v. fos ta lize. A neologism, said from the view point of a sex worker (SW) to describe the predicament in which they find themselves following the promulgation of USA laws FOSTA and SESTA of 2018. The word is derived from the more prominent
law's acronym. The two laws were passed, ostensibly, to interdict the occurrence of nonconsensual sex trafficking; in other words to combat
sex slavery--often of minors. SW's--most of whom do not consider themselves needing rescue; and their activity they consider to be adult and mutually consensual--feel affected as innocent bystanders. (Oh, yes; SW's also consider themselves
innocent). For SW's these laws have greatly degraded their ability to
meet clients and vet clients for
safety without encountering the ever present scrutiny of
law enforcement. SW's have needed to
re--occupy unsafe spaces; street solicitation has increased. The shuttering of such sites as Craigslist singles ads by FOSTA has affected SW's
world-wide. Because, hey; most of them are single too.
Sex Worker Nicki Lee: "Hey Angel, did you hear that
local law enforcement has begun to aggressively fostalize this weekend? Yea, they'
re squandering resources by running a sting operation and arresting nontrafficked SW's over on Maple Street."
Angel: "I heard they bein' charged with self traffickin' themselfs! Since when ur not here hoin', Nikki, in your vanilla day
job, you bein' mayor of this city and all, can't you stop them from needin' ta fostalize us ho's like that? Damn...glad the
police chief's my regular..."