Posts by Martin Lindberg
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We're lucky enough to have fabulous solid data about prostitution in New Zealand, and 11% of prostitutes are street workers...
Thanks Emma, that's interesting. I'll concede that my view on prostitution is coloured by the street workers I see. And no, I don't actually know what goes on in their heads. I still see these workers as not being in a position to negotiate a fair deal with their clients.
Hopefully the remaining 89% have better and safer working conditions.
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But the point is that both of us only see what happens at street level. Prostitution happens in a lot of places that you don't see.
True.
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And what is it that you see on a daily basis?
What I see: (as I said upthread):
But I don't see dentists standing around on K Road soliciting work every morning as I walk to work. I see some of the most vulnerable and desperate women (mostly) in society. Women that appear to have little other choice. And I see buyers as men (mostly) who are taking advantage of this situation.
And what you see:
a nice and very dressed up lady standing by the side of the road next to a sports car, who always seemed cheerful and always said hi
I guess we live in different parts of our respective towns.
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Emma has linked on this thread and in the past to the writings of sex workers whose experiences diverge greatly from the one you're trying to paint here.
Yes, I read those and I'm happy to acknowledge that those experiences are valid. They just don't tally with what I see on a daily basis. I don't know how representative those blogged experiences are.
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I see it as a trade based on a position of power that favours the buyer because s/he has money. And yes, that in itself probably applies to dentists as well.
But I don't see dentists standing around on K Road soliciting work every morning as I walk to work. I see some of the most vulnerable and desperate women (mostly) in society. Women that appear to have little other choice. And I see buyers as men (mostly) who are taking advantage of this situation.
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Nobody is saying that being a prostitute is a profession that is for everyone, nor that there isn't a great deal of exploitation in that profession. No doubt there is a tiny minority of men and women for whom it would be desirable, and fewer still that could make it work for them. But society's unhealthy attitude to sex notwithstanding, that doesn't reflect badly on them.
Totally agree. I raised my objection to what I perceived as being "Yay, women can be johns too!". Equality? Sure, but if anyone is reflected badly upon by sex trade it's the buyer - not the seller (IMHO).
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Of course it is. The point was that there ARE people who are sex workers by free choice. That appeared to be the point you were arguing against.
Well, not really. Maybe I should have expressed that differently. As in: Maybe most sex workers have other options, but choose this line of work instead.
Anyhoo, I'm just not comfortable with the notion that buying sex is simply another monetary transaction.
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Not maybe, Martin. There ARE. That's as inarguable as there being people in sex work who are there because they have no other options. But my Favourite Sex Worker has two degrees and a decently-earning spouse. Well-educated articulate sex-workers aren't exactly hard to find on the net
Yes, I expressed myself badly. I'm sure there are sex workers with degrees who can express themselves well on the internet. But surely that's a biased selection.
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Maybe there really are prostitutes that have other options, but choose this line of work instead.
I believe it is rather well documented, yes.
Alright, and if I were to purchase sex how do I go about ascertaining that the person I'm buying from is one of these free-choice prostitutes. As opposed to some Lilya 4-ever slave?
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Most jobs can be looked at as a form of exploitation... So again I'd have to ask you - why? What is it that makes to you prostitution different?
All good points. Maybe I have a blinkered view of prostitution. Maybe it really is a free choice on the level of choosing to be a dentist. Maybe there really are prostitutes that have other options, but choose this line of work instead.