Letters to the Editor
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Source of information?
Thailand has legal prostitution yet many Thai prostitutes were trafficked from Burma or Cambodia and live squalorous lives like animals--many contract aids, they are not permitted to say no to men who don't want to wear condoms--they suffer even under legalized prostitution.
OK, but here is something I cut and pasted from:
http://www.avert.org/aidsthai.htm
Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, the '100 percent condom program' was initiated. 16 This program aimed to enforce consistent condom use in all commercial sex establishments. Condoms were distributed free to brothels and massage parlours, and sex workers and their clients were required to use them. Brothels that failed to comply could be closed. Without this programme, it is estimated that Thailand’s national HIV prevalence would be ten times higher than it currently is.
The citation for this is from UNAIDS, 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic.
Now, the initial citation goes on to say that:
The 100% condom program is still officially in place, although it does not seem to be followed as thoroughly as it once was. Sex work has become increasingly common, with a 50% increase in the total number of establishments offering sex services recorded between 1998 and 2003. The majority of these establishments are not brothels, and are therefore not reached by the 100% condom program. Women who solicit sex in ‘unofficial’ venues, such as bars and restaurants, are not thought to use condoms regularly, and it is difficult for authorities to monitor how they are being affected by the epidemic due to the hidden nature of their work.
My point here is simply that it is legally required in Thailand that all sex in brothels be with condoms, or the brothels can be closed down.
If the brothels are forcing women to have sex with men without condoms, then they are acting outside the law, so this is not really happening in legal brothels, but in illegally run brothels. You can close down the legal brothels, but the illegal ones will, by their very nature, continue to operate.
It seems much less likely to me that women who are freelancing are forced to have sex with men without condoms, as they are surely in a better position to negotiate pay and conditions.
Incidentally, I should say that I have never been to Thailand, Burma, or Cambodia, nor, in fact, have I ever been in a brothel (unless a university dorm could qualify as such), so my knowledge is purely second hand. But what is the source of your information? Is it documented, or is this from personal knowledge of Thai prostitutes that you have spoken to, or their customers?
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It's because it's not about sex
Yes, that's right. Prostitution is not about sex, it's about money and power. Much like rape is not really about sex.
Does anybody seriously think that the millioniare Moshammer needed to troll the back alleys of Munich to pick up a traumatized kid from a war zone...just for the sex???? Of course not. (Americans should know he was not a closet gay or anything like that). And then on top of that Moshammer tried to stiff the guy.
Does anybody believe that Hugh Grant...you know, Hugh fucking Grant, sex symbol, boyfriend of Elizabeth Hurley....needed to pick up a drug addicted streetwalker to get sex???
I doubt seriously that very many men who patronize hookers have no other way to get any kind of sex. It's the money, baby, and the pleasure of lording it over another human being. It's saying, I have these dollars and I'm gonna give them to you by literally stuffing them up your a**. And you're gonna smile and tell me you love it.
That's what prostitution is, and that's my problem with it. It's a huge violation of a person's dignity, totally incomparable with any other kind of "work", and difficult to argue that anybody really chooses it freely. As has been pointed out repeatedly, you do not see girls with other options in life lining up to be prostitutes. The guys on this thread who think that women can choose this life and enjoy it or express themselves creatively in it or some such bullshit are living in a pipe dream of their own wishful thinking. Your boss ever make you take home your wages in your anus?
No? Thought not.
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tina schrier
This is the *fourth* time I've asked these questions and I predict that you will still not give me a straightforward answer.
I note that you never answered my questions. Do you think construction workers are "screwed up" because they risk their life every day at work?
How about soldiers and Marines, are they "screwed up"?
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Jealous of prostitutes? Unfair competition? Are you kidding me?
I can't for the life of me understand why I would be jealous of a prostitute. Should I be jealous of the beatings that I'll be sure to get? How about the prospect of sleeping with repulsive people for a pittance? How about all of the STDs and the condomless sex? Yeah, I am so jealous of that.
The men who think that the prostitute is some creature of desire that all the "straight" women envy -- sorry guys, but you're living in a fantasy world. The fantasy world where the prostitute on the corner is out there because she's so horny, and she's so horny for you (when in fact, she's just desperate for money).
Of course, the other fantasy that johns have is to dominate and degrade the women. They get off on the power inbalance.
Did anybody read the preliminary paper and the sample data included? The woman talked about being beaten by a trick. The data also found that the women only found 25% of the tricks attractive. Yeah, we all wish that we could sexually service lots of unattractive people for chump change with beatings as an added bonus. How on earth could someone think that a streetwalker's circumstance is something to envy?
And this isn't about me being a mean old woman who is just trying to spoil men's innocent fun. Prostitutes are treated like garbage, by all the men who some here say are so grateful and worshipful for the prostitutes' service. That's what's wrong with it.
PJBabiba wrote:
You keep assuming that women have to be desperate to go pro. It isn't always like that, and some women would willingly do it if it were legalized because they enjoy seduction, experiencing different partners, perhaps being wined and dined if you're an escort and being able to leave without much emotional baggage.
Seduction. Seduction? What seduction is required in streetwalking besides the desperation to take the $40 for the sex act?
Aycharaych wrote:
Ever done construction work?
Some of it is incredibly nasty, you breathe poisonous fumes and are subject to extreme heat and cold all day.
You're right, there are different risks associated with prostituting oneself to men? Did you ever consider prostituting yourself sexually to men instead of the dangerous work of construction? Why not, if it's so benign?