

hey, does anyone notice Ridgewoodian is missing.

Maybe he had to go back to school and internship is over for the summer.


Yes, I noticed the absence of a certain foul stench lately.

He's a professor of queer studies at NYU, Greenwich Village annex, right?

Anonymous said...

I call for feminist groups to hold a press conference and condemn Congressman Gary Ackerman for owning a newspaper that exploits women. He is one step removed from being a pimp if this is what he needs to do to stay in business.

How can he vote for women's issues in Congress if he profits from their misery in the Tribune?

Anonymous said...

Melinda sez: Leave those ads alone. I need the extra scratch!!!

PS Don't forget to ask about my Tribune discounts...

Anonymous said...

I read AM NY on the train every day and I am disturbed to say the least about the sex ads in the paper. Where are women on this issue? Strangely silent. Until AM NY changes its policy I will refrain from reading their newspaper. I hope that other readers will send the Dolan's the same message.

Anonymous said...

I think most women are numb to all the ads objectifying women. It is way too common and we have become complacent.

Anonymous said...

Asian ladies do good "back n whacks".

Anonymous said...

Hey panzer65
I have a feeling I may regret this, but here goes....what the hell is a back n whack?

Ridgewoodian said...

ANONYMOUS: hey, does anyone notice Ridgewoodian is missing.

WADE NICHOLS: Yes…

Wow, you dudes are obsessed with me, huh? I’m not sure if I should be flattered or deeply creeped out. Little of both, I guess.

I do, in fact, work for NYU; I don’t know if that was a lucky guess on Wadiekin’s part or if I mentioned it myself at some point. (Probably the latter.) I’m not a professor, no, thank Allahyahwehbuddahbrahmahjohansantana but with the new semester, and the end of vacation and light work loads, I’m up to the neck in it so I can’t spare nearly as much time as I did before on the moral regeneration of my benighted neighbors. And, let’s face it, there are only about seven stories that ever make it up here and they all get commented upon by the same bunch of numbskulls; it gets a little dull after a while. And there’s the whole issue of pearls and swine. So you’ll forgive me if I’ve been less prolific than I have been in the past.

As to the substance of the thread: those ads don't offend me, particularly. Back when I would read the Voice I'd always have a big chuckle over them. We're all whores in one way or another, so what the hell. I myself am not a frequenter of prostitutes - just as I'm not a taker of drugs - but I agree with the third anonymous from the top: it should probably be legalized, regulated, and taxed.

Anonymous said...

In reply to Italian girl, as to what a "Back n Whack" is, with all due respect, an Asian masseuse rubs your "back", then rubs down below to "whack".

Anonymous said...

Oh boy, I was right I do regret asking. But thanks for the info panzer65. Doubt that info will come in handy anywhere, but I had to know.

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