Introspection usually occurs during periods of inactivity, especially after reading something that intrigued you … and forced confinement is a very propitious time for this activity.
I get most of my information from my computer. This is because magazines’ fonts are getting smaller and smaller (or so it seems) and because I find it more convenient to zoom and resize text as I am going along.
In the morning, I generally start by reading the news, usually through Google News. From there, I hopscotch from links to links to plow through whatever catches my attention.
Not too long ago I came across an article about Emma Becker; an elegant and educated young woman, author of a best-selling novel called “La Maison” (the House). In this book she describes the surprising 2 years that she spent as a prostitute in a Berlin brothel. She did this she says, as a research project for her novel.
We usually live in a society that was at one point highjacked by religion. Cults were most entirely created by men who were nothing but power-grabbers. And they made all the rules.
In their credo was always Rule Number One which says “I am the boss” and you will do as I say without questioning my actions. Rule Number Two was “woman should always be subservient to man” because the role of women is to serve men. And for a long time, this scheme worked. Women were too intimidated to say anything, and they had practically no rights.
But fortunately, things have changed. Despite of blatant discrimination, women have become educated, more militant and have obtained most of the rights usually conferred to men.
Society, long still-standing, has evolved. Old sayings or customs are disappearing conferring women almost all the rights long enjoyed by men. And this includes sexual equality.
In various YouTube interviews, Emma Becker is saying that she was well treated, had no constraints and enjoyed working in the House.
Sex workers, who were for a long time held in very low esteem, are slowly gaining some kind of respectability. And the vocabulary describing their activity also reflects that trend. Starting with the degrading “whore” appellation, the description of their chosen profession evolved to prostitute, model, escort and sex worker.
As described by Emma Becker and many women involved in this activity, the profession of sex worker has become semi-respectable. And why not?Humanity has two basic needs: nourishment and sex. As long as these two needs are satisfied, there will be relative peace everywhere. If any of those necessities are denied, soon or later violence will erupt.
It is obvious that with universal healthcare, the ruling class must provide food and sex for all. This means that prostitution should be decriminalized, legalized and regulated. And it is so in many countries around the world.
But the conservative ruling class is highly hypocritical. Their motto is “Do as I say not as I do.” The sanctimonious leaders tempesting against the evil of the sex trade are usually the most avid patrons of that commerce.
Sex workers, as well as any professionals, are needed. If they have an inclination for it (and many do) let them do their chosen line of work in peace!
It is time for some needed introspection and revaluation of an obsolete moral code!
Alain