She’s someone: Humanising women involved in street based sex work | Sally Tonkin | TEDxStKilda

St Kilda Gatehouse provides support to those involved in street sex work as a result of hardship. Greeves Street, St Kilda is a renowned location for street based sex work in Melbourne, Australia. Often those who work on the streets are misunderstood, dehumanised and blamed for the violence perpetrated against them. Sally Tonkin proposes that addressing any social issue starts with acknowledging an individual’s humanity and an innate desire for recognition. When Tracy Connelly was murdered, Sally Tonkin challenged the media, and the people of St Kilda, not to forget her name.
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Sally Tonkin has been CEO of St Kilda Gatehouse for seven years. Sally’s great passion is working with women who are facing hardship, assisting them to create hope and opportunity.
St Kilda Gatehouse has been operating for over twenty years, providing support to those involved in street sex work as a result of hardship. It works to address the issues that lead to and keep individuals involved in street based sex work. These issues include family violence, drug addiction, homelessness, poverty, mental health and social isolation.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@docmartin9979]

Great but moving story beautifully told. Thank you Sally!

[@AnkitSinghAnarchoAtheist]

wow.... people do crazy things to feel better about themselves.

[@gblake5560]

I completely agree with everything she says. However I've used that type of argument to create understanding for men many times. Most often when the topic is someone who has a problem - and is being condemned without sympathy - like a homeless man or an addict or instances when a man (just like women often are) is being ridiculed for his appearance. I will say that's a human being. And that was someone's little boy or maybe someone's best friend or husband or father. I hear what she's saying and agree but I think that technique isn't just applied to women and isn't indicative of women not being valued as individuals. It's an effective way to snap someone out of their judging groove they are trapped in and putting it in a context where maybe they take a step back and imagine their own loved ones in that position.

[@ashleyching5786]

Love didn’t act like they knew better than me

[@sharonjennings9142]

Gate House is a saviour organisation who would rather see individuals working for peanuts in the garment industry than empowering them to recognise sex work as real work...Sally you may be well intentioned but you are NOT A PEER...do not speak on behalf of sex workers, we can speak for ourselves!

[@eveblack7304]

+Legal Fiction Natural Fact Have you ever done sex work? If no why are you commenting, why are you watching a talk about sbsw, why even bother engaging if you aren't a peer? The only peoples whose opinions matter in sex work are the sex workers themselves.

[@DelfinaKS]

What makes sex work in Melbourne dangerous. Very simple, just that fact that it is illegal. Why is it illegal? No valid reason. Still you don't want to take a stand for decriminalization. I don't understand. Appreciate the good work but this type of political neutrality is in my opinion not really helping us. Sex worker rights are human rights. Just look at what New Zealand has achieved? Why would anyone not want to advocate that in Australia as well?

[@wsesrdyfuguhwsefrgth6269]

Human traffickers kick me out

[@albatin2596]

For many of the MEN, BOYS, and women - nothing happens. Call it trauma or otherwise. Act right - do good things. "Serious" means ACTION. To provide false hope by only listening? Is doing nothing.

[@nelsonmashuduraphasha]

Man & woman