Swerf

Pronunciation: /swɜːrf/

Definitions of SWERF

noun a person who opposes the sex work industry and advocates for policies to abolish it

Example Sentences

A1 I heard someone mention the term SWERF, but I'm not sure what it means.

A2 SWERF is a term used to describe people who believe sex work is inherently harmful.

B1 There are ongoing debates within feminist circles about the SWERF ideology.

B2 Some activists argue that SWERF beliefs can be harmful to sex workers' rights.

C1 The intersection of feminism and sex work is complex, with SWERF viewpoints being just one aspect.

C2 In academic circles, the term SWERF is often used to analyze the impact of anti-sex work attitudes within feminist movements.

Examples of SWERF in a Sentence

formal Some feminists believe that SWERF ideology is harmful to sex workers.

informal I heard that SWERFs are against sex work and think it should be abolished.

slang SWERFs just don't get it when it comes to supporting sex workers.

figurative The divide between SWERFs and sex-positive feminists is like a deep chasm in the feminist movement.

Grammatical Forms of SWERF

• past tense: SWERFed
• plural: SWERFs
• comparative: more SWERF
• superlative: most SWERF
• present tense: SWERFs
• future tense: will SWERF
• perfect tense: have SWERFed
• continuous tense: is SWERFing
• singular: SWERF
• positive degree: SWERF
• infinitive: to SWERF
• gerund: SWERFing
• participle: SWERFed

Origin and Evolution of SWERF

First Known Use: 2008 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: SWERF is a portmanteau of 'sex worker exclusionary radical feminist', coined to describe feminists who exclude or discriminate against sex workers within feminist movements.

Evolution of the word: The term SWERF was first used in online feminist communities to call out the exclusionary practices of some radical feminists towards sex workers. Over time, it has become more widely recognized and used in discussions about feminism and sex work activism.