Empowering or Degrading?
 

I want to see what members here think of stripping and prostitution being considered both degrading to women as a gender or being empowering to a womans sexuality? Is prostitution a form of power woman have over men? The ability to seduce?

Would any female members here do any of the above? It can be in extraordinary circumstances also such as being in poverty.

Ok I know everyones cringing right now because Vege is going to write a novel, but to be honest I don't mind because I'm not 100% sure how she would take this situation as isn't be a feminist giving women the ability to do what every they want?

****ing degrading imo, but I think feminism is about choice, so if they want to do it and feel empowered by it, I guess more power to them

Degrading yes but it should be legal. Why illegalize paying for something that you can get for free legally? Isn't that capitalism?

It's simply providing consumer service, something that is in high demand and not effecting any non consenting party, to people who are willing to pay for it and can't get sex elsewhere. And everybody can use some sex, you can't expect every f*cking person to be able to have it any other way.

We use sex to sell all kinds of stuff so lets get off the high horse. There's no harm in the idea of prostituion, yes there are issues like STDs, abusive pimps and being forced to take addictive drugs but these are problems that have been enabled by prostituion being illegal. If it was legal and heavily regulated it wouldn't be as much of an issue.

I dont find it particularly empowering, as its you performing sexual acts for men because they've payed you for it, - you wouldnt have money otherwise - but in all fairness, it is a woman getting payed to do something she could easily do for free. Its a two-way thing really. I dont support it much, but thats because I dont really care. If I was more interrested in the case maybe I'd have a stronger view, but since its the actual prostitute's choice on the matter, then its her decision. My opinion doesnt matter :/

If a woman is choosing to strip or to sell her body for sex because she wants to and not for the money, then I feel it is a free choice and I have no problem with it. Sexuality and being attracted to people is a lovely thing; feeling adored and admired feels nice, too.

I've seen documentaries of women who strip where they seem quite strong, have a sense of humor about it, and take a serious and professional interest in a good performance of their show: learning physical techniques to appear seductive is an artform, like any other dance form.

However, I think most prostitutes are selling access to their body because they are pressured through circumstances or desperation. I suspect they are often lacking many other options that allow them to earn money easily. Plus, prostitutes may be under control in some fashion (though physical control or drug addiction). I feel it is very degrading to a human being to feel pressured to offer up something so personal about yourself to someone who uses you just as a body.

I do not see prostitution as a form of power that women have over men...although it does show how desperate some men are. I wish they'd just masturbate and not feel they need to have a woman to be "men." I think if there were more higher paying (non-sexual) jobs available, far fewer women would strip or prostitute themselves. So, prostitution at least is usually a sign of a poor economy and a lower status for women in the society.
I would not strip or prostitute myself unless I were starving and found absolutely no other method to survive...which may be the case for many prostitutes in the developing world. Having sex with someone you don't want to have sex with feels horrible...and is often a death sentence for a woman due to HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases in the developing world. I do not wish that for myself or any other woman.

The fact that men *take* from women who are needy intsead of simply helping them (offering financial help without requiring sex in return) is one of the worst things a person can do to another, I feel. It is using someone in the worst way. I could never imagine paying someone else for sex, and the men who do that frankly sicken me.

Well I take back what I said, there is harm that comes from prostitution pyschologically both for the prostitute and for those close to her. But it's still a career choice both men and women should be allowed to have. I mean stripping is legal. So why the inconsistancy? Why is tiltilation ok but actual sex is bad?

Agreed, I think applying this stereotype that all strippers are ashamed of their job and have esteem problems is ethically wrong. People whore themselves in just about everything they do just in different ways. If a woman doesn't mind the job or even enjoys it, why feel sorry for her?

Prostitution is a little different. The way so many women put up with all kinds of abuse to make their living is really sad. I think if it were legal, prostitution wouldn't have quite as many hardships. And illegalizing it hasn't stopped many women from doing it so why not make it where the government can actually regulate it to produce a safer environment for both worker and customer?

I believe men should have the option of recieving sex if that's what they want and they can't get it without paying for it. And lets not forget that that there are also male prostitutes who make a living off of serving female clients. It goes both ways.

But I'm so glad that you give props to the underrated art of wanking. I get mocked a lot for being a virgin and talking about masturbation more openly than others because it's really all I have to talk about as far as sexual activity.

Generations of teaching children to be ashamed of their bodies and masturbation has had more negative effects in society than positive. Masturbation is great, and I'd imagine it's less complicated than intercourse. People undervalue the importance and power of imagination.

Yeah, people joke all the time about how I need a hooker but really that annoys me when people say that, I'm not THAT desperate. As cliche as it is to say I want my first time to be special, or at least not totally miserable. I think when I finally do pop my cherry the most satisfying part will be the communion involved, being able to satisfy another person, and someone who actually enjoys satisfying me in return, instead of doing it because it's their job and how they earn their living.

And less risk of STDs is also a plus.

so many reasons to abandon this archaic thing called capitalism people!

the only way capitalism can survive is with planned obsolescence and a civic caste system wherein those at the bottom are all prostitutes in one form or another. either suck it up, or come up with a new way of thinking and start spreading those thoughts around.

prostitution exists because we vote with money instead of thoughts.

Oh, I don't know about that. Prostitution is a lot older than capitalism and I'd be will to bet it has existed under every single economic system.

that's ma' story an' i'm stickin' to it!

besides, how would it exist without either monetary exchange or essentially some form of slavery?

*Yawnnnnnn*

Or maybe she just likes sex as much as the guys who pay her to have it, but isn't considered attractive enough to become a porn star.

Cracks me up too how you think guys are just going to give girls money without any motive or reason just because they're needy too.