She has a good point.

[ilovemyalibi]

I was talking with my sister and she brought up the point that porn stars are basically like exclusive prostitutes. They get paid to have sex, just like prostitutes do. Therefore, she surmised, porn stars should be just as susceptable to the law as prositutes are.

Thoughts?

Comments

[magnifiquem]

Porn stars aren't getting paid to have sex- they're getting paid for people to see their videos/pictures. They are not selling the same product as prostitutes. Prostitutes sell their bodies; pornstars sell their videos (and although their bodies are the most important part of the video, it is still different. Prostitutes sell their physical selves while porn stars only sell an image.) Because they are only selling an image, it means that there is much less opportunity for them to get their physical selves killed, or get an STD, or to um... tempt men to do immoral things. (In our society, it's a lot more shameful to hire a prostitute- to physcially have sex- than it is to watch a sex video.) So- the law, first of all, needs to protect prostitutes more than pornstars, as prostitutes have more private audiences with men who could, potentially, harm them. Also, as our laws refelct our puritan backgrounds, they recognize having sex as being more immoral than watching sex. (After all, the pornstars are having sex with other pornstars, so they're all damned. Whereas a prostitute could be having sex with your normal Joe, who hasn't chosen the sinful life of a pornstar and thus shouldn't be subjected to their immorality.)

something like that....

[ilovemyalibi]

Austin brought up a good point as well. Porn stars, because of the nature of their work, still pay income tax. Prostitutes, however, don't report on any of their income and therefore do not pay income tax. The government doesn't like this so they outlaw prostitution. Perhaps if we can devise a way for prostitutes to pay income tax the government won't care anymore?

[magnifiquem]

I think that prostitution would still be considered too dangerous or immoral. Perhaps in a protected, sanctioned form it would be alright- I think there actually are places in the US where it is not outlawed, but it is limited. The sort of prostitution where women sell themselves on the street won't, and shouldn't, be made legal. Prostitutes get murdered like... a lot. It's just kind of the nature of the work... when you have frequent private time with skanky, greasy men who you pick up on the street, bad things are bound to happen. Porn is a much safer profession.

[ilovemyalibi]

I still feel that people have a right to do what they want with themselves. If people bring harm to themselves, that's their fault. This is similar to the argument against the game of tag on the playground. Children aren't allowed to play tag on the playground anymore because there's a possibility that they'll get hurt. If we protected people from every single activity because there was a chance that they could hurt themselves, the only thing people would be allowed to do would be to lay in their beds with a can of bug killer and a fly swatter.

[magnifiquem]

the law exists to protect people. if you don't want that, then you should become an anarchist. I think iin the case of street prostitues, it's not like the game of tag because those girls don't necessarily want to be there. It's not just for fun. They have to, to make money. It's not what they would choose to do with themselves. However I doubt that the protection of people is really the main reason for the laws. It's just prudishness. Puritanism. i mean, if prostituion were legal, those girls would then be able to be protected and supported by the law... which would make it safer for them... still, I disapprove of most prostitution. That's the feminist in me talking, and thinking that women should not be made into sex objects. Same goes for porn, really.

[ilovemyalibi]

There are male prostitutes, you know. Granted they're probably treated better, but they do exist. My whole thing is that I disagree with society when it says that sex is taboo unless it's part of the media. This stems from my philosophy that no one has the right to tell you what you can or cannot do with your own body.

Anyway, if the law exists to protect people, why can't it protect prostitutes while still allowing them to do their work?

Come to think of it, are there rehab programs for prostitutes? Programs that try to get them into better lines of work?

This reminds me of something else as well. Did you know that there's a bill going around trying to make abortion illegal? My mom went and phone banked with Planned Parenthood and told me about it.

[magnifiquem]

yeah, I think there are rehab type programs for prostitutes, but they''re usually sponsored by church groups and such. oh, and there's always a bill going around trying to ban abortions. this is just a fact of life.

[ilovemyalibi]

That makes me sad ;-; If they're always there, though, I guess we don't have too much to worry about. They keep popping up and they keep getting beaten down.

Anyway, I must take off. Job interview! Oh, lemme know whether your party is still happening or not.

[waytoemo4u]

this whole discussion is lengthy.

the problem with rehab centers for prostitutes is that most of them have felonies for prostitution, so it's really hard to get a job unless it's in a factory. Which, factory pay is not as good as walking the streets I guess...

so yeah?

[ilovemyalibi]

*shrug*

Makes sense to me.