Is prostitution compatible with the dignity and worth of the human person?

[kodiak_bear3]

On December 2nd, 1949, the United Nations General Assembly approved the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others.

The Convention aims at coordinating all UN countries in punishing any person who:

• [*] Procures, entices or leads away, for purposes of prostitution, another person, even with the consent of that person;
  [*] Exploits the prostitution of another person, even with the consent of that person.
  [*] Keeps or manages, or knowingly finances or takes part in the financing of a brothel;
  [*] Knowingly lets or rents a building or other place or any part thereof for the purpose of the prostitution of others.
  

In the Convention, the recital states that: “Whereas prostitution and the accompanying evil of the traffic in persons for the purpose of prostitution are incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person and endanger the welfare of the individual, the family and the community…”

I do know that prostitution is often surrounded by a number of evil activities which should be condemned and legally prosecuted, but is prostitution itself incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person?

 

[Thais]

Those people dealing with trafficking have been trying to merge it with prostitution and present it as one and the same for quite a while.
This attitude brings a lot of harm as it muddies the waters, and scarce law enforcement reources are being spent inefficiently and in ways that don't help actual victims.

Here's a great academic paper on trafficking and sex work and the confusion that exists between the two:

http://myweb.dal.ca/mgoodyea/Docume...king Weitzer Pol Soc 2007 35(3) 447-475.pdf

More interesting POVs that explore the history and cultural context of the major views on trafficking and prostitution (not the issues themselves! that's an important distinction!):
http://www.walnet.org/csis/papers/doezema-loose.html
http://www.walnet.org/csis/papers/doezema-ouch.html

Basically, what those researchers are saying is that while trafficking certainly exists and nobody would deny the experience of the victims and their need for help, the abolitionist feminists and US policy makers are attached to the image of a poor and desolate prostitute who needs help. The concept of a woman who is in sex work by choice scares them and thus most of their work is biased in the way to ignore her.

My good friend who is a decriminalization activist one said about Melissa Farley that she "will interview 10 women at a homeless shelter with a history of prostitution, and 10 women at a battered women's shelter, and 10 women in jail, and conclude that all women wish to exit prostitution. She diagnoses them with post-traumatic stress syndrome, and says 100% of prostitutes show symptoms."

If you approach prostitution and sex work in the right way - with self awareness, mindfullness, compassion, desire for connection, healing and simple fun - it can be full of dignity.

 

[maxx50]

Sex

When we as a society try to deal with a proved degradation . or an action which is contrary to morel consensus. society fails .. Because the loudest voices are not a true representation of the majority opinion. Most individuals . who may have an other opinion .. think they are a lone in their thoughts .. and do not want to be criticised for thinking and saying what some may label immoral .or degrading to everyone ..and is just not acceptable in a civilized society. That is how we manage to get policies that are not representative of the true situation .
How does one approach the issue of prostitution. when they are an active participants.. and are still by their own admission . have varying degrease of moral conflict on the subject.
First I would say that the terms and words that are used . such as . prostitute .. whore . hooker. even white slavery. are derogatory term. which have a built in perception .. and moral judgement. implied .. and are from a different time and society then today .. WE have a greater ability to think for our selves .. and to be more open minded about others action. because we have been given more tools to form a better understanding of the human condition .. and out personal . emotional and sexual needs , which we individually . are more willing to in brace .. and be accepting of others .. at least here in the western world. So take to term that are used to degrade and throw them out the window. and replace them with a fair and open minded evaluation of each individual event and situationist . That means if you see a woman standing on the street corned .. Yes you may think she is a prostitute . because of her ovious attempts to get guys to pick her up ( could be a male also ). But don't just assume any thing else with out the fact . The other side is . the independent escort .. or cortisen.. that is doing the same thing .. openly advertises and is also open and honest about what she does for a living . Where a cording to these reports and those involved in stopping this type of activity .both these women .. are degraded.. and are forced to do this and need help to get out of the situation .. that may be true for both women .. or it may be infringing on there right to do as they want . and to meet there needs as they think is appropriate.
We have no right to judge them if they chose this line of action.. I hesitate to call it work . because there is a lot more involved then just a physical act . there is emotion .pleasure.. and there willingness to partake . in helping others Because that is a real aspect of what they are doing. aside from just the money.
I am not saying that all is well . the human emotional . condition is a very fragile one . and what would be the reason for one person to chose to participate in sexual activities as a job .. and another to not even consider it but at a t same time . a engage in sexual activities with multiple partners. just for the need of sex . or other benefit .. It is a fine line between being in valved in Prostitution. . I often look at much of the activities in the movie industry. or fashion business and even he adult magazine and films . Society . accepts some of the sex .. nudity.. and graphic depictions .. as OK.. but people are getting payed to satisfy others needs. Porn stars or Playboy .and Penthouse models , are not thought of as prostitutes .. but meny also do work as escorts .. high priced .. but still selling sex and what ever that some one needs . for money.
For the moment i am going to stop. It is not all i have to talk about on the subject .. because i am awear of alot more .. including why i see escorts ..

