“ The mere fact that SWERFs are not actively antagonizing workers in the garment industry, or the domestic labor industry, or the farming and food production industry, or even going after MALE sex workers to the degree that they speak over and attack female sex workers shows that their their actions aren’t about ending incidents of abuse, discrimination and sexual misconduct in the workforce, but about controlling women’s bodies, specifically women’s sexual agency. ” —Musings of a Naked Lady, on Tumblr

[1] Sex worker exclusionary radical feminism bingo for online debates.

Sex worker exclusionary radical feminism (SWERF) is a subgroup of radical feminism characterized by whorephobia and hostility to the third wave of feminism. This tiny sliver of feminism promotes socially conservative attitudes toward sex and sexuality.

The term SWERF was coined to match that of trans exclusionary radical feminism (TERF), as their memberships overlap.[2] Their ideology also overlaps as both subgroups follow a prescriptive, normative, approach to feminism, i.e., telling women what to do — TERFs with their gender, and SWERFs with their private parts.

There is nothing "radical" about SWERF puritan attitudes toward sex and sexuality — they are positively reactionary.[3] Of course, not having an interest in certain sexual acts or types of sex is fine in most feminisms, and usually part of the third wave. But SWERFs take their perspective a step further. They dictate what sexual acts are OK for others. This attitude causes a dilemma for SWERFs, who promote conservative values toward sex, but nonetheless call themselves radical.

Street art grouping opposition to TERF SWERF , and fascist ideologies because they often go hand-in-hand.

The main objection SWERFs have to sex work appears to be the sexual objectification and violence that occurs toward women in the sex work and pronography industries.[4] But predictably, they go overboard and are abusive towards sex workers who choose their profession freely, as opposed to because of human trafficking. This kind of bullying and oppression is known as whorephobia.[5]

See also