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The Forum > Article Comments > Prostitution as violence against women > Comments

Prostitution as violence against women : Comments

By Helen Pringle, published 2/5/2011

Prostitution is essentially violent, as attested by crimes against prostitutes.

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*But more importantly, marriage in the absence of prostitution would tend to cartelise female sexual services*

Ah there's the point! We would not want those pesky men enjoying
themselves with impunity. We want them under out thumb, where
we can use sex as a weapon and they jump to it at our command.
These girls are simply breaking the bonds and power of the
sisterhood, best we get them banned.

Never mind that prostitution is part of evolution theory. Now we'll
throw the laws of nature out the window too.

More political power for the sisterhood.
Posted by Yabby, Monday, 2 May 2011 2:31:08 PM
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To suggest that women freely make the choice to prostitute in the context of social and economic disadvantage, gender inequality and racism is simplistic and disengenuous. There's a reason that most prostitutes are women, girls or minority groups and it's not because they're naturally inclined to sell their bodies to men. I'm a survivor of prostitution. I went into it as a teenager from a background of homelessness, addiction and prior sexual abuse and assault as a child. I experienced it as profound violence - systematic coercion, verbal abuse, physical assault, sexual assault and rape, although it all felt like rape to me. I also watched other girls, women, boys and men slowly destroyed by this 'industry', some who didn't survive their teenage years. Decades later, I'm still dealing with the physical and psychological effects of the experience as well as the impact it's had on my personal relationships, employability and financial security. I fully support the Swedish model of prostitution law and appreciate the prostitution survivors, feminists and others who are working to have this logical, ethically based law recognised and put into place.
Posted by Ameline, Monday, 2 May 2011 2:42:37 PM
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Prostitutes who work at the lower end of the industry are more vulnerable to attack, drug dependency, abuse by pimps and exploitation. Many serial killers of prostitutes have claimed they do not perceive prostitutes in the same way their mothers, sisters or neighbours. Some men argue that prostitutes are only offering a service, but many of those same men treat these women with contempt. Why is the prostitute arrested but not the John?

Not all men are nice, neither are all women. (Let's get that caveat out of the way). How do 100s of men having sex with a 12 year old girl claim they did not know she was under-age. That is how base and de-humanising this industry can stoop.

Prostitution is not a business in the same way as a mechanic or a dress shop. To pretend there is no difference is to avoid facing what really goes on in some of these places. We are not talking about high price escorts here who work in hygienic conditions and usually keep the majority of their income with the smaller amount going to the middlemen/women if there are any.

Legalised prostitution is better only that regulation around wages, hygiene, safe sex reduce the risks. Fact is even with legal prostitution there will be underground brothels involved with sex trafficking or those who wish to flout the regulations due to association with drugs or exploitation. At least with a legal sector there is an option for women and help if required.

Comparing marriage with prostitution is bogus and only distracts from the horror some of these women endure. Obviously in most families men and women both work at least some of the time and the primary bread winner has someone at home to care for the kids depending on whatever arrangements suit. It is not about sex for hire. Sheesh...some of you are so clinical in your analysis of relationships. What ever happened to marriage based on love?
Posted by pelican, Monday, 2 May 2011 2:52:49 PM
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"Why is the prostitute arrested but not the John?"

Pelican I don't think that there is a valid case for arresting either unless other laws have been broken. Issues around the age of those involved in the transaction, consent etc should be covered by broader laws. There is a lot of difficult issues around prostitution but saying that society has a right to regulate the circumstances of sexual activity between consenting adults or saying it's the fault of the customers in every situation does not fix any of those problems.

The author and other are arguing that the John should be arrested but not the prostitute.

I feel deep sympathy for Ameline and others who've not felt that they had other opportunities but I likewise feel sympathy for those who are so lacking in human contact that they don't feel that they have better alternatives than to use the services of prostitutes. I don't believe that end of the spectrum show the whole picture but it does exist.

It's not servicing a car but neither is it violence (unless it does involve action that would otherwise be considered violent).

For many marrige does seem all to often like a transaction, too many have been through relationship's based on one parties ability to earn or the other parties ability to maintain youth and looks.

Love is a far better basis but most us also know our success in attracting and keeping a partner often has a lot to do with what we can do for that partner no matter how much love might be there at times.

R0bert
Posted by R0bert, Monday, 2 May 2011 3:29:39 PM
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I would agree with JameH

If someone is caught buying illegal drugs from a seller, then both the person selling the drugs and the person buying the drugs should be prosecuted.

A seller shouldn’t be able to advertise the illegal drugs or encourage people to buy the illegal drugs.

If someone is caught paying money to a prostitute, then both the prostitute and the person paying money to the prostitute should be prosecuted.

A prostitute shouldn’t be able to advertise their prostitution or encourage people to give them money for sex.

But according to feminists, only the person paying money to the prostitute should be prosecuted.

It is best to simply walk away from a prostitute and have nothing to do with them.

Better also to never pay money to a feminist or encourage them in anyway.
Posted by vanna, Monday, 2 May 2011 3:48:53 PM
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Vanna

You are in no position to speak on behalf of what feminists may or may not say - feminists are not a single monogamous group, by which I mean not all feminists hold the same view.

As for the industry - it takes a demand for a service for it to become an industry. Men are not being forced to pay money for sex - they quite happily pay for the service.

None of the above has anything to do with the topic which is about the high levels of violence against sex-workers (mostly women), there has not been a single expression of concern by any of the male posters for the well-being of sex-workers. I am willing to bet that none of these posters would encourage their family members that prostitution is a good career path for anyone. Even for the high paid escort it is a short term working life, then what?

"The exchange of sexual services for money is not illegal in any Australian state or territory. However, there are various penalties surrounding different actions associated with prostitution (for instance, loitering and soliciting). These sanctions generally target workers, rather than clients, and often mean that there is little choice about the circumstances under which sex workers provide services; this then reduces workers' ability to screen for dangerous clients.6 Hatty (1989: 242) argues that: "The law plays a critical role in determining the physical vulnerability of prostitute women...[and that] the dominant legal approaches to prostitution (prohibition and regulation) institutionalise physical and sexual violence against...prostitutes."

http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/briefing/b1.html#violence
Posted by Ammonite, Monday, 2 May 2011 4:25:53 PM
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