I would be interested to hear your views on the following dilemma (I’m new to this forum, so if there is a better area to post this, please let me know).
CONTEXT: Consider an individual is employed by either social services, the probation service or police and as part and parcel of their job, are expected to uphold the values of their service, in particular, those that expect clients, offenders and victims to be treated without discrimination. Employees are required to be actively aware of issues concerning gender, age, sexuality etcetera when dealing with individuals, so as to avoid discrimination and oppression.
PROBLEM: If an employee of one of the above organisations has some form of legal business investment that borders on the sex industry, whether it is a magazine, lingerie shop or sex-toy shop, are they and the service compromised in any way? Are the values associated with a sex shop too divergent with anti-oppressive values? Should they ultimately lose their job? Some people I have spoken to believe that it is impossible for an employee to operate effectively and according to public sector values, whilst also having a business interest in the sex industry, which is seen by some to objectify gender.
Is there evidence to suggest shops that sell sex paraphernalia have amoral foundations? Would or could this affect the working practice of say a police man or probation officer. What are the implications for the reputation of the service? Would the organisation be brought into disrepute?
Some I have spoken to feel that it would be inappropriate for a social worker / probation officer to have a business interest in this area because it would destroy their credibility, impair their ability to work with clients in accordance with anti-discriminatory values and bring the organisation into disrepute. I personally have problems with this latter view, as it is based on the premise that the sex industry is morally flawed and therefore, incongruent with public sector values. Some elements of the sex industry may be so, but in terms of LEGAL shops that are located outside of the realm of pornography i.e. provocative lingerie, sex toys etc, I am not sure this is true. Is it ok for a male who has covert personal fetishes that objectify women to be employed by social services, but NOT a male whom has no such fetish, but whom runs a public fetish shop? Your opinions please…