Dictionary

SWERF en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /swɜːf/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• /swɝf/ (General-American)

Etymology

Acronym of sex worker-exclusionary radical feminist, on the model of TERF.

Meanings

1. A sex worker-exclusionary radical feminist; a feminist who opposes the sex industry, particularly the production and distribution of pornography, typically viewing it as coercive or abusive of the women involved.
   • Conversely, many intersectional feminists see TERFs or sex worker exclusionary radical feminists (SWERFs) as bigots and bullies. 2016, Giuliana Monteverde, “Navigating Complicity in Contemporary Feminist Discourse”, in Afxentis Afxentiou, Michael Neu, Robin Dunford, editors, Exploring Complicity: Concept, Cases and Critique, page 108:
   • SWERFs (sex worker exclusionary radical feminists), they also dubbed us TERFs (transgender exclusionary radical feminists) because, as one protester shouted, 'Trans women sex workers of colour are dying thanks to SWERFs!' 2021, Julie Bindel, Feminism for Women: The Real Route to Liberation, unnumbered page:
   • When national mainstream media outlets bought into the myth that lap-dancing clubs caused sexual violence in Camden, SWERFs gained huge ground in terms of public opinion about sex work, and with that came significant power. 2022, Stacey Clare, The Ethical Stripper: Sex, Work and Labour Rights in the Night-Time Economy, unnumbered page:

Forms

Deriveds

SWERFy

Relateds

TERF