Hookers and Strippers Legal and Moral?

Prostitution...what does this word mean? The oldest profession basically means "engaging in sex acts for hire" or more bluntly "exchanging sex for money".

When we speak of prostitution, we visualise women in utterly tasteless attires, soliciting somewhere in the streets; or we see women clad in designer garbs escorting highly successful business (yet unsuccessful in relationships) men.

However there are other types of harlots:

1. The cocottes who date married men with the single purpose of obtaining presents; clothes, cars, have their household rent paid, etc.

2. The private bawds who legally unite themselves to rich men with the unique goal of satisfying their sexual needs in exchange for jewellery, fur on their backs, a fully loaded car, a phat [1] bank account, a luxurious home to dwell in, designer frocks & shoes etc...

It could be argued that cocottes and private bawds are not prostitutes, but simply women who found an alternative way of life; however since they engage in sexual intercourse in exchange of “assets and property considered in terms of monetary value” (i.e. money) I’d say they are a cheap version of courtesans.

But these are not the only forms of prostitution. Let’s not forget the male prostitutes and gigolos.

The difference between male prostitutes and female ones is that the first are quite well tolerated by society (let’s say that their services are quite useful: they either calm down rich needy women [gigolos], or they fulfil the fantasies of men who haven’t come out of the closet and don’t intend to do so any time soon [male prostitutes]); whereas the second are pointed as if they were the scum of society (despite the convenience & popularity of their provided services). Sexism exists even in the underground world of prostitution.

How is this profession dealt with by European governments? Bad, irresponsible and disrespectfully I’d say. In most European countries, prostitution is legal (except in East Europe, Sweden and Norway), but in a very hypocritical way. For example, they allow a person to sell its body, but it cannot associate itself in a sex-joint venture (i.e. brothel) and it is not obliged to be regularly examined by a doctor.

Governments should legalise prostitution, for it is a question of public health and nations’ GDP.

If governments would legalise prostitution, they would have to circumscribe the sex-traders to places where they can effectively trade (sex-joint ventures; thus taking them off some residential zones [of the wealthy and embassies] – like here in Portugal); they’d have to order these women to be observed by doctors once a week, do monthly check-ups; they’d have to instruct the Immigration Office [to check for illegal labour] and the Police [to check for sex trafficking victims] to proceed with regular inspections; they’d have to enforce sex-traders to pay their taxes and discount for social security (governments speak of money laundry so much, here it is one way to begin its end). Legalising this activity would also help fighting human traffic.

For example, it is said that in France each prostitute earns at least €500/day; if they work 6 days a week (because even sex-traders must rest) they’ll earn €3,000/week, which means that at the end of a fiscal year they will make €144,000. It is estimated to be 20,000 prostitutes in this country, which means that this is a €2,880,000,000 business. Since the French government charges taxes to its sex-traders, this means (at a 40% tax for income above €66,679) that €1,152,000,000 goes to the state’s vaults. This is a lot of money.

Countries like Portugal do not charge income taxes to its prostitutes’...

Is prostitution moral? You tell me. Morality is a“Code of conduct which is held to be authoritative in matters of right and wrong." And since codes of conduct have been changing over time, I will refrain from saying whatsoever. For now, I only can say what is immoral: to force people into prostitution.

Striptease is a legal activity where women not only undress themselves slowly while dancing but also perform exotic sexually charged choreographies thru the use of a pole.

I little have to say about this profession since it has put many young women through college. If they are not forced into it, exploited, obligated to provide sexual services, and they are grown up women….I don’t see why not.

Pole dancing has become extremely popular. So popular that it is turning into a sport and a performing art; which means that many women (and men apparently) join pole dancing classes to learn how to do a knee hold (image above), a cross knee release; spins, body inversions, etc.

Before leaving, I’d like to offer some tips to strip-club owners:

I. Image is everything: cellulite damages big time (if you invest in breast implants, why not investing in anti-cellulite creams and in a masseuse?).

II. Keep your club classy: who knows, you might even draw a female clientele.

III. Look at Moulin Rouge and the Crazy Horse: first class dancers and acts.

Now, why do men, in general, enjoy striptease shows so much anyway?

For further reading on this inflammable theme, please beam over to LS’ blog: Here

[1] Phat: pretty hot and tempting.

Image: taken from Wikipedia.