According to “Sex workers testify at Senate hearing on prostitution bill”, Rhode Island, with exception of a few places in Nevada, is the only place where there is no law banning indoor sex trafficking.
In the article, some of the women testified that they are not being forced, or coerced, into prostitution. They claim that they make more than the $7 an hour job to support children and family.
One may argue that these women have a choice; to work more than one job, or get a job that has tips. They may argue that these women should go to the local McDonald’s or grocery store to apply for jobs.
Prostitution is the oldest profession for women. Yet it is the most dangerous job out there for women. We all know that it’s dangerous for many reasons: violence towards the women, drugs, alcohol, sexual diseases, etc. So why do many women choose this option?
Women don’t have a choice when it comes to prostitution. They choose to go in the field, because it’s the fastest way to make money. Due to our current recession, sex business has been booming, and naturally, women are going for it.
Women are not necessarily forced by men to get into prostitution; rather, it’s the money factor. The people who own these businesses or are involved in them get these women because they know that they are desperate for money. Even before the recession, prostitution was attractive for the same reasons. And these women think that they can get out of it at any time.
Sometimes, these women already have jobs, both hourly and salary. However, prostitution brings home the dough. Like the women said in the article, it is to support the family. People may argue that these women collect on food stamps if they don’t make enough, but then there’s the argument that these women are lazy. So, isn’t prostitution a trap for women?
If people were really concerned about getting rid of prostitution, they need more than just laws. Lawmakers would need to not just criminalize prostitution, but find jobs for women who have little to no education that pay well. If more women could find a safe, easy job that paid the bills, fewer women would be going to prostitution. Also, if we got rid of the stereotypes of women who live off the government, more women would not prostitute. Prostitutes come from different backgrounds, and I’m sure some would be ashamed to use government money, or, they may not know they qualify for extra help. It goes both ways.
Not all prostitutes or strippers are uneducated either. A few years ago, I had a friend Jen who worked for Foxy Lady in Providence as a stripper. She attended Community College of Rhode Island with me, and she did it to support her daughter and her education. She was in a bad relationship with a man who wanted nothing to do with her daughter. Again, money was the factor that made her strip. She told me once that she didn’t go as far as having sex, because she’s not that desperate for money, and she doesn’t want to get hurt.
It’s not the prostitutes who are the problem, but rather the people behind making the business. The government needs to stop passing laws that don’t do anything, and start passing the buck.
In the article, some of the women testified that they are not being forced, or coerced, into prostitution. They claim that they make more than the $7 an hour job to support children and family.
One may argue that these women have a choice; to work more than one job, or get a job that has tips. They may argue that these women should go to the local McDonald’s or grocery store to apply for jobs.
Prostitution is the oldest profession for women. Yet it is the most dangerous job out there for women. We all know that it’s dangerous for many reasons: violence towards the women, drugs, alcohol, sexual diseases, etc. So why do many women choose this option?
Women don’t have a choice when it comes to prostitution. They choose to go in the field, because it’s the fastest way to make money. Due to our current recession, sex business has been booming, and naturally, women are going for it.
Women are not necessarily forced by men to get into prostitution; rather, it’s the money factor. The people who own these businesses or are involved in them get these women because they know that they are desperate for money. Even before the recession, prostitution was attractive for the same reasons. And these women think that they can get out of it at any time.
Sometimes, these women already have jobs, both hourly and salary. However, prostitution brings home the dough. Like the women said in the article, it is to support the family. People may argue that these women collect on food stamps if they don’t make enough, but then there’s the argument that these women are lazy. So, isn’t prostitution a trap for women?
If people were really concerned about getting rid of prostitution, they need more than just laws. Lawmakers would need to not just criminalize prostitution, but find jobs for women who have little to no education that pay well. If more women could find a safe, easy job that paid the bills, fewer women would be going to prostitution. Also, if we got rid of the stereotypes of women who live off the government, more women would not prostitute. Prostitutes come from different backgrounds, and I’m sure some would be ashamed to use government money, or, they may not know they qualify for extra help. It goes both ways.
