The Kennebunk 'Client List' and What This Is Doing to Women in My Community

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patricia-leavy-phd/kennebunk-client-list_b_1970828.html

I am a resident of Kennebunk, Maine -- epicenter of the prostitution scandal that has captivated people's attention. I feel compelled to address what I see as an assault on the women in my community. How is it that the question of whether or not to release the names of 150-plus johns has morphed into a subtle but clear attack on women?

Beginning with questions about the release of the "client list," it's important to remember that this is a simple matter of fairness. It is standard police practice for the names of any local persons charged with a crime to be released. Everyone who has their name released is "presumed innocent," and I have no doubt it is always embarrassing to be revealed in that public way. Nevertheless, it is standard practice and there should never have been a discussion about whether or not release the names of the johns who have been charged. While the names are now being made public, in batches, the hype around the release of names has triggered a range of gendered responses which seem to further victimize the women of Kennebunk.

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