Finnish Four-Term Lawmaker Anna Kontula Admits to Experience in Prostitution
"A Rational Choice for Making a Living"
Anna Kontula, a 48-year-old Finnish lawmaker currently serving her fourth term in parliament, has sparked controversy by admitting that she engaged in prostitution before entering politics. Although she has long been active in advocating for the rights of sex workers, this is the first time she has publicly shared her own experience.
Anna Kontula, a Finnish member of parliament, has sparked controversy by confessing to past experiences with prostitution. Kontula's Instagram
Kontula, a member of the progressive Left Alliance, recently revealed in an interview with the leading Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat (HS) that she began working in prostitution as a 16-year-old student living in a dormitory. She explained that financial difficulties and curiosity were the main reasons, describing it as "a reasonable solution to maintain a livelihood." She added that she does not feel ashamed of her experience and that it has had a significant impact on her political activities.
She said her initial experience with prostitution lasted less than two years, and she stopped after meeting her first husband. However, after her marriage ended, she resumed sex work.
Kontula, who has a background as an advocate for sex workers' rights, co-founded the Finnish sex workers' human rights organization SALLI in 2002. When Finland passed a law in 2006 partially restricting prostitution, she described it as a "partial victory" because it included provisions to protect victims of human trafficking.
Since entering parliament in 2011, Kontula has consistently advocated for the protection of sex workers' rights. Regarding her recent confession, she told HS, "Bringing up this topic at this point in time may help guide social discussions and the direction around prostitution."
Explaining her decision to reveal her past, she said, "Talking about this subject now can have a positive impact on the social debate about sex work and its future direction."
Kontula has also included some details of her confession in her soon-to-be-published memoir.
She has announced that she will not run in the next general election and plans to transition to a career as a social worker, where she intends to provide safe sex education.
However, Kontula's admission has also sparked criticism. Pia Puolakka, a Finnish legal psychologist, pointed out in an op-ed published by HS that Kontula's characterization of prostitution as "no different from other work" is problematic. Puolakka argued that normalizing prostitution does not make society freer or more just, emphasizing that "the duty of a civilized society is to ensure that no one is forced to sell their intimacy."
On the other hand, there are voices supporting Kontula. A political science doctoral student who has worked on economic empowerment for East African female sex workers stated, "Sex work is one of the oldest forms of exercising freedom, and sex workers own their bodies as their means of production." She added, "Anyone, regardless of class or background, can participate in sex work within the boundaries they set for themselves."
Meanwhile, prostitution is legal in Finland except for specific exceptions. At the time when Kontula was a minor, it was not prohibited by law. However, a 2006 legal revision made prostitution involving minors under 18 and victims of human trafficking illegal.
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