There are corporations in America that employ illegal immigrants, which we often forget is totes illegal, and aren’t prosecuted by the government. Other global corporations pollute our planet, abuse their workers, and force children to work in sweatshops. Far too many employers pay an unequal wage to women — thus making a profit right off the bat from gender discrimination.
So what do you think about Deborah Jeane Palfrey — the so-called DC Madam? You read about her in the papers, sí? She ran a corporation, so to speak, and made a living in the ‘escort service’ industry. Ms. Palfrey was tried and convicted of money laundering, using the mail for illegal purposes, and racketeering.
Is it too political for me to speculate that Ms. Palfrey was convicted for having the audacity to trade in and profit from the commodity of sex? Is there no place for a discussion about work — and what some people really do for a living in America — on a blog about Human Resources?
I have some questions, Suckers. Let’s start with the basics.
- Is prostitution a real crime?
- Was Ms. Palfrey prosecuted and harshly sentenced based on her gender?
- Was suicide her only way out?
- Would the abolition of the income tax and the implementation of a consumption tax ensure that pimps and prostitutes pay their fare share of taxes?
Anyone have answers? I’d love to know what you think. (Personally, I think this is tragic and sickening. I heard the 911 call made by Ms. Palfrey’s mother and I thought, wow, a woman killed herself over a poor career choice — a career that’s in demand in the marketplace, no less. Sigh.)
Pimps don’t kill themselves =)
Prostitution is one of those crimes that exists because of the government’s (increasingly outdated) insistence on imposing sexual morality and private conduct regulation on people, and society’s need to control women, pure and simple. The only thing that makes it a “crime” is the exchange of money or “something of value,” so you could construct a crime of prostitution if a man exchanges dinner and a movie for sex. If two people consent to individual conduct that does not affect anyone outside that transaction, it quite obviously should not be a “crime.”
I’m often conflicted about prostitution as a crime. On one hand, when I used to work for a crisis line and get really horrible calls from women who were prostitutes (and men, male prostitutes largely service men and so are subject to similar abuses as women). The sex industry isn’t very sexy, and those calls made me really sad.
On one hand, there’s a valid argument to be made that if prostitution is legal then prostitutes can be given protection from men who would harm them. On the other hand the number of legal sex workers (dancers mostly) who are raped/assaulted is staggering. I talked to dozens of them and they never reported it because who would believe you can rape a stripper?
And then on the other side there’s the fact that since I worked for a crisis line I was obviously receiving calls from, you know, people in crisis and not from women who worked in the sex industry and really enjoyed it, of which I’m sure there are many, like my friend who’s a dominatrix and takes absolute pleasure from her job in a way that most of us poor slobs only dream of.
So that’s a long post to say that I’m conflicted about prostitution being legal or not, but I’m not conflicted to say that the DC Madam was harshly punished for her “crime” because she is a woman and because her crime is “scandalous” lot’s of people (men) doing objectively worse things (like actual violence, which I think we can all agree is worse than money laundering) get much more lenient sentencing.
@Spitting True. Pimps kill lots of alligators for their shoes, though.
@alexad I would agree except that prostitution — even where it’s legal — often trades on the innocence of women and young girls who don’t make a choice to join the profession. Would legalization in America mean that prostitution becomes victimless? What does it say about our society when women can make more money being a prostitute than working in HR? Does it say anything at all?
@Lexy Amen on the scandal theme. I agree that her gender was a factor in the prosecution and sentencing. Also, I hear you on the conflict between sex workers who are abused, hurt, raped, etc., in their jobs. Is violence against sex workers a ‘work safety’ issue? If legalized, should work comp be offered? Oy, lots of HR issues.
Prostitution should absolutely be legal. One of my favorite books is “Brothel: Mustang Ranch and It’s Women” a nonfiction book about legalized prostitution in Nevada. If you have any question about prostitution, just think about porn. Why should porn be acceptable but prostitution be illegal?
Great post and great discussion here fellow Suckers!
Do I think prostitution should be legal? I don’t know. I’m ignorant of the statistics, but when I think of prostitutes what comes to mind is people who are desparate for money to get drugs, booze, the electricity bill paid so it isn’t shut off (again). You know, like the ones you see on episodes of COPS. I don’t really think of people who enjoy it, see it as taking charge of their lives in a profession they choose. I’m sure there are plenty of people in the latter category, but I worry about those in the former.
Sometimes when I see those COPS shows where they do prostitution stings I think “this is entrapment and total bullshit”. Other times I think, “this is good, prostitution victimizes ALL women”. I’m such a fence sitter. I need to get more edumacated on dis subject. Thanks for making me think!
Oh Wenchie, I’m a big fan of yours because you embrace the fence and own it. I think you have a right to sit on the fence. In fact, some of the most brilliant minds sit on fences and observe.
I’m a huge fence-sitter, but it’s because I’m intellectually lazy.