I walked into a discussion today between two acquaintances. One of them was mentioning that his wife was a social worker and the conversation eventually wended its way, as most random discussions do, onto an unusual subject - women who ply their trade in the "oldest profession".
The universal attitude was unsurprisingly one of derision and condemnation. To be honest, that would have been my reaction as well but I decided to stop and think about it for a bit. People don't generally go for this sort of work without good reason. I'll put it to you this way - go ask any child the innocuous question of what they want to be when they grow up and I'll bet you you won't find a single one who'll say that this is what they want to do. Why? Well, consider the following:
1. Massive health risks
2. Massive physical risks
3. Societal stigma
4. Criminal record
5. Limited employment period (only while beauty lasts)
So why do people do it? It normally boils down to one thing: money. However, the risks don't outweigh the benefits in the long run. So, again, why do people do it? Here, I think we get closer to the truth: money and desperation. It's a way for the hopeless and the disenfranchised to earn good money. In some cases, it's perceived as the only way to earn money for some segments of society.
Thankfully, I have never ever been in a position where I had to consider the possibility of plying the trade to stay alive. It's not a normal question that we ask ourselves.
So why do we pour such derision, such distaste and disapproval of such folks? Is it wrong? I believe so. But given that it's not a choice that any of us would willingly take, why do we choose to cast these unfortunates out, to ostracize and brand them pariahs when we know full well that it wasn't a choice they willingly took?
2 comments:
A large part of that derision stems from the religious views towards sex outside of marriage, as well as the close association the trade has with various criminal activity.
Yes, desperation has a lot to do with entering the trade. Perhaps she is feeding a habit, perhaps she is feeding a family - there are many different motivators when other doors appear closed or were slammed shut. Some make the choice to enter and then find it impossible to leave. Some find they have no choice when someone else controls them and uses them for their own gain.
It is a more complicated issue than most people are comfortable dealing with around the proverbial watercooler.
It is not necessarily those who ply the trade that deserve the condemnation, but those who use and abuse those who find themselves in the unenviable position of having to make that choice. The sad fact of the matter is that the majority of individuals in that trade have had some history of abuse in their past, and they have no means, ability or understanding of how to get out.
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