Once again-the taint of being a prostitute is rubbed in our faces...

[Jez UaBriain]

So, I was watching a National Geographic program on the 'net tonight in their Taboo series about prostituition. And of course it seemed a bit biased towards prostitution as they mainly showed the hard side of this trade.

It started with a third-world country at the beginning of the show. This covered a larger portion of the documentary then did any other segment.Then they went on with a small bit about a high-end brothel in Australia where the ladies all professed to love their jobs. In the next part, a porn-view site called bigsister.com where a guy doesn't pay to have sex,but is viewed while doing the deed over live feed. I will say they did show a tasteful done bit about a man in a wheelchair visiting a brothel in Holland. That did show us in a more favorful light. But then, here they go on showing the street walking hard life in our capital of Washington DC. And very little about that was good, if anything at all.

It seems that we will always be branded with -not good, tainted, perverse, and as less then normal human beings by programs about the act of prostitution. There was nothing in this documentary about those of us who are willing, free-lancers of the trade. The web has made this a lucrative,safer way to make a livable wage in todays uncertain economy for many of us women. And I have met many fine sisters while doing this that I admire, respect and consider them to be my friends, and peers.

I just wish that once the documentarys would show this side of our history. Showing the side that has American females who actually don't feel denigrated, and really do like doing this-willingly. Just saying.......

Edited April 3, 2012 by Jez UaBriain
grammer

[Beverly Fisher]

It seems that we will always be branded with -not good, tainted, perverse, and as less then normal human beings by programs about the act of prostitution. There was nothing in this documentary about those of us who are willing, free-lancers of the trade. The web has made this a lucrative,safer way to make a livable wage in todays uncertain economy for alot many of us women. And I have met many fine sisters while doing this that I admire, respect and consider them to be my friends, and peers.

I just wish that once the documentarys would show this side of our history. Showing the side that has American females who actually don't feel denigrated, and really do like doing this-willingly. Just saying.......

Bless you Jez for continuing to tilt at windmills. I'm right there with you.

The reality is (coming from a recovering journalist) that every story has a pre-determined narrative, which is not always even conscious, because it's rooted in our culture, a subtext for our lives.

Prostitution is something most people don't want to really look at, truly examine. Because if they do, they have to look at themselves, at the nature of sexuality and relationships, at what they value and don't value, core philosophy and principles that are uncomfortable to examine under bright light.

I know when I was working for a newspaper writing about things I hated, I felt that I was whoring out my brain. As an escort, I feel my work is infinitely more honest -- and I never have to make love to someone I don't want to.

People don't want to see that so many of them are really whores, and the whores are really free. It's easier to crawl into bed at night knowing that the world will be safe and easy, with the stories and narratives painted with a comforting sameness, like reading a romance novel and knowing ahead of time how it will end.

xxxooo

Beverly ;-*

[Jez UaBriain]

:)Thank you Beverly, tilting windmills is fun, while also hitting at the bell curve that so many refuse to see. And you my dear, are one of those fine fantasy sisters,friend, and peers that I speak so highly of.

[2Big]

Put a link to the show in your post, fer cryin' out loud, so we know what the hell you're talking about.

[Dakota-H]

Or you could get off your lazy behind and do a search at natgoe...

[MrReindeer-9515]

So, I was watching a National Geographic program on the 'net tonight in their Taboo series about prostituition. And of course it seemed a bit biased towards prostitution as they mainly showed the hard side of this trade.

It started with a third-world country at the beginning of the show. This covered a larger portion of the documentary then did any other segment.Then they went on with a small bit about a high-end brothel in Australia where the ladies all professed to love their jobs. In the next part, a porn-view site called bigsister.com where a guy doesn't pay to have sex,but is viewed while doing the deed over live feed. I will say they did show a tasteful done bit about a man in a wheelchair visiting a brothel in Holland. That did show us in a more favorful light. But then, here they go on showing the street walking hard life in our capital of Washington DC. And very little about that was good, if anything at all.

It seems that we will always be branded with -not good, tainted, perverse, and as less then normal human beings by programs about the act of prostitution. There was nothing in this documentary about those of us who are willing, free-lancers of the trade. The web has made this a lucrative,safer way to make a livable wage in todays uncertain economy for many of us women. And I have met many fine sisters while doing this that I admire, respect and consider them to be my friends, and peers.

I just wish that once the documentarys would show this side of our history. Showing the side that has American females who actually don't feel denigrated, and really do like doing this-willingly. Just saying.......

Jez, Beverly is right about tilting at windmills and another phenomena called "what the thinker thinks, the prover proves" The producers wanted to make a doc discussing prostitution around the world; I don't think they set out to make a glamor shot of how wonderful the business is. However, as evidenced by your OP(really important parts in red), you wanted to see a doc that was entirely unfavorable to the business, even when your own quoted text seems to suggest that it wasn't a complete hatchet job. The producers may have made it with an agenda, but it looks like at least one viewer was also viewing it with an agenda of her own...just saying.

Put a link to the show in your post, fer cryin' out loud, so we know what the hell you're talking about.

Couldn't find it on NatGeo's main site(not the easiest to search...), but there's this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5ZjqrV1-bQ

And one final aside re "The Oldest Profession in the World":

Agriculture is the worlds oldest profession, the stuff about prostitution came around as late as 1888.

1. The originator of the notion of prostitution as the oldest profession was Rudyard Kipling. His 1888 short story “On the City Wall” begins: “Lalun is a member of the most ancient profession in the world. … In the West, people say rude things of Lalun’s profession, and write lectures about it and distribute the lectures to young persons in order that Morality may be preserved.” Lalun is, of course, a hooker.

from the ultimate arbiter of all things trivial: Cecil Adams. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3038/is-excess-american-body-fat-a-potential-energy-resource(scroll down, it's the second one...)

