Sex Workers

[Salesmonkey]

There's been a lot in the news lately about professional sex workers- how they pay their taxes, how they may be exploited, how some feel they aren't exploited at all....

I love the scifi novels of Lois McMaster Bujold. And on Beta Colony, sex workers are "Professional Practical Sexual Therpaists". You have to go to college to do this! And, just like when you see a LCSW (licensed clinical social worker) here in America, they are trying to help you fix what's wrong with your life.

Because, it took me several years after puberty to learn how to be a kind, gentle, and giving lover. There are at least 2 women on my list to try to contact and say "I'm so sorry I was selfish in bed. I saw you as an attractive pair of hooters and not as a person, and when you chose to be intimate with me I abused this privilege and did not treat you with the tenderness and care that a mature person would have".

So back to SciFi- I could have been taught! A good counselor could have reined in that young guy macnismo and showed me how to make my partner happy too!

[bara]

Oldest profession in the world. Might as well legalize and tax it.

[Andara Bledin]

What bara said.

But also, what Bujold says in her books. One of my NaNoWriMo entries was told entirely from within the confines of a sanctioned brothel much like those found in Beta Colony, and it was an interesting challenge and fun to figure out how to work the story in amongst the sex.

I'm particularly libertarian, and I think the way people think about sex is often immature and simplistic. If we could manage to grow up a little as a global society and get a little more education going, a lot of the perceived problems will be reduced or eliminated.

^-.-^

[Duelist925]

*Adds another author to his list* Thank you!

I'm actually thinking of the "Companions" from firefly--well trained, in arts not only sensual, but psychological. And they are traaaiiinned. And provide a service.

[Slytovhand]

I'm particularly libertarian, and I think the way people think about sex is often immature and simplistic. If we could manage to grow up a little as a global society and get a little more education going, a lot of the perceived problems will be reduced or eliminated.

^-.-^

But, then, people would have so much attention spare to devote to other things and might actually accomplish things... and see the other problems of the world that need fixing. Can't have that!!! The world would just... get better!

[Talon]

With the advent of birth control and sexually-transmitted disease countermeasures, there is no good reason at all for sex work to still be illegal.

"If selling is legal and fucking is legal, why isn't selling fucking legal?" - George Carlin

[jackfaire]

Spider Robinson Callahan's Lady and Lady Slings the Booze those are two novels that take place in a I hesitate to call it a brothel. I highly recommend them for reading and honestly that is how a good brothel would be run.

Yes some workers are exploited regardless of what field of work it is, however not all are.

Exploitation is when worker is in poor work conditions and paid an unfair wage.

In Spider's books the workers are considered Artists and a staff doctor is mandatory. Also people many times have so much fun hanging out with the crowd in the parlor they forget to ever go upstairs. Also they are paid a salary.

Edit: Also there is a technically legal way to make money having sex with strangers. You and them both have sex and then they buy the master tape of the session at the end. Selling pornography is legal. Your essentially selling vanity porn much like vanity music videos.

[Andara Bledin]

Oh, gods, yes. I would adore being able to hang out in the parlor.

I used to have a friend that was always talking about how to go about the "sex as art" route to quasi-legal sex-for-hire.

^-.-^

[Duelist925]

Spider Robinson Callahan's Lady and Lady Slings the Booze those are two novels that take place in a I hesitate to call it a brothel. I highly recommend them for reading and honestly that is how a good brothel would be run.

Yes some workers are exploited regardless of what field of work it is, however not all are.

Exploitation is when worker is in poor work conditions and paid an unfair wage.

In Spider's books the workers are considered Artists and a staff doctor is mandatory. Also people many times have so much fun hanging out with the crowd in the parlor they forget to ever go upstairs. Also they are paid a salary.

Edit: Also there is a technically legal way to make money having sex with strangers. You and them both have sex and then they buy the master tape of the session at the end. Selling pornography is legal. Your essentially selling vanity porn much like vanity music videos.

GREAT books. Dear lord I want to hang out in the Parlor...hell, I want to hang out at Callahans. or The Place. I don't even drink, and I want to make a toast and hurl my glass into the fireplace.

[crashhelmet]

Here in Nevada, it's legal in most parts. The laws state that the county itself can't have a population of more than 250k people. Las Vegas alone kills that for Clark County, so people have to drive about an hour to the town of Pahrump, in Nye County.

The regulations here require the girls to work in an actual brothel (no street walking allowed), be checked on a frequent basis (Every other week, I think?) and they can't work more than 21 days in a single month. The regulations work to make it as clean and safe as possible for both parties involved.

There's a movement right now to try and legalize it in Downtown Las Vegas, hoping it would get rid of the street walkers and their pimps. It was even endorsed/sponsored by our old mayor Oscar Goodman. The current mayor, Carolyn Goodman (his wife), has been carrying on a lot of his same agendas. We may see it yet, but it's going to be hard to say. The more north you go towards the capital, the more conservative the State gets.

[Rageaholic]

This is another stupid law that needs to die. A lot of the time, the people who are arrested for this are actually victims of shitty circumstances. I've heard of cases where the pimps have abused young girls and the girls are the ones who get arrestted. Yes, the ones who are VICTIMS are being locked up. How does that make any sense?

We need to stop locking people up for victimless crimes. It's not getting us anywhere.

[IDrinkaRum]

Then there are the "In Death" series books by J. D. Robb (pen name of author Nora Roberts).

The "In Death" series are mystery books, and they don't necessarily deal with the legalized sex aspect of the society, but Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows a few Licensed Companions (LCs). In this futuristic version of earth, LCs have to have their licenses up to date, have to be tested on a regular basis for whatever diseases are floatina round. One LC even got out of the business, married, and became a sex therapist.

[Amanita]

Funny, some of the characters in a few stories I'm working on do something similar, except they don't take money. They're called Initiators, because in their society, having sex for the first time is considered a sort of initiation, and for somebody who wants to get some experience but has no partner, they are willing to assist.

In a way, they're a bit like Chef of South Park- They genuinely love women (or men- some of them are female too) and they also love sex, and want to share that joy with others. They have been known to offer teaching and instruction to their partners, so that their partner will be able to take that with them into future relationships. And yes, there's often an element of counseling involved- if a first timer comes to them asking for it, they will work with that individual to make sure that they are truly ready- they're not doing it out of peer pressure, or a desire to play "catch-up" or some other bad reason. And even if somebody is more experienced, they are willing to offer teaching and advice to those who need it.

These types also deal with youth, in a "sex ed teacher/counselor" capacity. Like South Park's Chef, kids in their community know that if they have questions they're too embarrassed or shy to ask their elders, then they can speak to the initiator, who will not judge or shame them, and will give honest, age-appropriate answers.

[HYHYBT]

With the advent of birth control and sexually-transmitted disease countermeasures, there is no good reason at all for sex work to still be illegal.

"If selling is legal and fucking is legal, why isn't selling fucking legal?" - George Carlin

Well, organ transplants are legal, but selling organs isn't.

[tropicsgoddess]

Oldest profession in the world. Might as well legalize and tax it.

I agree. It's better that way. Less instances of STD's on either side (the clients and workers) and also less abuse and murder with the prostitutes because they have to be underground to make money and not get caught by the cops.