A question that has been on my mind for a long time was put in by my friend Mary (he is the sysadmin at Sarai). Let me give a bit of the background. When I was in Delhi, a bunch of us fellow-geeks used to meet almost twice a month to talk about our hacking projects, our current work (all of us were happily free of NDAs), have a good dinner and generally get into debates about topics that would be considered a taboo (or inappropriate by most people). Once when we were joking about how prostitution is legal in Thailand and what procedure would the government be using to collect the taxes (I mean, how will they cross check the receipts), that Mary popped the question "Why do you think prostitution is wrong ?" . My first reaction was "It is not the right thing to do" - however, I realized that pushing my judgement of what is right and what is wrong on someone else is not the correct thing to do. I have been thinking of why I consider prostitution to be wrong - it is a profession - a service is provided and a price is paid for it.
This question again came to the front of my mind when I read this blog post by Joshua Newton. He writes about the An autobiography of a sex worker by Nalini Jameela. He posts the following quote from the book
Some see brothels as a space for sexual perverts.
They are wrong. Why do people of all walks of life come to us? Parents prevent our sexual desires in the beginning. Then teachers in schools. Then moralists in churches, mosques, and temples slap rules. When you grow up, police and courts take up the role. They spread the rule one man for one woman. Yet people seek out prostitutes all over the world in all ages. What does it prove?
So are you against moral structures?
No. Men dictate the morality of this age. They use wives or sex workers to their ends. We dream of a new dawn of morality. Sexuality like food and shelter is a terrain of human tastes. It is still to be developed into a plateau of endless tastes and forms. Morality should not suppress. It should be liberating. When sex work turns into one among many human service sectors, you will stop suppressing yourself and others.
I have not read the book but this book is definitely on my to-read book
Comments
according to various church teachings (mostly christianity as far as I know)- promiscuity/sex is a sign of the devil and/or weakness in the sight of temptation. To do it for any other reason then "procreation" is wrong. So to do this "bad" thing and actually get paid for it, is "immoral". The rightous will always want to "save" the "lost" - even when they don't want to be.
Most people would agree that some things are without question bad: murder, genocide,rape, extortion, theft (and so on). Prostitution does not fit this category. Prostitution is bound up with values, beliefs and prejudices.
Forced prostitution, however, is always bad.
For more insights and thoughts, visit theamsterdamdiaries.net
This patriarchal society is based on the principle of controlling women's sexuality and reproductive nature. Doing it for money is one's way of 'breaking bad' and may render to some the feeling of being in power.
'Prostitution is bad' has been imbedded in our society by the earliest controlling organization- the religious institutions. They themselves were known to avail of this service.
One of the few positives about the above problem, demand is more, supply is less which drives up their prices.
However the stigma associated with prostitution is no less evident in a 'developed country' as it is in most 'developing countries'. Sadly though, I don't see bright immediate future for this profession.
Speaking of my voluntary services, its about the easy money. Frankly, I find the taboo associated with it downright ridiculous. If one is able to market his/her mental and physical prowess, why not sexual? I have good looks, I put in efforts to maintain it, I have every right to receive remuneration.
Needless to say, like every other profession, ethical and moral behaviour on the part of the service providers is a must.