There's a hell of a lot of workers in all industries who aren't in control of their destinies.

Pelican:”I do believe you when you say your work is sometimes like that of a social worker.”

I didn’t – well no more than a chat and a cup of tea with any other human is like social work. Sorry Mel but pull the other one. :P You didn’t quite say that though… it was “like a social worker” and care about people which makes perfect sense although you threw it in with the assumption social workers care.

Houel:”There's a hell of a lot of workers in all industries who aren't in control of their destinies.”

I’m trying to think of someone who is in control of their destiny no matter what work they choose.

I must be in need of a coffee…

Great post Melanie! Confession. I am a regular customer of SW. Raised in an all-male environment I was painfully shy it was only encounters with SW that enabled me to build up confidence if I had done so more often I would have built up confidence quicker. To me commercial sex is neither better nor worse than non-commercial sex, just different, sex workers are beautiful women and I desire them. Sex comes in all forms I like a particular sort that I pay for casual friendly and respectful. Sex workers benefit by $$ and why not and I do. I work in a people profession and do my best for people I'm paid for it but that doesn't mean I see people I deal with just as sources of $$.Some sex worker customers are idiots and worse but I believe that overall we are much more sympathetic to sex workers than general population. Sex workers are great people.

Lets look at the last two articles about the binary relationship.

Myth vs reality timidity or risk taking. This sort of tries to explain away particular explanations or reasons that more women aren't on boards or in politics etc.

Then there is this article that equates prostitution as violence against women.

There was another published in a paper that used the phrase "birth rape" and after a fair bit of protest, the author changed the name.

Basically these authors are relying heavily on the emotional hook.

There is a fair amount of conditioning or grooming of the female victim position.

Thats it, these authors are grooming the next generation of female victims.

Your career hasnt stalled because of decisions or choices that you made, it stalled because of men.

Women who work in the trade aren't there because of choices that they made, and besides men paying for sex is violence.

Oh of course any male who does not support these positions must automatically hate women.

But then some people hold the positions that if other do not agree with them, they then do not like them. But because for example I may not agree with your ideas or opinions, it does not automatically follow that I'd dislike you as a person.

Marriage is probably the most common acceptable form of prostitution

“Oh of course any male who does not support these positions must automatically hate women.”

You seem fully annoyed about it. Actually I would be too if I was being told who I hated.

So what was this “birth rape” one? I can’t even work out what it could mean.

“There is a fair amount of conditioning or grooming of the female victim position.”

I keep missing it, maybe you have to be a 12 year old girl to fall for it.

“Women who work in the trade aren't there because of choices that they made, and besides men paying for sex is violence.”

I don’t know – I haven’t been a customer or a prostitute. Is Peter or creep now going to launch into a “you’re married so you are one” type thing? That is really sad, I can’t remember who said it was sad but they were correct.