The radical feminist Lee Lakeman has spent her life calling out patriarchy for its oppression, the left for its bankruptcy, neoliberalism for its cruelty and organizing women to fight back.
"Poverty, she reminds us, is not an aphrodisiac. Those who sell their bodies most often do so out of desperation." Lee Lakeman, another courageous woman who leads us and makes it clear that we all, especially women, have much to do. We cannot stop. We owe so many who came before us.
Thanks for this. I was falling for the view that prostitution was a legitimate line of work that just needed more protections for the “workers” though something about it just didn’t sit right with me. Your article made the light come on for me- seeing it as just another example of colonial settler imperialist capitalism exploitation. Thank you!!
Years ago I went to a group, a well known advocacy group for women was giving a workshop that was actually advocating the legitimacy of prostitution. Many, if not most of the women there were prostitutes, or those that supported their choice. At the time I was involved in issues regarding women rights, but in other areas. I was the only one there that didn't think prostitution was a good career choice. A rather young woman who led the group was a masseuse, and prostitute and I addressed myself to her in regard to her obvious, very obvious depression and maybe she should rethink her choices, while others encouraged her, and gave her the thumbs up. I think the world in regard to this issue, at least on this scale is still confused, and it's so called liberalism often gets in the way of what is good and not good for women, children, and men.
I was having a conversation along these lines after watching the film Anora with two friends a few weeks ago. “Prostitution is the quintessential expression of global capitalism”— Yes! and the founding stone of patriarchy. Thank you for this——-
Dwayne Booth, aka Mr. Fish, is perhaps the finest political cartoonist in the country. Needless to say, his work is an anathema to the mainstream press, especially because of his fierce and uncompromising work on the genocide in Gaza and the apartheid state of Israel. You can find more of his work on clowncrack.com
Terrific article, as always. (I’ll confess, sometimes I think Chris was born in the wrong millennium. He’d have made one hell of an Old Testament prophet. 😊)
I agree with mostly everything said here BUT I do want to add: 2 countries I know of: Holland and Switzerland have 'legal' prostitution these women have good healthcare and they get regularly tested and pensions when they retire. And to my inside knowledge a lot of these women are not from backgrounds of poverty. I talked one time to a young lady who worked in a Bank, a quite shy person she loved being an "escort' (prostitute) and going out with men who took her out to dinner then sex.
Many models do the same.
I have never seen a woman under 20yrs.
I wholly. agree that under-age girls should be nowhere near this business....fills me with horror.
What about women who go out with men who are famous or rich? They too are prostituting themselves but are NOT paid.
I expect to get some disgusting remarks I am just reporting a different perspective.
YES, but ... I believed this too, years ago seen a documentary about several prostitutes talking enthusiastically about their job ... recently I read the book by Manfred Paulus "Menschenhandel und Sexsklaverei" that REALLY opened my eyes to this bottomless, cruel swamp that our society tolerates in our midst. I do not know if this book exists in other languages, he was police chief (somewhere Germany) now retired, in charge of organized crime etc.
Hmmm, I do understand that women are different and have different tastes (a job like this would have never occurred to me, I do not like humans very much and I do not want power over men - BUT this is only me!). I am glad you did this as a conscious decision and liked yr choice (that is more that I can say about my professional 'career'!). I am sure your family had the surprise of their lives ..
Thank you Chris, for bringing to light the deep social malaise of our time. The power of the powerful resides in the realm of the capitalist/colonial ideology which legitimates theft as its operational principle - all the world is presumed to lie there waiting to be exploited - land, oceans, people and especially women.
It's not just poor women who get trapped either - the daughter of friends who live in a very affluent community, who was a brilliant student and a rising tennis star, was raped in her sophomore year by a fellow student. The crises that followed resulted in her being led into the world of prostitution by international gangs. At one point her parents were told if she came back to this state, she would be killed. She was able to escape that world and has begun to rebuild her life in a different state -slowly rebuilding her relationship with her parents.
I write this not to suggest she's better than the girls and young women from poverty who get drawn into that world - only that too many people are able to ignore it because it's not happening 'here'. But it does.
