Why I think prostitution should be legalized: When people who provide sexual services for money are treated as criminals and given generally stronger (or otherwise different) penalties than those meted out to their customers, it is discrimination. Additionally, legalized prostitution would 1) require regular testing for prostitutes and possibly require certain safety measures to be taken with clients (i.e. condoms), 2) encourage unionization of sex workers, and 3) allow for better protection of sex workers from violence on the job (i.e. if the customer beats the prostitute up and takes his/her money, she can go to the police and file assault and theft charges). It would take time for the police to necessarily take prostitutes seriously, due to the prevailing social mores, but over time and with consistent effort for legal protection on the part of workers, that would change.
Why I think pornography does not inherently harm women: Some include only pictures and videos in their definition of pornography, while others include erotic literature as well. Neither is inherently demeaning to women, as women need not be present in the picture and if present can be shown in dominating, equal, or subservient roles. I fail to see the difference between arousing material of prose and pictorial formats as anything other than a preference of the consumer. I respect that other people have interests that differ from mine, especially insofar as sex, and though clown porn freaks me out and I choose not to expose myself to it, I don't think it's right or reasonable to deny others the ability to view it at will (presumably not in their minivan DVD players). The only area of pornography that I don't think should be made is that involving real children - often children are not sufficiently self-aware to make choices to have sex, especially not for a fee on camera.
While the adult film industry has an unhealthy obsession with a very narrow definition of human perfection, the manufacture and sale of pornography does not inherently harm women. Women in the business can choose not to alter their bodies (as can men, but the pressure on them to do so is generally less). Pornography expresses a fantasy, but Jenna Jameson's popularity does not mean that every man wants to live with her. So long as people (viewers and critics) can separate the fantasy of the story, picture, or film from the reality of life, I see no problem with pornography so long as it is created by consenting individuals.
Many women have huge inferiority complexes, and a modicum of self-worth would go a long way toward fostering a healthy attitude regarding relationships as a whole, which should spill over into women's attitudes toward pornography. Unless watching pornography is all your partner does (and in that case, why are you still with him/her?), you are probably worth more than the girl in the video to your partner just as you are.
Prostitution should remain illegal. should have its legal status changed.
ahem, what if you come from a country where it is legal? then neither choice makes sense, if it was, should be illegal or should be legal then I would be able to answer that.
Granting that some women are pressed into prostitution and/or pornography by those who want nothing more than to exploit those women, with no regard for the well-being of the women whom they thus exploit; and even granting that in many cases this exploitation is the means by which the women invoved in them are introduced to them...
Granting that some women find themselves in economic circumstances coupled with lack of opportunity for more 'legitimate' employment...
Gratning, even, that some of the women who become prostitutes or pornography models of their own will do so simply because it is (sometimes) easier for them than a different form of employment for which they would have to learn a skill...
The real problems (or some of them) are our culture's attitude toward sex as a 'dirty' thing, a view which many soi disant 'feminists' have taken up along with their male oppressors, exhibiting all the same prudery, or even moreso; the attitude that it is acceptable to dominate and exploit another's sexual nature, because that nature is connected to the earth and therefore 'dark', 'evil', 'un-' or 'anti-' 'spiritual'; the attitude that we must fear and hate that upon which we are dependent, particularly when it is beyond our control, rather than venerating that which we undeniably need...
It is not unusual, really, that a woman (or, likewise, a man- but that question has not been addressed here) should enjoy her naked body, even to the extent of allowing others to see it- in fact, as far as I'm concerned, it is the opposite attitude that is rather strange- no one should see this- it's wrong- it's ugly- it's evil- what the fuck is up with that?
Nor is it abnormal that some women should enjoy sex...
There are few other activities of which we might say that one might not take pride in doing well at that activity, or that, if one were to be paid for it, one should be paid according to one's competence.
We ideally would have a society structured and working such that people, women or men, would not be forced into such activities by the evil will of others or by financial hardship; but, in such a society, those who nevertheless desired to engage in such activities should by no means (outside of some regulations concerning legal age, disease control, etc.) be disallowed. (One would hope that they wouldn't be doing it for drug money, or for the drugs themselves, but I would predict that in an (approximately) 'ideal' society there would be less need felt for what the drugs often associated with prostitution seem to have to offer...)
