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We can accept that…

the world is full of oppression, and that oppression, as complicated as it is, is something we would like to fight against, even if we slide forwards and back wards, and also, that this IS the nature of power- confused. The important thing is how hard we try to shift the power balance, and the process by which we do that, and the courage that we use in doing so. Feeling guilty about our Nike’s just doesn’t cut it, or feeling guilty about using the services of another for our power gratification (and it’s not really all about sex, because most people who go to prostitutes are married, so sex is right there lyin’ up in the bed most of the time).

Part of “acceptance” means that we attempt to creatively deal with these things, and to express how we feel as much as what we KNOW, and to brainstorm better ways of being.

My ideas come out of my experience as a woman, and out of compassion for problems in this world, rather than some hell-bent agenda to destroy men. After all- and i hope you would agree- not all of them are power-crazed jerks.

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You’re right- truth be told, I’m a proud consumer of exploitative chocolate. As for some of your other points, I’d have to disagree.

As a woman, whether because of my “feminist morality” or other maladies, I view the world’s exploitation of the female body as somewhat more personalized than a chocoholics ravaging of a milk bar. Call me crazy. And never assume that I am speaking from my ivory tower of university education. Even us educated ladies have occasionally got the down and out financial blues and may or may not have dabbled in the industry and felt some type of way about it.

It is simplistic to a) assume that i completed detached from the issue as a woman, and b) as a woman who has spent considerable time in Thailand watching it go on, amidst other exploitations. I just think it would be really nice if mass numbers of women, girls, men, boys, whoever, didn’t have to lay down for anyone- dream of a day. At the same time I recognize that it can be empowering to earn money from such a venture given that there are sometimes few options besides poverty (as disempowering sometimes as sexual exploitation itself).

This is a very complicated issue, not one that can be divvied into “evil feminists” and ’sex tourist conspirators”. In short, give me a break, Tom. I’ve at least attempted to deal with the issue, unlike many people, who travel to Thailand or wherever else (maybe down Main street here) and feel something is wrong with the big picture of how women have historically, and now, had to enslave themselves, but say nothing.

When you have a) been in the position where you have had to consider the option of being a sex worker, and have experienced oppression to do with your vagina first hand- and I assume you don’t have one, unless “Tom” is a female name or b) have had to work with and live with a certain brand of sex/power fiend six or seven days a week, then please put your pen to use. Men have the opportunity to be empowering as well, by questioning power dynamics which are harmful to others, not by justifying an industry which inherently enslaves both men and women in different ways. My article was meant to be a starting point for this discussion.

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I assume that you do not wear running shoes, jewelry, or any other products manufactured by industries known to use slave labor. After all, your Nikes and diamond rings are brought to you courtesy of “people [who] are smuggled and then forced into the trade, either by lack of any other option, or [...] even by their family members, who may be desperate for a piece of the profit.”

In fact, if you’ve eaten chocolate – come on, are you going to tell me you’ve never had chocolate? – you have directly supported slavery, since over 40% of the world’s cocoa supply comes from Cote’D'Ivorie, where over 15,000 CHILDREN work as slaves on cocoa farms.

I suppose one could argue that not all chocolate is the product of forced labor, or that not all jogging shoes are made in sweatshops by children literally chained to the work area… but then one would also have to concede that not all prostitution is services are provided by kidnapped sex workers — in which case the only objection to the practice AS A WHOLE can only be based on your own Christian/Western/feminist morality.

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Is sex tourism “wrong” when a working class guy goes to Pattaya but “not sex tourism” when Rebecca from London or Anna from Berlin goes to have sex with the locals elsewhere? Surely if sex tourism is wrong for one, it is wrong for all, irrespective of your social background?

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I’ve just watched “Sex Hunters” on Channel 4 in the UK, about 50 y.o UK Female Sex Tourists in the Dominican Republic.They spent £000’s getting there, then left £45 “tips” for 2 weeks worth of services.Apparently, that’s still 2 weeks pay there, but it’s so tight. I think that’s just one night in Bangkok!

These guys clearly hated what they were doing, or rather who they were doing it with, & to see them literally abandoning their pride trying to coax a measly few £’s, from women was pretty demeaning.

It just shows the power relationship is exactly the same for female Johns & male pros as the reverse – except cheaper!

The articles author shows a strong empathetic streak, yet demonises the Johns, but not the pros, failing to recognise the inbuilt cultural prejudice we all carry.

As for female prostitute serial killers of males as commented, I’d argue that there are a wealth of men out there who have been approached while drunk by prostitutes, beaten up & robbed.- go to San Antonio in Ibiza in peak season & watch it happen for free! Men are too ashamed to report this.

However, I have friends who’ve taught in Thailand for 8 years,Another friend of mine joined them, went out with a girl, went back to her flat, & was surprised to find her boyfriend & friends (who apparently don’t need protecting). It transpired they were all rather into the local version of Meth. Upon his refusal to divulge his pin SHE decided to have him held down o she could iron his face.

You can still see it.

The problem with writing an article like this, is that it is imperative to actually talk to the girls working in the industry ( & not just the car crashes- the ones who are smiling & look full of beans) in order to talk authoritatively & with insight.

Otherwise it just smacks of, despite the best intentions, of a colonial superior of old talking patronisingly about the “jolly old natives”, & how, if they were more like us, they wouldn’t be following their smutty trade.

I’ve also just googled prostitutes & Germany, & apparently there are 400,000,with new amateur entrants daily, & prices collapsing due to the Crunch. it seems they have the same issues as the Thais – & the issues aren’t violent but economic.

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About the only thing I agreed with in your hostile commentary, was your point about the dreaded dirty singlets. They are indeed unfathomable and unspeakable fashion crimes worthy of a grand mal flogging.

I do indeed recognize the issue of financial disparity in the whole equasion…which is part of the reason why I wrote the article. I guess my connecting point was that the johns aren’t exactly doing too badly for cash. One of the central questions was whether or not that harms anybody. Just askin’. Maybe any of your future comments could be directed to helping to explore that issue for us.

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