Dean Esmay of Dean's World has written an essay about prostitution based on this Robert Heinlein quote:
A whore should be judged by the same criteria as other professionals offering services for pay — such as dentists, lawyers, hairdressers, physicians, plumbers, etc. Is she professionally competent? Does she give good measure? Is she honest with her clients?It is possible that the percentage of honest and competent whores is higher than that of plumbers and much higher than that of lawyers. And enormously higher than that of professors.
Dean makes the point that prostitution is, in essence, a meeting of two predators. Prostitutes play on the insecurities and loneliness of their clients for monetary gain. Johns go to hookers to rid themselves of that loneliness, or perhaps to exercise a type of sexual deviance that is not permissible in their regular relationships.
But James from Outside the Beltway disagrees, in part:
Heinlein appears to mean "professional" in the sense of "making a living at it" given the list: "dentists, lawyers, hairdressers, physicians, plumbers, etc." Most of us wouldn't consider hairdressers to be "professionals" and plumbers are skilled craftsmen instead.As to the exploitation issue, Dean is correct in principle. Still, don't lawyers, physicians, and plumbers exploit the misery of others to make a living? Their clients are being sued or facing prison; miserable and/or dying; or just had their pipes burst or their toilets overflow. They probably haven't budgeted for these emergencies but have little choice. In a larger sense, isn't the entire economy predicated on exploitation? I like my job, but there are days I'd rather go to the movies or something. But The Man won't pay me for doing that, so I am forced to go into the office. I have an innate human need for food, but the folks at Safeway won't give me any without my turning over some money. And so it is with most of my economic existence. Oh, the humanity!
Now, it is certainly true that prostitution is more degrading than the other lines of work Heinlein lists. Would you rather your daughter or sister grow up to be a prostitute or a lawyer? [What's the difference? -ed. Stop that.] I think almost anyone would agree that there's not much of a contest there.
Prostitution has been called the oldest profession. Most scholars would agree that it is older than any of the other professions Heinlein lists. Sexual desire has been inherent in humans since, well, the beginning. How long would our species have lasted had man not felt a sexual craving that he sought to satisfy?
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Eric Olsen
Robbie, I think the very positive and most importantly, REALISTIC reasons you name in favor of legalization and regulation outweigh the negative reasons you state at the end, and I have four children.
If it works in rural Nevada, there is no reason it cant' work elsewhere. Of course, I fell the same way about drugs.
2 - TDavid
Legalize marijuana and prostitution and tax the hell out of them, just like they do to cigarettes and booze.
We've got gambling starting to move in on every community (where there is an indian tribe that allows gaming anyway). This revenue could be used to get this country financially out of the hole in a hurry and get our schools back on track.
3 - BB
"But times have changed." Sorry to burst your bubble but there is nothing new under the sun. The fact that a sleazy part of society has been around since the dawn of mankind doesn't necessarily justify acceptance into mainstream society. All sorts of crime has been around for eons so shall we also legalize pedafilia? Some would argue it is a healthy and normal behaviour (for the record I disagree vehimately) and remember that a vast number of prostitutes are under-age girls (and boys). From a health perspective an argument could be made legalization would benefit society. Nevertheless I have to agree with your last comment and as a parent of daughters I would be concerned if it should ever become a legit business.
4 - BB
Sorry for the bad spelling. I should know better. That's "vehemently" and "pedophilia".
5 - Al Barger
BB, I suggest you consider making a distinction between, as you call it, acceptance versus tolerance.
Generally speaking, prostitution strikes me as yucky and sleazy. Of COURSE I wouldn't want any of my women folk involved. It is perfectly reasonable or at least understandable to consider prostitution immoral and just plain bad.
Still, is it any of YOUR business? What right do you have to interfere in the relationship between two consenting adults?
Further, prostitution ain't going away. How much worse do you make it by forcing it underground? Booze does far more damage to society than prostitution, in my estimation. Yet we all know how much WORSE we made it by prohibition.
It's in the nature of freedom that some will use in ways of which we don't approve. It wouldn't be freedom if we were only allowed to do things that everyone agrees are good.
6 - Ms. Tek
It should be legal, taxed, and regulated as alcohol, gambling and drugs should be.
