Newsweek has run an article on an extensive study of men who buy sex. I am so glad to see that major news organizations are shedding light on the "consumer" and "demand" for the purchase of women as objects and how great of a problem it truly is. While there are factors like education and poverty to be addressed on the victim's side of the issue, solutions to those problems will never be effective if we don't cut down the demand.
Page 5 of the article states, "Striking developments abroad are also influencing policies in the United States. In 1999 Sweden decided that prostitution was a form of violence against women and made it a crime to buy sex, although not to sell it. This approach dramatically reduced trafficking, whereas the legalization of prostitution in the Netherlands, Germany, and much of Australia led to an explosive growth in demand that generated an increase in trafficking and other crimes. Sweden’s success in dealing with the problem has persuaded other countries to follow suit."
What kind of penalties do you think would act as effective deterrents for men who purchase sex?
Showing posts with label prostitution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prostitution. Show all posts
7.18.2011
6.22.2011
'Prostitution is hardly a career choice.' I'd also like to argue that we focus on men
A few days ago democratandchronicle.com posted an article refuting the idea that prostitution is a career choice, plain and simple. "'There may be some women who chose prostitution for that reason, but the explanation is rarely that simple,' says Mandi Burnette, an assistant professor in the department of clinical and social sciences in psychology at the University of Rochester...whose own research involves violence, prostitution and various other types of criminal behavior..."
I agree with most of the viewpoints in this article, including Burnette's, and would even go so far as to say that women who engage willingly in sexually promiscuous behavior have a host of deeper issues as well. And as much as I believe in building into women and strengthening self-esteem so as to demolish this self-destructive behavior, I also believe men play a large role and we have a responsibility to them as well.
In the case of prostitution, specifically, we can look at it from the business angle: supply and demand. The reason there is a supply of prostitutes and pimps trafficking girls for sale is because there is a demand from men. And while the deep-seated issues are complex, I think it mostly boils down to this:
an unhealthy view of self and of sex/relationships.
Paying someone for your own pleasure is plainly done out of selfish desire and the need to satisfy the self. While we all do that to some degree, when you place yourself and your "needs" that far in front of another human being as to degrade them and cause them physical and emotional harm, I believe you are committing the ultimate selfish act and have a very skewed perspective on what is important in life and how the world works. Of course, media and culture telling you that "it's okay because it's their job" doesn't help the situation either.
I can think of various reasons for men to come to this unhealthy worldview, so let's discuss. What situations, life circumstances, etc. do you think might cause this? How do you think we can change this?
I agree with most of the viewpoints in this article, including Burnette's, and would even go so far as to say that women who engage willingly in sexually promiscuous behavior have a host of deeper issues as well. And as much as I believe in building into women and strengthening self-esteem so as to demolish this self-destructive behavior, I also believe men play a large role and we have a responsibility to them as well.
In the case of prostitution, specifically, we can look at it from the business angle: supply and demand. The reason there is a supply of prostitutes and pimps trafficking girls for sale is because there is a demand from men. And while the deep-seated issues are complex, I think it mostly boils down to this:
an unhealthy view of self and of sex/relationships.
Paying someone for your own pleasure is plainly done out of selfish desire and the need to satisfy the self. While we all do that to some degree, when you place yourself and your "needs" that far in front of another human being as to degrade them and cause them physical and emotional harm, I believe you are committing the ultimate selfish act and have a very skewed perspective on what is important in life and how the world works. Of course, media and culture telling you that "it's okay because it's their job" doesn't help the situation either.
I can think of various reasons for men to come to this unhealthy worldview, so let's discuss. What situations, life circumstances, etc. do you think might cause this? How do you think we can change this?
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