 

[kodiak_bear3]

Revenue from prostitution is not taxable

In a European country, few years ago, a woman in her 40s was investigated by the local revenue agency because she owned few apartments although she had never filed a tax return. The revenue agency calculated a presumed revenue and asked payment in excess of Euro 200K.
The lady defended herself in court where her lawyer proved that those apartments were purchased with the money made as a prostitute.
The lawyer argued that, since in that country prostitution is not illegal, but not even a legitimate profession, money obtained with prostitution cannot be classified as tainted funds nor as income.
The lawyer also dug out some act from the European Court of Justice which states that revenues from prostitution are "a form of compensation for the damage that the prostitute suffers as a consequence of selling herself".
The woman won the case.

Forget (for the purpose of this thread) the "forced prostitution" and let's focus on those who approach "sex work in the right way - with self awareness, mindfulness, compassion, desire for connection, healing and simple fun" (as Thais has mentioned); do they lose their dignity in providing "sexual healings"? Are they entitled to compensation for services provided or to damages for the consequences of selling themselves?

PS... don't we all sell something of ourself (brain, skills, experience, education, physical performance) when we go to work?

 

[maxx50]

everyone takes a little..

I won't equate my work with an escorts . work .. but I do think when i work for someone .. or a company .. I am selling myself .. my ability to do the Job, deal with different circumstances.. and do a good job. Where i have a problem .. is that people think they own you . Employers . think that for the hourly wage they pay . you are there to do with as they like .. .and that they are doing you a favor giving you a job LOL.
As a self -employed worker i also get this attitude from . the client. It is not always blatant .. but under the surface.. Treat people with the same respect and dignity that you want for your self ..
It seems that I have given more respect to the ladies i have seen ,and received more in return . from them also .. then i find in the work place where often i am employed for meny months with one client..it says a lot more for those that are involved in the sex trade then those that would be among there criticisers

 

[Thais]

Forget (for the purpose of this thread) the "forced prostitution" and let's focus on those who approach "sex work in the right way - with self awareness, mindfulness, compassion, desire for connection, healing and simple fun" (as Thais has mentioned); do they lose their dignity in providing "sexual healings"? Are they entitled to compensation for services provided or to damages for the consequences of selling themselves?

PS... don't we all sell something of ourself (brain, skills, experience, education, physical performance) when we go to work?

I think there is a big difference between legal proceedings and interpretations, as described in this court case, and perception of oneself and your actions.

The woman was fighting a legal battle and she won it. We don't know whether the defense used by her lawyer had any correlation to how she truly viewed herself. Granted, I don't think it's ethical to use such defense when you feel empowered rather than damaged by sex work; but then, I would have paid my taxes in the first place.

Losing dignity is a matter of self-perception. And in my opinion, approaching the sex work in "the right way" implies that you receive internal rather than simply financial rewards from the profession. Certainly any occupation has downsides and difficult days, but if you choose to do something and you want to keep doing it, it means the balance for you personally is positive. Therefore "compensation for damages" imho simply does not apply to such scenarios as it is only relevant to forced prostitution.

On the general stand of prostitution and taxes, I'd prefer to see it decriminalized and file my taxes as a consultant or an entertainer.
I also prefer to view us all as selling our time and skills. However, if you want to separate that into selling your mind as opposed to selling your body (a very controversial distinction, imho as it's always a combination of the two), I find it simultaneously amuzing and sad that "prostitutes sell their bodies" and professional athletes or dancers or models apparently don't.

As I was graduating, students who succeeded in job search and career councellors all told us that you need to "think of the interview as selling yourself". Those were the words they chose to the letter!

P.S. I know I would have felt I lost my dignity if I were working for a marketing company inventing compelling ways to sell people crap they don't need yet have to finance.

 

[maroonedsailor]

Imho

prostitution is illegal because wives don't like competition and most men want a woman to 'need' them due to their own insecurities. A wise, confident woman becomes a courtesan - strong, successful men generally enjoy a woman who can hold her own in a dogfight or face a crisis without whining. This does not apply to druggies, drunks, drama queens etc. You are a select few and you know who you are. Here's to you.
Live long and prosper ;-)

 

[belair]

Here's to competition! ! !