Not all prostitutes or strippers are uneducated either. A few years ago, I had a friend Jen who worked for Foxy Lady in Providence as a stripper. She attended Community College of Rhode Island with me, and she did it to support her daughter and her education. She was in a bad relationship with a man who wanted nothing to do with her daughter. Again, money was the factor that made her strip. She told me once that she didn’t go as far as having sex, because she’s not that desperate for money, and she doesn’t want to get hurt.
It’s not the prostitutes who are the problem, but rather the people behind making the business. The government needs to stop passing laws that don’t do anything, and start passing the buck.
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Check out Happy Endings? a documentary film on Asian massage parlors in Rhode Island where prostitution is legal behind closed doors.
www.happyendingsdoc.com
We follow women who work in the massage parlors for 3 years as members of the legislation tried to change the prostitution law.
Read your column with hope. Hoped it’d be insightful, not typical reactionary & biased sex work piece. I was pleased with some but frustrated with more. Yes, some women are forced into it by others THAT IS WRONG! But I chose to pay my way through school doing sex work. I controlled what I did, who I saw, the hours I worked. I could’ve worked 2x or 3x the hours waitressing & had far less study time. I’d have learned less, gotten worse grades, likely not gotten the job I have. It was MY choice and I should have that right! Is it anyone else’s business to tell me I must settle for less because THEY don’t think I should do it my way? No, it’s NOT!! No one should be forced into this but they should be allowed to do so. Eliminate pimps, drugs, violence, force. Not my choice.
Jess (and anyone else)
I added a link to my blog on more of my thoughts.
Went to your blog. Thanks for pointing me.
I seriously disagree with some of your conclusions. Don't have time to do them justice now but want to put down a place holder.
I DID enjoy my sex work days. It was part the $ but also part other things. The reason I did is I was in charge. If I had time I'd still do some but not for the $$. Much more to it than that.
Films that show women wishing they didn't do it are usually streetwalkers, women forced by others into it, and women who never had a plan to leave when they wanted to leave so they overstayed. Or the thought they couldn't be selective in setting their rules.
Your argument about not eliminating pimps, drugs, violence etc doesn't follow. I could replace prostitution with bars and it would be more true. Been to Vegas casinos recently and walk out the back door? Ever work in a restaurant in Chinatown (any city) and observe who comes and goes? Should we close all restaurants and bars?
Your cause and effect is wrong
Jess,
I do agree some films have biases. That I am aware of. As far as the bar thing, it's something I feel lawmakers use as an excuse to ban prostitution. I think clubs are just part of the problem, not all of it. I'm giving a general arguement of what some people believe, and I feel when issues like this are brought up to the Senate, they argue points like that. That's what I think, granted I'm no lawmaker by any means, but I think that's how they justify it.
It is hard to make a film without some kind of bias though, because I made a film once, and believe me, in the editing process it's hard when you have to pick and choose, and make sure you're not coming across in a bad light. Unfortunately, something has to get cut out, and I can't speak for the reporters who made the film, or people in the film either.
Don't know the film you saw. Whether IT is biased or not isn't the point. It’s the media portrayal in general. Rarely see a strong woman on screen who works because she chooses to. Rarely see one who isn't a bimbo or drug addict. Never seen one I said “that’s ME”! That's the bigger bias.
Look at the psycho killer CL flap in MA. More press coverage condemning the prostitution than the murder! Prostitution didn't cause the murder. It didn't justify the murder. Reading the coverage you’d think it did. Big outcry to get tougher on prostitution, very small outcry to get tougher on murderers. Make sex work legal. Give workers police protection. As it is some prostitutes fear police more than they fear psycho killers. That's wrong.
Regulate it. Tax it. Keep it safe. But keep it an option. Lots of legal things I object to on moral grounds so I don't do them. This should be the same. Not right for you as a sex worker or client, don't do it. Don't moralize for me.
Only those who are hooking, know why they do it.
what i know is, they DO have a choice!!
the only victims in any sex industry, are human trafficing victims.
you are pretentious.
Yes it's a choice. Women's 'reactiveness' and lack of integrity is the ultimate reason of their futility; not men nor government.
Some workers do enjoy their time working, or much of it.
Truly.
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