7 - BB
Mr. Barger, it is my understanding that I have the right to express my view on society as much as you do. It's called freedom of speech. If you are implying that stops when it comes to matters of social consciousness then I believe you are sadly mistaken :)
8 - Al Barger
BB, where in the world did you get any idea that I would deny you the right to express an opinion? Indeed, I think I was fairly gentle and respectful of your opposition to prostitution.
It would appear that you have failed to make a distinction between expressing your views about prostitution versus IMPOSING those views on everyone else. There's a big difference.
9 - BB
"Still, is it any of YOUR business?"
I suppose it was the comment above that I was referring to.
"Where in the world did you get any idea" that I am "IMPOSING" my views on you or anybody else for that matter?
There's nothing more to read in to this. It is my opinion - and that is all.
"It wouldn't be freedom if we were only allowed to do things that everyone agrees are good."
Even regulating prostitution is an imposition to a degree. If you are saying society cannot make any judgment calls on matters of social conscientiousness it would be called anarchy. And please Al don't challenge me on that because we would be all night on that point :)
10 - BB
BTW Al, my style of writing tends to be rather succinct. Having worked in law I am used to a judge demanding that I divulge my case (with a file that is at least 5 inches thick) in 2 minutes or less. I am trained to cut through the BS and get to the heart of the matter without the fluff. I suppose that makes me a bad candidate for writing fiction :) If my response appeared curt to you then please accept my apologies. It was not my intention.
11 - Al Barger
Nah Bloke, it's cool. I don't offend that easily. Lordy, I would never have survived the Mac Diva experience if I were that thin skinned.
To be succinct, then, I have a strong presumption against legal interference in the activities of consenting adults. You don't have to LIKE what other people do, but you'll need a much more compelling argument than simple personal moral distaste to justify curtailing the liberty of others.
12 - BB
"Moral distaste" or social consciousness (or whatever you want to call it) is a compelling enough argument on its own merit. I think I know you well enough that you don't agree with pedofilia. If that isn't a moral stance then what is? Criminal laws are based on basic social mores. If you want to deny society that right then you may as well invite anarchy because that is the alternative.
13 - Al Barger
Pedophilia goes into a whole different set of issues, as it involves young people not yet capable of informed consent. That's not the same thing at all.
14 - TDavid
"The Mac Diva Experience" -- good one, Al! LOL I have this vision of beads, Woodstock, acid and a distorted guitar suddenly. The feverish pitch that she plays at should make her a candidate for the top 100 guitarist's list.
15 - BB
Well Al, I don't know if I can accept your overtly "simple" dismissal of my "argument". Prostitution does not involve just consenting "adults". The fact is children are also involved in the sex trade and that is not acceptable under any circumstances. Government regulation would not alter that reality. It would in fact give the business the proverbial seal of approval, thereby sanctifying it and giving it even more credibility in the eyes of the beholder.
16 - BB
I suppose in the most "simple" of terms what I am trying to say is that once you lower the standard the problem will only get worse.
17 - anjelique.
why should we do it in the dark like most of us do, why not just do it openly, legalize it! it will make our lives much more easier.
prostitues should be given license and certain rules should be followed before undertaking the oath of prostitution, that will make a better world, a world of freedom "do what you want to' as long as you have it under control".
people around the world talk about freedom, maybe this should be our first step towards it.
18 - mary
I don,t understand how we end up spending so much money in an issue that we know is not going to go away, i have 4 children as well and if one of them will take that path in their life i would do every thing to helped them but ultimately we alll know they going to do what ever regardless.so, my point tax the shit out of them, and who cares what they do with their bodies.
19 - Nick Jones
Then let's RAISE the standard: kick out the kids, kick out the pimps, call up Margo St. James, or revive COYOTE without her, organize networks, a lobbying group, and one or more unions for the workers, get commitments from sympathetic physicians, start building a base. If Nevada can do it, why not the rest of the country? Set the minimum age at sixteen - if they're hold enough to hold a job where they could be crushed between a tailgate and a loading dock, or killed in a grease fire at McDonald's, they're old enough to have sex. Allow no coercive contracts; all employment is 'at will'. Regular inspections by the health board. And so on.
Never fucking happen in a MILLION years in Puritan America, but I can dream, can't I?
20 - Sandra Smallson
We already accept/tolerate so many things that might be considered immoral in society today. I am all for legalising prostitution.
