For the preceeding four parts of this series, please click on the following links:
Decriminalizing Prostitution: Introduction
Decriminalizing Prostitution: Part One
Decriminalizing Prostitution: Part Two
Decriminalizing Prostitution: Part Three
Decriminalizing Prostitution: Part Four
Well, this is the last part of this series. I hope that I have shed some light on this subject and that much was learned. At the end of this post, I will be putting a slew of links to further your knowledge of the history and present of prostitution. Later on, I will be adding the archive links to the series on my side section, so be on the look out if you would like to refer to this at another time or guide someone else to it. In this finale, I will be wrapping up with a short conclusion.
Although I seriously doubt this will happen in America in my lifetime, but I want to see prostitution decriminalized. I would like to see the industry be self-regulated as many others are without problem. With the decriminalizing of prostitution, I think some of the negative attitudes against sexually independent, mature and knowledgable women will begin to recede.
I was asked by one of my loyal readers via email if this series was a class assignment or if it was going to be used in a dissertation. As of right now, it is not, but I would use it if I get the chance. If you've read this, you're more than welcome to use the quotes in the entries or even, if you're crazy enough, you can quote me. I'm no expert, just an interested party.
I suppose this was a labor of love. I have a love of learning, of gaining knowledge and truth (as close as we can get to it). This leads me to investigate subjects and matters many would dismiss out of hand because it makes them uncomfortable. I want to understand and appreciate the world around me which is why I go ahead and look. Sometimes though, I admit, I may not want to delve into a subject immediately like dealing with any sort of creature with eight legs. *shudders* That I might have to dig my heels and refuse to look into spiders. Though, from the scant little I've read about them, I do like the black widow for no other reason than eating her mate after she's done. Maybe in the black widow population long ago, their males, once useful and productive, became lazy only wanting to watch football games on the weekends and not taking an interest in those around them. LOL!
Anyway, my independent investigations, usually launched with an open-mind sometimes not, have lead me to seriously rethink what I've been told about 'those people' or 'things like that'. There's nothing like asking the people involved and reading several different views by people who know what they're talking about. I think this has led me to view the world with more clarity than your average person who just wants to get through life. I truly enjoy life and I think knowledge helps you to do that, though on occasion it can have the opposite effect. Finding too much truth can make you bitter and resentful.
I felt that way after learning the truth about prostitution. What is presented to most people is this monolith which, in reality, compromises a very small portion of prostitution. We all see the drugged-up, abused, ignorant, trashy streetwalker who always ends up dead. There are indeed prostitutes like that, but they are not in the majority. When alternatives are presented, many scoff at them, preferring the other representation because it makes them feel better. Why can't we learn about women like Aspasia or Veronica Franco
before taking a class at university that
might cover them? They were ahead of most others both in their time and in ours.
I think the reason why prostitution will remain against the law in this country for years to come boils down to this: Americans hate sex. As I said before, despite the obsessive reading of sex columns, the loyal viewing of shows like
Sex and the City, despite the multibillion dollar pornography industry, sex still isn't accepted. If it was, I wouldn't be writing this piece. Some claim they love sex yet can't understand why others (mostly women) want to make a living from it, providing their unique perspectives on sex. Learning the art of sex, the language of love, the technicality of sex and selling it just as doctors sell their trade. People still feel ashamed to be sexual beings. That shame leads to hate. They fear sex. They're ignorant about sex. To do a
Yoda-like sequence: Shame leads to ignorance. Ignorance leads to hate. Hate leads to fear. Fear leads to suffering.
Who suffers? We all do. We create idiotic asinine laws that penalize consensual adult relations. We shun and outcast those who don't fall into line with the rest of the tight asses. We create stupid sayings like 'No pain, no gain', which is about as anti-pleasure as you can get. People still only feel okay about sex if they can beat themselves up in someway before, during or afterward. Not for the pleasure of pain that some have, but pain to assuage the guilt.
Thoughout the history I highlighted the prostitute hasn't had that guilt, though s/he has been pressured into accepting it. Sometimes to their death. The prostitute has represented sexual independence, the joy of sensuality. Of course for those who disapprove of such acceptance of human nature have to excise those who are the very embodiment of such. In the burgeoning patriarchy all those years ago, it was the Goddess and her priestesses and priests and worshippers of both genders. It continues today, though it is getting better.
I personally think life is far too short to be so bitter and so hateful of yourself or others who don't have it coming. If such pleasure and those who are its avatars are truly accepted with all our hearts, it would be a spiritual revolution. I think we want that, but most people are too afraid to ask, too afraid of the unknown. I think if we all concentrated on sexual pleasure more than vindictive violence and selfishness the world will be a better place.
Pleasure begets pleasure and short of that, it's just a power play.
