To Menstrual Poetry’s article titled “The Truth About Prostitution” I posted the following response:
Now, I understand people’s stance in terms of being worried about women in prostitution, but some of these statistics really should be accompanied with links to studies. 75% of women in prostitution have attempted suicide? A claim like that really needs to be substantiated because it sounds highly improbable. In most countries, particularly in the U.S., statistics related to prostitution are mostly compiled on those who have been arrested and entered into the justice system (a relatively small, skewed percentage) where it was likely in their best interest to “repent” regardless of how they truly feel about the profession. Think of the things people say, and the excuses they make, when they are caught for any crime.
I’d caution assuming that the legal market is a safer environment or what prostitutes would choose for themselves. The black market has its benefits and drawbacks, but legalization (as in Nevada brothels) comes with a whole host of other problems, like high rents (you don’t stay there for free), pimps on the outside in the form of husbands/boyfriends who may be caring for the kids, limited access to the outside world (some brothels require you stay on-premise during your contract period — usually weeks), and then of course less autonomy. There’s a book out there on what used to be Mustang Ranch called “Brothel: Mustang Ranch and Its Women” by Alexa Albert. Very interesting read if you aren’t all that familiar with life in U.S. brothels.
There is also a book out there called “Prostitution: On Whores, Hustlers, and Johns” by James Elias, Vern L. Bullough, Veronica Elias, and Gwen Brewer that has a hodgepodge of available statistics on prostitution from various countries. The data is from the 90s, so not too outdated.
I’d like to state that the men that visit brothels are not representative of all men that visit prostitutes/escorts. That matters. In a brothel, there’s more direct (sometimes outright catty) competition between the women and a narrow selection of clients to vie for. Just because a woman is in prostitution shouldn’t mean that she should have to (or be strongly encourage to) see any man that wants to see her. Granted, it turns out that way much of the time anyway, especially on the street-level, but being caged in a brothel only further restricts the choices available to prostitutes. In a brothel situation, a woman is highly discouraged from refusing to take on a client since obviously the house has a stake in her bringing in that money. So on top of being exploited on the outside by those with access to her bank account (gotta feed the kids), she is also at the mercy of her other pimp, the House. And then taxed on top of it. Damn. *shakes head*
When a prostitute works independently, she has much more freedom to see clients on her own terms and schedule, and she doesn’t have to split her income with various others (coattail riders). That may not seem like much to some folks, but it means a lot to those we refer to as “indies.” Now, granted, safety is a major concern, but just as many others strive for autonomy in their jobs, as do many sex workers. When the commodity you’re selling is intrinsically a part of you, exercising control to the utmost of your ability over those elements within your reach means everything. No one should have to relinquish their options and control over to someone else who likely doesn’t have their best interest at heart. Brothels are just another “someone else” in this sense. So no, brothels don’t provide a real solution to the problems we’re experiencing, IMO, and would probably only create a new way to obscure abuses and poor treatment.
I won’t defend prostitution as it is typically carried out in the U.S. and abroad. But I will say that where you fall within the hierarchy (yes, even sex work has its own informal hierarchy of sorts) affects and shapes your experiences. While all prostitutes are potential targets for mistreatment and sexual assault, regardless of their socio-economic class, there’s a bit more insulation as you move up the “ladder” and off the streets. Do you still put up with bullshit? Sure, to varying extents and frequency. And the bullshit can and does vary depending on the type of clients you see (think Vanilla/ BDSM or poverty-class/ middle-class). Does that excuse anything? Nope. But acknowledging the distinctions is important to those of us that live that life. Not everyone is brutalized repeatedly in a direct, physical sense. After 5 years, I can say that for me the deeper damage crept up, subtly; I genuinely enjoyed the job for years until the rose-colored glasses cracked. The toll it takes on a person, psychically, is difficult to explain. Your personal is no longer really personal.
Is degradation a part of the job? Yes. For some of us the vast majority of degrading and/or humiliating experiences didn’t come by clients nearly as often as from regular, everyday people that learned of our profession and decided to act a fool. Blackmail (in its many forms) is not uncommon.
Is violence part of the job? If you stay in long enough, you’re bound to run across some violence. If it doesn’t happen to you directly, you still read about what happens to others through the forums and papers (the murder of Cheryl of Chicago unsettled escorts from coast to coast).
(Some of the worst stories I’ve heard occurred prior to their involvement with prostitution.) I’ve come to believe that most people don’t choose this profession — not as it currently stands — unless they have received some sort of conditioning to de-sensitize them. A high tolerance level is our norm.
Society considers you lower than the clients you see and all other people outside of your profession, which in the least is damaging to a woman’s self-esteem and self-perception. Lower than porn actresses (ironically) and exotic dancers. It’s a profession that’s tough to break out of (a single, low-wage income can be tough to survive on), and even if you do you’ll never be able to completely put it behind you. Heaven forbid you get busted; then you’ll certainly have no way to escape the discrimination and professed revulsion from others, namely potential employers. It creates a no-win situation.
(The internet has made prostitution accessible to everyone…)
My main point is that the problem doesn’t seem to lie in prostitution itself necessarily, but in how it is carried out within a patriarchy. The problem obviously isn’t the money or the sex or the combination of the two, but that women a.) can be forced into prostitution against their will, b.) are shunned and harassed by basically everyone, c.) have to resist being controlled by pimps (boyfriends), which is impossible for some, d.) are more likely to be targeted for acts of violence because it is widely believed (accurately, unfortunately) that the police are less likely to put as much effort into a hooker’s case, and e.) aren’t the ones deciding the terms of prostitution for ourselves.
In theory prostitution is no different than anything else and should be an arrangement a person can freely choose to take part in, without fear for their safety, but in practice, in reality, it’s just not that simple when there’s entirely too much abuse of power within a patriarchy. It has no place where we are now because it has been distorted and perverted into a weapon to wield against womenkind. It really sucks that things are as they are…
So, as a (newly-)former escort/prostitute, I just wanted to put my twenty-five cents in. Thanks for letting me share my thoughts and perspective on the subject! 
Newsvine
