The 'normalisation ' of prostitution

[ksteve]

There have been a number of references in articles , blogs etc dealing with the ' normalisation ' of prostitution by various internet sites, including this one. This is where participants on these sites, escorts, clients, members, visitors etc are encouraged to believe that the buying and selling of sex is natural, perfectly normal. In fact, new members are encouraged to ' have fun ' both with escorts on bookings and with posting on the boards. Whats the fuss, its all fun thing, right ?

Well the one thing that has come out of all the recent dicussions on both sides of the criminalisation arguement is that there is virtual unanimity on the issue that prostitution and all that surrounds it is certainly not a 'fun thing'. How do you , as escorts and clients, feel about this so-called 'normalisation' of the industry ? Is it a good thing or not--should it be encouraged ?

[Patricia]

I think a lot of what is said about this is bullshit. The classic example would be Ruhama's regular claims that men are ordering prostitutes like pizzas thesedays, we need a law criminalising the purchase of sex to cause a shift in society to make buying sex unacceptable. Hello! Buying sex is not as socially acceptable as buying pizza.

[LaBelleThatcher]

Ah now...c'mon...you really have to be around a few thousand years longer yet to qualify as "normal"...some of these claims are absurd.

As far as anyone can estimate the number of sex workers in Ireland has been pretty consistent at about 1000 - 1500 (depending on how you calculate it) for a couple of hundred years...and they really didn't order that much pizza in 1802.

Sex workers are an unfortunate necessity...because we all want our children, and grandchildren growing up in a society where they can aspire to find "the one" and live happily ever after...sex workers come in when that aspiration falls down, we have been doing it for thousands of years and we do it very well. It works, it is part of the fabric of our society.

...but there are still a lot of people who believe that the sex industry is something made up to sell red tops...seriously...they don't believe that because they are stupid, they believe it because, deep down inside they want, even need to believe that everybody on earth finds "the one" sooner or later, and every woman is safe and has loads of career and life options...and they need to believe that to avoid being afraid of waking up one morning without those things themselves.

Understandable enough...

As a result, you couldn't "normalise" sex work if you wanted to.

But my favourite is the claim that it is the "demand" that creates sex workers...as if we, as women, to look outside...notice all these guys who want to buy sex and decide that as there is nothing good on TV we will sell them some...it might take our minds off worrying about the rent being 3 months overdue for a while...

[ksteve]

I think a lot of what is said about this is bullshit. The classic example would be Ruhama's regular claims that men are ordering prostitutes like pizzas thesedays, we need a law criminalising the purchase of sex to cause a shift in society to make buying sex unacceptable. Hello! Buying sex is not as socially acceptable as buying pizza.

Are you sure about this Patricia. Do you know how many calories there are in a 16" pizza ? I and many of the men I know, would far better approve the purchase of sex than a pizza any day.

[samlad]

Are you sure about this Patricia. Do you know how many calories there are in a 16" pizza ? I and many of the men I know, would far better approve the purchase of sex than a pizza any day.

I think you've completely missed the point of that analogy

[ksteve]

Sex workers are an unfortunate necessity...because we all want our children, and grandchildren growing up in a society where they can aspire to find "the one" and live happily ever after...sex workers come in when that aspiration falls down, we have been doing it for thousands of years and we do it very well. It works, it is part of the fabric of our society.
...

That's an interesting point Eileen.

I dont think though that the likes of Ruhama are in the least bit worried about men who have been unable to find the 'love' both physical and mental of a woman. Imagine a man ( hetero) going through his whole life never having experienced sexual intimacy with a woman!! I wonder if they actually exist -- they probablt do. Now, that should be criminalised !!

[ksteve]

I think you've completely missed the point of that analogy

Go way !!

[LaBelleThatcher]

That's an interesting point Eileen.

I dont think though that the likes of Ruhama are in the least bit worried about men who have been unable to find the 'love' both physical and mental of a woman. Imagine a man ( hetero) going through his whole life never having experienced sexual intimacy with a woman!! I wonder if they actually exist -- they probablt do. Now, that should be criminalised !!

They do exist Ksteve...and when they do, unless celibacy is a choice, it is a tragedy...there is a female equivalent, just as sad and desperate, but because of the difference between male and female sex drives it is a different problem with different options available requiring different resolution. I am not, by any means, suggesting that a "darn good sh*g" without emotional involvement, will solve the whole problem for a man in that position, it won't, but it is a good first step...it is unlikely to be for a woman though...yet another sexual deficit in need of balancing.

[Anna23]

Ah now...c'mon...you really have to be around a few thousand years longer yet to qualify as "normal"...some of these claims are absurd.

As far as anyone can estimate the number of sex workers in Ireland has been pretty consistent at about 1000 - 1500 (depending on how you calculate it) for a couple of hundred years...and they really didn't order that much pizza in 1802.

Sex workers are an unfortunate necessity...because we all want our children, and grandchildren growing up in a society where they can aspire to find "the one" and live happily ever after...sex workers come in when that aspiration falls down, we have been doing it for thousands of years and we do it very well. It works, it is part of the fabric of our society.

...but there are still a lot of people who believe that the sex industry is something made up to sell red tops...seriously...they don't believe that because they are stupid, they believe it because, deep down inside they want, even need to believe that everybody on earth finds "the one" sooner or later, and every woman is safe and has loads of career and life options...and they need to believe that to avoid being afraid of waking up one morning without those things themselves.

Understandable enough...

As a result, you couldn't "normalise" sex work if you wanted to.

But my favourite is the claim that it is the "demand" that creates sex workers...as if we, as women, to look outside...notice all these guys who want to buy sex and decide that as there is nothing good on TV we will sell them some...it might take our minds off worrying about the rent being 3 months overdue for a while...

This must be the best post ever written on Ei.
I bet that 95% of the posters here don't understand what are you on about
I think your brains are wasted on this industry.

[LaBelleThatcher]

This must be the best post ever written on Ei.
I bet that 95% of the posters here don't understand what are you on about
I think your brains are wasted on this industry.

I dunno, seem to be lots of "wasted" brains working out around here really. Not least yours.