[muckleskelpin]

There is a long and glorious history of courtesans, many of whom became very powerful women in their own right that rarely gets told. And, there are many here who are of the same wonderful lineage. Let's hear it for them. If not in the press then privately they can be celebrated one on one. You know who you are.

[2Big]

Thanks for the link, MrReindeer.

Well, that killed my erection.

[2Big]

Prostitution is something most people don't want to really look at, truly examine. Because if they do, they have to look at themselves, at the nature of sexuality and relationships, at what they value and don't value, core philosophy and principles that are uncomfortable to examine under bright light.

I thought the segment on Bangladesh did a pretty good job in putting it all under a "bright light".

[NaughtyNiceGuy]

I believe hunter/gatherer would be the oldest profession, but I am sure there was someone willing to put out for a handful of berries.

[JohnCarter]

It is a lost cause, but I believe that you should passionately fight (tilt at windmills!)for a worthy lost cause. It's fun and keeps you alive. I just never expect the world to change.....

I will be, as necessary, a Sancho Panza but would rather join you as another Don Quixote!

[Nightrain]

And one final aside re "The Oldest Profession in the World": Agriculture is the worlds oldest profession,

Was watching an old episode of Barney Miller where Barney makes a comment about a "john" being the oldest profession. His explanation is that a man had to ask first to pay for sex, therefore, being a john is ever so slightly older than supplying sex for money. Jes thought that was funny.

[Outoftowner]

I agree, the media coverage is usually negative.

But you can rub your taint in my face anytime.

[Jez UaBriain]

Yes, Mr. Reindeer, I DO have a pre-biased view of this.Naturally so, as I am what I do. But, if the producer really wanted a rounded out view of prostitution around the world, then this side of the trade would be represented in a fair light. Other then the gang bangers who use the 'net, the view I , and many of my sister providers have of prostituition is not demeaning, harsh, etc. I have no lack of self -esteem, and at times have had to curb myself of the un- admirable trait of being arrogant this. I watched the venerable NG take on this and saw a part of the life thatwas not represented. The part of it that has more continued growth then any other current occupation .(Besides health care-thank you baby boomers)

However, I do appreciate what you stated here.

[Luv2Daty]

Just to toss another "fun fact" into the mix:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7988169.stm

[Lovely_Leigh]

I will admit that I too thought that there were street walkers charging $20 for a date and Russia exchange students that were $2k/hr and nothing in the middle. Why did I think this? It seems that 90% of this industry is never talked about and the average American has no knowledge of its existence. It is either the crack addicted, HIV positive street walker or a defected Eastern block gal. Representation like that help perpetuate the stereotypes that dog this industry. Having first hand experience with the industry, I am always left scratching my head wondering who the documentarians talked to.

[runamock]

Bless you Jez for continuing to tilt at windmills. I'm right there with you.

The reality is (coming from a recovering journalist) that every story has a pre-determined narrative, which is not always even conscious, because it's rooted in our culture, a subtext for our lives.

Prostitution is something most people don't want to really look at, truly examine. Because if they do, they have to look at themselves, at the nature of sexuality and relationships, at what they value and don't value, core philosophy and principles that are uncomfortable to examine under bright light.

I know when I was working for a newspaper writing about things I hated, I felt that I was whoring out my brain. As an escort, I feel my work is infinitely more honest -- and I never have to make love to someone I don't want to.

People don't want to see that so many of them are really whores, and the whores are really free. It's easier to crawl into bed at night knowing that the world will be safe and easy, with the stories and narratives painted with a comforting sameness, like reading a romance novel and knowing ahead of time how it will end.

xxxooo

Beverly ;-*

Well said! +1 on that!

[Guest alluringava]

So, I was watching a National Geographic program on the 'net tonight in their Taboo series about prostituition. And of course it seemed a bit biased towards prostitution as they mainly showed the hard side of this trade.

It started with a third-world country at the beginning of the show. This covered a larger portion of the documentary then did any other segment.Then they went on with a small bit about a high-end brothel in Australia where the ladies all professed to love their jobs. In the next part, a porn-view site called bigsister.com where a guy doesn't pay to have sex,but is viewed while doing the deed over live feed. I will say they did show a tasteful done bit about a man in a wheelchair visiting a brothel in Holland. That did show us in a more favorful light. But then, here they go on showing the street walking hard life in our capital of Washington DC. And very little about that was good, if anything at all.

It seems that we will always be branded with -not good, tainted, perverse, and as less then normal human beings by programs about the act of prostitution. There was nothing in this documentary about those of us who are willing, free-lancers of the trade. The web has made this a lucrative,safer way to make a livable wage in todays uncertain economy for many of us women. And I have met many fine sisters while doing this that I admire, respect and consider them to be my friends, and peers.

I just wish that once the documentarys would show this side of our history. Showing the side that has American females who actually don't feel denigrated, and really do like doing this-willingly. Just saying.......

I feel the same way. In the media, in movies and tv shows, all that's ever shown is the negative aspect of the business. It's because few people can comprehend there are some of us that actually LIKE our line of work and can be successful and smart about it. I saw that NGEO special and thought, oh no, here we go again...those stereotypes that we're all slaves to the industry or drug-addled or fucked up in some way or got into it by coercion or force...those stereotypes ( and some of it IS reality but not the entirety of it) never die. At least the Australia segment showed some positivity.

[Dillweed]

I've had some really wonderful experiences that involved prostitute taints being rubbed in my face.

Just sayin.