…is an entire blog.
Thoughtful and intelligent throughout, Why I Hate Fun calmly debunks all the populist ‘arguments’ that the sex ‘industry’ is a good thing for the world, society and everyone.
The latest post tackles that catch-all thread de-railer “but everybody’s job exploits them in some way!”. You know the one: it’s commonly expounded by those happily invested in pornstitution who attempt to convince us all that being paid to have your body sexually abused is so totally the same as, oooh, cleaning toilets or serving MacDonalds or hospital portering or selling perfume or sitting in an office or writing a book or making greeting cards or, well, anything really.
It’s a fab blog. Go read.
13 responses so far ↓
Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // May 15, 2008 at 12:15 am
“but everybody’s job exploits them in some way!”
Yes, more than likely. But other *jobs* you can quit, you can hand in your resignation and leave, or change to another job - usually, and without the need for any get-out type of support, or any level of post trauma counselling….
I’ll go read it properly later, promise.
Mr. Morgan // May 15, 2008 at 12:42 am
Well, that made my morning
‘Fab’ is kind of an understatement though, isn’t it?
And it’s going to be made into a book! Epic victory!
xochitl // May 15, 2008 at 1:28 am
I’m reading this article in the latest issue of Ms. which explains it this way: “No ‘employment’ other than war combat has similar rates of physical assault, rape, and homicide.”
witchywoo // May 15, 2008 at 1:30 am
I am the Mistress of understatement Mr M. You know that.
Mr. Morgan // May 15, 2008 at 2:19 am
I know, I know. These are matters that speak for themselves, luckily. Otherwise, the phrase ‘fucking awesomeness’ would have gone stale.
L.M. // May 15, 2008 at 5:34 am
I think it’s interesting, too, that the writer said that she was a “high-class escort” and treated well compared to many other women in the sex industry, but that she still hated it and found it degrading.
For a long time, I left out well-paid escorts and call-girls and guessed that they must be the few prostitutes who enjoyed their jobs and “chose” to do it, but I’m realizing now that’s a far too simplistic way to look at it.
buggle // May 15, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Thanks for promoting this blog, I think it is amazing! I wonder when it will make it into book form? Then we can promote the book a ton
stormy // May 15, 2008 at 8:36 pm
“No ‘employment’ other than war combat has similar rates of physical assault, rape, and homicide.”
Thanks for finding that one, xochitl. Puts it in perspective.
Laurelin // May 16, 2008 at 7:48 pm
I’ve also seen apologists try to argue away the ‘90% want out’ figure by saying that many people in regular jobs want out of their work. That’s as may be, but in regular jobs you don’t risk being murdered as an ‘occupational hazard’, nor does your work involve actual physical intrusion into one’s body. Now capitalism is a horrible institution that exploits people as a matter of course, but the vast majority of jobs, however bad they may be, do not involve the dissolution of one’s bodily integrity, and if they do, the world would at least recognise that as abuse (even if the world does nothing to prevent it), unlike in prostitution. Apologists for prostitution and users of prostituted women fundamentally believe that repeated and endless physical intrusion is not abuse. In prostitution, one’s ability to refuse a man entry into one’s personal space is non-existent- and I fail to see how this is equal to being in a bad mood and having to smile in a normal job. No other ‘work’ demands this sort of intimacy with strangers, no other work demands a person give up all personal boundaries. The arguments that smiling on a bad day, and being compelled to have sex with someone one finds repulsive are equivalent reek of privilege and denial.
Laurelin // May 16, 2008 at 7:49 pm
excuse the crapness of my grammar in the previous comment. I’ve been marking papers!
CoolAunt // May 20, 2008 at 7:49 pm
“I’ve also seen apologists try to argue away the ‘90% want out’ figure by saying that many people in regular jobs want out of their work. ”
Right. So they update their resumes, make themselves known to job/employee recruiters, and visit the monster board daily, usually doing as much of this as possible on the current and soon-to-be-former employer’s time/dime. Until the new gig is landed, “therapy” consists of complaining to any and all who’ll listen about how much they hate their jobs, their bosses, coming home smelling like old French fry grease and onions, and so on.
Try putting “escort” or “prostitute” on your resume and see how many employers call you to come in and interview…for the position to which you’ve applied, that is, and not for more sex work. Forget about distributing your resume on the pimp’s dime ’cause that’ll prompt him to beat you even more severely than he does when you complain.
Not exactly the same.
noni // May 21, 2008 at 4:18 am
Long ago I was there LM. The pornstitution posse assume that because I was native, when I mentioned I’d BTDT, that it had to have been disgusting and kinda well, not what THEY were worth (showing their racism too). One of those poor street women was who I’d been they were sure. Naturally I’d hate it and want out. Having to work with my own tits like any poor woman, and wear clothes that were not faux designer even. Gawd the depravity.
NOT_them. High class call girls.
You see they think they’re high class because the men their doing are professional and well paid, monied men. Pricks nevertheless, but pricks who’s pictures are occasionally on the news.
Ranking themselves by the status of the man who’s bought the right to use them like kleenex. Because they’re clean and wearing perfume when they’re being degraded. So telling.
I was high class.And it was degrading. Because it’s not where it happens, or what you’re wearing, or whether you’re on your knees in a five star hotel or the parking lot. But that you are doing what anyone would find degrading. Which is, being paid to be degraded. Being paid to be ashamed of if anyone saw them with you, being paid to be considered a receptacle. Being paid to believe whatever lies they told you about how empowered you are.
hexy // May 31, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I found her blog shortly after that post was written, and read the whole thing. She’s a great writer.
I do hope she gets back to updating regularly again soon.
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