After reading this I started looking for organization in my city (Chicago) that help women out of prostitution. There are no shortage of Google hits so I was just wondering if anyone could make a recommendation? I just don’t wanna give money to one of those orgs that has an executive that pays themselves a quarter million dollars a year
I have to wonder if those, like me, who believe sex work is a legitimate occupation, are incapable of seeing the difference between women who have a choice vs. women who do not. This is about the women who are forced into prostitution. This is not acceptable.
I just followed the link to the Brookings research on "widening income disparities." Thank you for this. It explains a lot, not only about the topic at hand but also the US election results. Brookings is a mixed bag, but it can be a useful source of facts.
I have never agreed that prostitution was harmless since the '60s and the "happy hooker" and even less now. For the perhaps hundreds of women, who say they have chosen this "profession", there are millions who have been coerced for a myriad of reasons. Regardless the physical and mental wounds are undeniable. That a woman is the only person who has been jailed for the Epstein sex crimes is a crime in itself. Also, it seems the only other celebrities, currently charged are black or jewish. Why have the Andrews and Bills among others, gotten off scott free?
Sex trafficking in Canada is rampant and like the US, indigenous woman and woman of colour are most vulnerable, though prostitution transcends colour, culture and sex. Thankfully a couple of nurses from Canada went to the UN to talk about non-state torture which is not well recognized and is an apt description of prostitution.
Thank you to Chris Hedges and Lee Lakemen and others for continuing to speak out.
"Poverty, she reminds us, is not an aphrodisiac. Those who sell their bodies most often do so out of desperation." Lee Lakeman, another courageous woman who leads us and makes it clear that we all, especially women, have much to do. We cannot stop. We owe so many who came before us.
Thanks for this. I was falling for the view that prostitution was a legitimate line of work that just needed more protections for the “workers” though something about it just didn’t sit right with me. Your article made the light come on for me- seeing it as just another example of colonial settler imperialist capitalism exploitation. Thank you!!
Years ago I went to a group, a well known advocacy group for women was giving a workshop that was actually advocating the legitimacy of prostitution. Many, if not most of the women there were prostitutes, or those that supported their choice. At the time I was involved in issues regarding women rights, but in other areas. I was the only one there that didn't think prostitution was a good career choice. A rather young woman who led the group was a masseuse, and prostitute and I addressed myself to her in regard to her obvious, very obvious depression and maybe she should rethink her choices, while others encouraged her, and gave her the thumbs up. I think the world in regard to this issue, at least on this scale is still confused, and it's so called liberalism often gets in the way of what is good and not good for women, children, and men.
Excellent article—
I was having a conversation along these lines after watching the film Anora with two friends a few weeks ago. “Prostitution is the quintessential expression of global capitalism”— Yes! and the founding stone of patriarchy. Thank you for this——-
Chris, who is Mr Fish who does the wonderful drawings? Is that you?
Dwayne Booth, aka Mr. Fish, is perhaps the finest political cartoonist in the country. Needless to say, his work is an anathema to the mainstream press, especially because of his fierce and uncompromising work on the genocide in Gaza and the apartheid state of Israel. You can find more of his work on clowncrack.com
Terrific article, as always. (I’ll confess, sometimes I think Chris was born in the wrong millennium. He’d have made one hell of an Old Testament prophet. 😊)
We need a Prophet now, more than ever. And more people holding the feet (or higher up dangling participles) of the powerful to the fire.
I agree with mostly everything said here BUT I do want to add: 2 countries I know of: Holland and Switzerland have 'legal' prostitution these women have good healthcare and they get regularly tested and pensions when they retire. And to my inside knowledge a lot of these women are not from backgrounds of poverty. I talked one time to a young lady who worked in a Bank, a quite shy person she loved being an "escort' (prostitute) and going out with men who took her out to dinner then sex.
Many models do the same.
I have never seen a woman under 20yrs.
I wholly. agree that under-age girls should be nowhere near this business....fills me with horror.
What about women who go out with men who are famous or rich? They too are prostituting themselves but are NOT paid.
I expect to get some disgusting remarks I am just reporting a different perspective.
