(no subject)

[novapsyche]

Over in ginmar's journal, she discusses how eighth graders were told that stripping is a career choice. The discussion has mostly focused on the "evils" of prostitution. ginmar, a feminist, has stated plainly her opinion that prostitution should remain illegal. I've, of course, added to the conversation.

Comments

[xterminal.livejournal.com]

oh, my. watch all those knees jerk in unison.

I've, of course, added to the conversation.

Yes. Yes, you did. Of course, the expected response to a voice of sanity seems to have ensued.

[eleri.livejournal.com]

*SNERK*

[entheo.livejournal.com]

what she really needs is to visit a country where prostitution is legal and taxed, such as Holland, Germany or Australia. Then talk to the working girls (or boys) and find out it is mostly boring work, but often with unusual incidents/annecdotes that they can regale in the pub to their friends.

[mehinda.livejournal.com]

I think that might curb the seeming attitude of "nowhere can women be prostitutes without being objectified" argument, but the woman who posted the entry nova references does have a point: in the US the attitudes towards women and women's sexuality are not as enlightened (overall) as they are in the countries you've mentioned.

Here, we're still laboring under a rather puritanical set of decency laws at the state level (most states) which are amplified by an overall demeaning attitude toward women.

I, personally, don't think legalization/decriminalization will resolve this problem, but I do feel that we cannot resolve these problems while prostitution remains illegal. Does that make any sense at all?

[akaiyume.livejournal.com]

Perfect sense. Practically any other type of service we can give or sell. Criminalizing the sell of one certain service puts a stigma even on those who choose to give said service away. As long as that stigma is there, it will lead to the general dichotomizing of women into virgins or whores - both of which are two sides of the same sexualized coin and are seen as sexually desirable - just under different circumstances. Until that stigma is removed it will be harder to stop the classification of women in terms of sexual objects. Until we can fully accept prostitutes, even the non-sexual aspects of womanhood will be sexually objectified.

[mehinda.livejournal.com]

That's exactly the kind of conversation I don't want to get into any more. There's really no changing anyone's mind on this or similar topics. Still, you made some good points.