I did a very “non traditional” dissertation in political science, studying political activism by sex workers.
Ted was incredibly supportive of this project, adding lots of colorful commentary along the way. One day, in a meeting with my full dissertation committee, he was referring to sex workers as “the whores” -- a term which is no longer really in use or appropriate -- and another member of my committee was about to explode in anger. She challenged Ted on this term, and he said he really didn’t care. He had a bigger point to make about activism and stigma.
In relaying this story to a sex worker activist friend of mine, she laughed and said, “I much more appreciate that someone of Ted’s age and stature is speaking honestly and engaging with your topic than I do someone getting angry about his use of terms.”
I think that this was really the essence of Ted -- he cared about and supported non-traditional work, and while he may not have always been up on the latest terms, he meant well, was willing to learn, and was open to projects that weren’t just the usual voting behavior fare. I was lucky to know Ted and to have him as part of my dissertation committee.
Books
Sex Work Politics: From Protest to Service Provision
Negotiating Sex Work: The Unintended Consequences of Policy & Activism (with Carisa Showden)
Samantha Majic
Associate Professor, Political Science
John Jay College/City University of New York
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