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-21 11:52 pm (UTC)These responses wouldn't fit in the poll boxes
Date: 2005-02-22 01:10 am (UTC)When people who provide sexual services for money are treated as criminals and given generally stronger (or otherwise different) penalties than those meted out to their customers, it is discrimination. Additionally, legalized prostitution would 1) require regular testing for prostitutes and possibly require certain safety measures to be taken with clients (i.e. condoms), 2) encourage unionization of sex workers, and 3) allow for better protection of sex workers from violence on the job (i.e. if the customer beats the prostitute up and takes his/her money, she can go to the police and file assault and theft charges). It would take time for the police to necessarily take prostitutes seriously, due to the prevailing social mores, but over time and with consistent effort for legal protection on the part of workers, that would change.
Why I think pornography does not inherently harm women:
Some include only pictures and videos in their definition of pornography, while others include erotic literature as well. Neither is inherently demeaning to women, as women need not be present in the picture and if present can be shown in dominating, equal, or subservient roles. I fail to see the difference between arousing material of prose and pictorial formats as anything other than a preference of the consumer. I respect that other people have interests that differ from mine, especially insofar as sex, and though clown porn freaks me out and I choose not to expose myself to it, I don't think it's right or reasonable to deny others the ability to view it at will (presumably not in their minivan DVD players). The only area of pornography that I don't think should be made is that involving real children - often children are not sufficiently self-aware to make choices to have sex, especially not for a fee on camera.
While the adult film industry has an unhealthy obsession with a very narrow definition of human perfection, the manufacture and sale of pornography does not inherently harm women. Women in the business can choose not to alter their bodies (as can men, but the pressure on them to do so is generally less). Pornography expresses a fantasy, but Jenna Jameson's popularity does not mean that every man wants to live with her. So long as people (viewers and critics) can separate the fantasy of the story, picture, or film from the reality of life, I see no problem with pornography so long as it is created by consenting individuals.
Many women have huge inferiority complexes, and a modicum of self-worth would go a long way toward fostering a healthy attitude regarding relationships as a whole, which should spill over into women's attitudes toward pornography. Unless watching pornography is all your partner does (and in that case, why are you still with him/her?), you are probably worth more than the girl in the video to your partner just as you are.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-22 03:38 am (UTC)Prostitution
should remain illegal.
should have its legal status changed.
ahem, what if you come from a country where it is legal? then neither choice makes sense, if it was,
should be illegal or should be legal then I would be able to answer that.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-22 02:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-23 01:58 am (UTC)Granting that some women find themselves in economic circumstances coupled with lack of opportunity for more 'legitimate' employment...
Gratning, even, that some of the women who become prostitutes or pornography models of their own will do so simply because it is (sometimes) easier for them than a different form of employment for which they would have to learn a skill...
The real problems (or some of them) are our culture's attitude toward sex as a 'dirty' thing, a view which many soi disant 'feminists' have taken up along with their male oppressors, exhibiting all the same prudery, or even moreso; the attitude that it is acceptable to dominate and exploit another's sexual nature, because that nature is connected to the earth and therefore 'dark', 'evil', 'un-' or 'anti-' 'spiritual'; the attitude that we must fear and hate that upon which we are dependent, particularly when it is beyond our control, rather than venerating that which we undeniably need...
It is not unusual, really, that a woman (or, likewise, a man- but that question has not been addressed here) should enjoy her naked body, even to the extent of allowing others to see it- in fact, as far as I'm concerned, it is the opposite attitude that is rather strange- no one should see this- it's wrong- it's ugly- it's evil- what the fuck is up with that?
Nor is it abnormal that some women should enjoy sex...
There are few other activities of which we might say that one might not take pride in doing well at that activity, or that, if one were to be paid for it, one should be paid according to one's competence.
We ideally would have a society structured and working such that people, women or men, would not be forced into such activities by the evil will of others or by financial hardship; but, in such a society, those who nevertheless desired to engage in such activities should by no means (outside of some regulations concerning legal age, disease control, etc.) be disallowed. (One would hope that they wouldn't be doing it for drug money, or for the drugs themselves, but I would predict that in an (approximately) 'ideal' society there would be less need felt for what the drugs often associated with prostitution seem to have to offer...)