Morgane Merteuil Explained

Birth Date:1986
Occupation:Sex worker
Activist
Known For:STRASS spokesperson
8 mars pour touTEs co-founder

Morgane Merteuil (pronounced as /fr/; born 1986) is the pseudonym of a French sex worker[1] and feminist activist known for her commitment to the rights of sex workers. She was the secretary general and spokesperson of the French sex work union STRASS from 2011 to 2016.

Biography

Merteuil holds a Master's degree in Humanities from the University of Grenoble. While studying she held several jobs including childcare, cleaning, newspaper distribution and posing for erotic pictures.[2] In 2009, while working as a bar hostess, Merteuil realized that she could become a sex worker to finance her studies,[3] and decided to become an escort. She claimed this was a "constrained" choice in an article in Le Monde (25 November 2011), preferring "to be an escort rather than working in a factory for 40 hours a week", adding that "people who have extremely difficult days working in construction or in the hospitality industry would no doubt also say that they also made a forced choice."[4]

After encountering abolitionist moves against prostitution, Merteuil joined the sex work union STRASS. In June 2011, she became their secretary general and spokesperson.[5] STRASS actively opposes "whorephobia" and campaigned against the proposed 2016 law to criminalize the clients of prostitution,[6] denouncing the law for "promoting insecurity and rape."[7] It argued that the effect of the law would be that "those who can afford to will go and work in neighboring countries, others will seek intermediaries who will play the role of pimps", and that the law would favor procuring.[8] [9] Under Merteuil's leadership, STRASS developed links with other unions.

In 2012, Merteuil published an essay entitled Libérez le féminisme!, in which she accused media feminist associations such as Ni Putes Ni Soumises, Osez le féminisme! and Les Chiennes de garde of being "gentrified", and castigated these "ambassadors of liberty" for imposing their "own conception of dignity" on others. In July 2012, she was invited to appear on Le Grand Journal on Canal+ to discuss this with Thalia Breton from Osez le Feminisme.[10]

As co-founder of 8 mars pour toutTEs, Merteuil organized a demonstration to defend prostitution in March 2014.[11]

In February 2015, during the Affaire du Carlton de Lille trial, she expressed regret that the case was not centered "on the seriousness of the violence in certain actions."[12]

In April 2016, Merteuil claimed that 15% of prostitutes in France are of foreign origin.[13]

Merteuil stepped down from being spokesperson for STRASS in June 2016.

Published works

Documentary

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Girard . Quentin . Elle travaille aux corps . Libération . 26 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170830193052/http://www.liberation.fr/societe/2011/12/06/elle-travaille-aux-corps_779750 . 30 August 2017 . 6 December 2011 . fr.
  2. Web site: Stevenson . Chloé . Morgane Merteuil, escort-girl, décortique les clichés de la télé sur la prostitution . www.streetpress.com . 26 February 2019 . fr . 10 May 2012.
  3. Web site: Girard . Quentin . Le féminisme "prosexe, proporno, proputes" de Morgane Merteuil . Liberation . 26 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170728200835/http://next.liberation.fr/sexe/2012/09/04/le-feminisme-prosexe-proporno-proputes-de-morgane-merteuil_843615 . 28 July 2017 . fr . 4 September 2012.
  4. News: Chemin . Anne . " Morgane Merteuil : "Je préfère être "escort" plutôt que travailler en usine" " . Le Monde . 25 November 2011 . fr.
  5. Web site: Nicolas.L . Interview de Morgane Merteuil, secrétaire générale du STRASS . Radio Londres . 26 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160119234836/http://radio-londres.fr/2012/10/interview-de-morgane-merteuilsecretaire-generale-du-strass/ . 19 January 2016 . fr . 19 October 2012.
  6. Web site: Le Roux . Gaëlle . Prostitution : "Toutes les lois visant à protéger les femmes ont été néfastes" . France 24 . 26 February 2019 . fr . 7 December 2011.
  7. Web site: Hadni . Dounia . Prostitution : la pénalisation des clients votée . Libération.fr . 26 February 2019 . fr . 6 April 2016.
  8. Web site: Baldacchino . Julien . La pénalisation des clients des prostituées est définitivement adoptée . France Bleu . 26 February 2019 . fr . 6 April 2016.
  9. News: Prostitution : après deux ans de débats, les clients seront bientôt pénalisés . SudOuest.fr . 26 February 2019 . fr-FR . 3 April 2016.
  10. Web site: Jean-Christophe . Pain . Débat : Morgane Merteuil la grenobloise sur C+ . France 3 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes . 26 February 2019 . fr . 3 July 2012.
  11. Web site: Daycard . Laurène . "Le 8 Mars pour toutes" prêt à battre le trottoir . Libération.fr . 26 February 2019 . fr . 7 March 2014.
  12. Web site: Politi . Caroline . Procès du Carlton: "La prostitution, c'est toujours une forme de violence" . LExpress.fr . 26 February 2019 . fr . 18 February 2015.
  13. Web site: "Vous mentez!": vif échange entre une avocate des travailleuses du sexe et l'une d'entre elles . LCI . 26 February 2019 . fr . 13 April 2013.
  14. Web site: Putain c'est pas simple! . www.cnt-f.org . 26 February 2019 . fr.

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