Earlier this month we heard that the U.S. Treasury wanted to make a dramatic change and put a woman’s face on an American bill, after more than a century of men dominating the green paper. It’s about time! But who will it be?
A long time coming
To be honest, it has been a long time coming. The last time a woman was on the American paper currency was during 1891 and 1896, when Martha Washington appeared on the $1 silver certificate. Since then, we have only seen men appearing on the money.
Why women haven’t been on the money, we don’t know, but the U.S. Treasury Secretary, Jack Lew, has said that a woman will be appearing on the redesigned $10 bill in 2020. It might seem like a long way away, but there’s a reason behind that date: it will mark the 100th anniversary of the Constitution’s 19th Amendment, when women were given the right to vote.
Exactly who will appear on it hasn’t been made clear yet, as the decision “won’t be made for several months”. Obviously, the public are getting behind the people they think should be on it. Hedy Lamarr, the actress whose work made GPS and Wi-Fi possible, has been pegged as a potential face, while Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, is another possibility, having first introduced the world to the famous Barbie figure.
There are some pretty terrific women who could make the cut, but of course the public are getting behind other names too. On social media, some are insisting celebrities like Kim Kardashian should be on the money, while others think we need a modern woman who represents America as it stands today.
Now the women who feel that they deserve to be on the money are coming forward, and our favourite so far has to be Air Force Amy.
Air Force Amy
Air Force Amy is described as “perhaps the most famous legal prostitute in the United States”, which makes her a great candidate in our eyes. If she was successful in appearing on the ten dollar bill, it might help to change how people think about prostitution.
Amy, like many of those involved in the sex industry, isn’t just a prostitute. Yes, sex workers are more than just their jobs. For some reason, that statement is a pretty shocking one for people to come to terms with, as many prefer to think of prostitutes are poor, helpless women in need of saving.
Why would Amy be a good candidate for the money? Well, for a start she got her working name after serving in the U.S. Air Force. She was a part of it for six years, and since then she has proved that she is, as many newspapers are describing her, “not merely a prostitute”. She has also appeared on TV shows, and hopes to change how people feel about sex work.
In an interview, Amy explains why she thinks she is the ideal candidate to appear on the money: “the Treasury Department has said that they want the honoree to be a symbol of democracy and women’s equality. In the Air Force, I served this country and fought for her freedom. And as a courtesan, I have elevated women’s power within the business to the level of six figure incomes and the ability to control their own destinies.”
Facing opposition
Of course, there are some out there who really don’t like the idea of a sex worker appearing on money. After all, equal rights for women is one thing, but having a prostitute’s smiling face on a ten dollar bill? Certainly not!
The stigma that surrounds prostitution won’t be the only thing that could stop Amy’s bid to appear on the money, as many people are far too happy to point out. In order to appear on U.S. currency, the person “must be deceased”.
Amy jokes that “this bill isn’t getting minted until 2020, and I may not make it that long. Go ahead and plan for me, and if I’m still around we’ll give it to a secondary choice who’s not.”
Personally, I think it is a great idea, and that since Amy doesn’t currently qualify for the bill, it might be a case of finding another sex worker who has made breakthroughs in America. Would a sex worker who has been killed not show that we still have a lot of work to do on human rights and the rights to work of many?
Some surprising support
Amy, as you would expect, is getting some great support from her clients, friends, and fans around the world. They want to see a sex worker appear on the money, as this bold statement would certainly bring attention to the sex industry and help to show others what it is really like.
However, the Air Force’s sweetheart has also been getting some support from unusual places. Robert Paul Reyes, a writer for The SOP, states that, while “Air Force Amy should be commended for her service to the country”, he doesn’t believe that “she’s earned the privilege of being pictured on the redesigned $10 bill.”
While he acknowledges that she doesn’t quite fit the government rules regarding who should appear on money, he suggests that “Air Force Amy is a high-priced hooker” and that “being featured on the $100 bill would be a more fitting tribute”.
It’s a nice idea, getting a prostitute on money, but will it actually happen? Yes, the Supreme Court ruled bans on same-sex marriage as “unconstitutional” last week, but is America really ready to have a sex worker’s face appearing on their $10 as they buy their groceries each week?
We aren’t so sure. It would be a fantastic way to get people thinking about the sex industry, but it might not have the results we are hoping for. What do you think? Would a sex worker appearing on money be a great step forward? If so, who would you want to see on their? Let us know on the Escort Ireland forum, or by leaving a comment in the box below.
Since then she has gained a fine reputation with her blogs on sex advice, sexual health and amusing news stories from around the globe. She is also a campaigner for the rights of sex workers from all over the world.
In her spare time, Lara keeps herself active by going running, and is something of a film buff. She also loves to go travelling.
- Adding the correct “favourites” to your profile - April 24, 2023
- Common Mistakes Made During Sex And How To Fix Them - April 25, 2019
- Your Hay Fever Could Be Eased By More Sex! - April 2, 2019
Please log in here to leave a comment.