One of the biggest things going on in London, Amsterdam…
“One of the biggest things going on in London, Amsterdam, San Francisco, and New York right now is gentrification. Every major city is dealing with gentrification, and it's always the sex workers they come for first. Cities feel they have to clean up their image and make themselves more attractive for tourism, more attractive to businesses. The Gezi Park struggle in Turkey a few years ago, for example, was a popular movement defending public space and land. What I found when I was digging into the goings on there was that the park was a place where transgender sex workers felt safe.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Gentrification pushes out vulnerable groups like sex workers, who are often the first to be displaced as cities rebrand themselves.
In simple terms: Cities push out sex workers when they gentrify.
Advocate for inclusive urban policies.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- city planning meetings
- housing advocacy
- community organizing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can cities protect marginalized workers during redevelopment?
- What alternatives exist to “clean up” a city’s image?
Economic forces may outweigh activist efforts.