It means every woman has a job waiting for her if all else fails:) I jest. No. I wouldn't do it personally, but Jacklyn Bloggs might. Why stop her? If it is legalised it would probably become less seedy and less dangerous. It is all those awful things because it's illegal. Make it legal and they would all be like the high class escort agencies that exist today. Prominent business men have no problem with those ones:) A prostitute is a prostitute..that is certainly one protest march I wouldn't mind attending..placard and all:)
I don't know about legalising weed. I have a colleague who has been smoking the thing for almost 10 years now. He CAN NOT remember simple things. But for me he would have lost his job a few months ago. I just happen to have a soft spot for him so I cover his ass. How do you legalise them smoking the thing in moderation? I never believed it affected the memory until this colleague of mine slowly but surely became a spastic before my very eyes.
21 - Nick Jones
You really can't legislate moderation. You can either legislate a total ban, or penalties for any damage caused by immoderation. And you can't legislate intelligence: look at all the "Jackass"-related injuries.
22 - Sam
The average prostitute in America gets fucked by her first man at the age of 13. A study done on San Francisco prostitutes found about 80% were raped as children.
Since 13 is the average starting age for the average American prostitute, how many millions of American male child rapists don't consider themselves rapists because they paid money and if you give a 13 year old money to stick your dick inside her child's body it isn't rape?
90% of prostitution in the USA is pimp-controlled, in other words, 13, 14, 15, and 16 year olds are getting raped repeatedly every night for the profit of pimps (prostitution is the most profitable gang activity in Los Angeles)
Please learn the truth before simply suggesting legalization of child is a good thing. Everywhere in the world prostitution has been legalized, child prostitution, drug activity, trafficking in human slaves and sexually transmitted diseases increase.
Please educate yourself more thoroughly before deciding what it best for our sons and daughters.
www.prostitutionresearch.com
Sam
23 - Nick Jones
Who suggested legalizing child prostitution?
24 - jalisa
being realistic i agree with you ronnie because everyone is looking for some way to get some sort of money now-a-days so that seems like the easiest and it should be legalized.I don't think that 13yr olds though should be out there.But we can't blame them they mind friends and get hurt but that is why they are parents so that they won't get hurt.So if they are hurt i think it should be the parents fault and they should be blamed
25 - Cristina
Although logically the comments advocating the legalization of prostitution make sense, they're very abstraction of prostitution to a business or entertainment is denegrating. I would suggest a little research. For example, look up the current information by Dr. Melissa Farley (supported by the World Health Organization and The American Psychiatric Association) that indicates a relationship between the act of prostitution and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at levels exceeding Vietnam Vets. This isn't you and me going at it once or twice for dinner. Prostitution as a way of life is hardly so cut and dry. Many STDs are not stopped by condoms, including several that lead to cervical cancer and barrenness. Thus, the myth that regulation prevents permanent health risks is based on partial information. Moreover, even one indiscretion can lead to coital pain. After the honeymoon period of prostitution ends, women find the chronic penetration causes soreness and sex in that high volume is not only disagreeable, but down right traumatic. And this is only the violence found in legal prostitution, which has been found not to reduce criminality or dignify the women therein (Take the example of Australia).
Also, take into consideration that roughly 80%+ of all prostitutes come from sexually abusive pasts within their formative years. Thirty two percent of a sample of nearly 500 had vaginal penetration before the age of eleven. This supports other research that concludes that women able to prostitute themselves do so at the cost of psychological dissociation. This ability to separate body and mind is not copacetic, either (a quality that is markedly different from other "job choices"). Prostitutes are among the highest rates of suicide. In addition, most prostitutes end up taking drugs to cope with the ramifications of their vocation - legal or not. Clearly, the correlative drug use doesn't boost an image of a happy "Pretty Woman" type prostitute.
Also, the acquiescence(sp) to a human nature that is exploitative and oppertunistic - use or be used - is a nice justification but not much of an argument for anyone that would like to chide trangressions of social justice. Civil society, albeit flawed as it is, allows for the realization of possiblity; we are freed from survival conditions in order to participate in the formation of ideals that exceed animalian existence. It is beyond my ability to imagine that the pro-legalization advocates have never uttered an indignant "should" when slighted. After all, it is natural that someone "could" molest our children or mug our spouse, but "should" they? In the same way, "should" we advocate for exploitation.