YES, but ... I believed this too, years ago seen a documentary about several prostitutes talking enthusiastically about their job ... recently I read the book by Manfred Paulus "Menschenhandel und Sexsklaverei" that REALLY opened my eyes to this bottomless, cruel swamp that our society tolerates in our midst. I do not know if this book exists in other languages, he was police chief (somewhere Germany) now retired, in charge of organized crime etc.
Elisabeth. I don't completely understand your comment but I will try my best.
I will look up this book. Thank you.
I am a 'former' Escort woman...and proud to say this.
I worked for a famous Escort agency in the UK.
IF I didn't want to have sex with my escort I did not, even though it was expected of me.
What the 'feminists' do NOT understand with regard to prostitution: You as a woman have SO much power over men.
I could have pulled my scissors out of my bag and castrated many clients.
What I did see is the POWER women have over men.
Think on this.
I am 75yrs old now and I told my kids what I had done. Of course they were shocked and my family too.
I am the same person I was as a little girl...fighting/fighting.
IF you want to learn about men....be a prostitute for a while!
Hmmm, I do understand that women are different and have different tastes (a job like this would have never occurred to me, I do not like humans very much and I do not want power over men - BUT this is only me!). I am glad you did this as a conscious decision and liked yr choice (that is more that I can say about my professional 'career'!). I am sure your family had the surprise of their lives ..
Yes they did. I also told my husband of (43yrs) when thing were getting serious.
In the US I watch feminists 'rant and rave' NEVER been part of this.
Men and women are so different.....women talk to each other and that in itself is power. Men don't do this.
Know in your heart what you expect and go for it.
Chris Hedges. Thank you for this homage and for the scholarship of links to the supporting evidence of other articles.
Thank you Chris, for bringing to light the deep social malaise of our time. The power of the powerful resides in the realm of the capitalist/colonial ideology which legitimates theft as its operational principle - all the world is presumed to lie there waiting to be exploited - land, oceans, people and especially women.
Thank you again, Mr. Hedges, for your powerful, uncompromising condemnation of woke liberals, who are very comfortably capitalist!
It's not just poor women who get trapped either - the daughter of friends who live in a very affluent community, who was a brilliant student and a rising tennis star, was raped in her sophomore year by a fellow student. The crises that followed resulted in her being led into the world of prostitution by international gangs. At one point her parents were told if she came back to this state, she would be killed. She was able to escape that world and has begun to rebuild her life in a different state -slowly rebuilding her relationship with her parents.
I write this not to suggest she's better than the girls and young women from poverty who get drawn into that world - only that too many people are able to ignore it because it's not happening 'here'. But it does.
After reading this I started looking for organization in my city (Chicago) that help women out of prostitution. There are no shortage of Google hits so I was just wondering if anyone could make a recommendation? I just don’t wanna give money to one of those orgs that has an executive that pays themselves a quarter million dollars a year
Just when I think Chris Hedges could not impress me more. Bravo, Sir Thanks for this new lesson.
I have to wonder if those, like me, who believe sex work is a legitimate occupation, are incapable of seeing the difference between women who have a choice vs. women who do not. This is about the women who are forced into prostitution. This is not acceptable.
BTW, I'm a woman
I just followed the link to the Brookings research on "widening income disparities." Thank you for this. It explains a lot, not only about the topic at hand but also the US election results. Brookings is a mixed bag, but it can be a useful source of facts.
I have never agreed that prostitution was harmless since the '60s and the "happy hooker" and even less now. For the perhaps hundreds of women, who say they have chosen this "profession", there are millions who have been coerced for a myriad of reasons. Regardless the physical and mental wounds are undeniable. That a woman is the only person who has been jailed for the Epstein sex crimes is a crime in itself. Also, it seems the only other celebrities, currently charged are black or jewish. Why have the Andrews and Bills among others, gotten off scott free?
Sex trafficking in Canada is rampant and like the US, indigenous woman and woman of colour are most vulnerable, though prostitution transcends colour, culture and sex. Thankfully a couple of nurses from Canada went to the UN to talk about non-state torture which is not well recognized and is an apt description of prostitution.
Thank you to Chris Hedges and Lee Lakemen and others for continuing to speak out.
Anne
just a note to let you know I read your commentary as soon as I see it on my screen.
thanks you Chris. You along with many others help keep me centered in this toppy tervy chaos of a world.