Prostitution Reconsidered Research Paper

Prostitution Reconsidered

Prostitution has been around for centuries and has been a heavily debated practice for as long as it has been utilized in society. Prostitution is first and foremost viewed and known as the selling of ones body, sexuality, sex, and so on. However, according to most standard, English dictionaries there are two slightly different interpretations of what prostitution is. One is the aforementioned definition, and the other explains prostitution as the incorporation of one's insignificant skills in order to gain financial profit. According to the latter definition of what prostitution is, it is quite possible to compare sexual labor to the well-known practice of "gold-digging", in which lower-class women seek financial
security through marriage to wealthy men. Through most analyses of sexual labor and prostitution that I have reviewed, it is described as an exploitive, degrading, corrupt, and immoral custom that needs to be eradicated. However, upon closer analysis of prostitution according to its above interpretation, I believe that the existing negative views concerning the effects of prostitution on female identity should be re-considered. Specifically focusing on research that explores the existing relationships between wealthy, male, tourists, and female sex workers in foreign countries, I came to understand that these women are very similar in many ways to non-prostitute American women with comparable relationships. In this essay I will argue that the practice of sexual labor in foreign countries is no different than the practice of women seeking wealth through marriage in the United States, and should therefore be free of condemnation, be seen as a legitimate method of forming relationships, and be viewed as the financially empowering occupation for women that it potentially could be. Referring back to the above definition of prostitution when exploring the existence of sexual prostitution, the "valueless" or unworthy skill that the definition refers to would be a women's sexuality. Contrary to this view of sexual prostitution, I see sexual labor as the utilization of one's incredibly valuable sexual abilities, to successfully procure a substantial income. It is a perfect example of how women can manipulate men through their sexuality. I continuously see women in bars and nightclubs in the United States who basically conduct themselves in the exact same manner as you would witness a female "prostitute" behaving with a wealthy tourist in same said bar or night club. They are both dressed to seduce or attract with the intent to grab the attention and lure a potential male mate or "customer". For example, in Cuba where the existence of prostitution is more casually seen as a form of sexual tourism, women, also known as jineteras, can be seen dressed seductively roaming the streets and local sights in order to draw the attention of wealthy visiting men. The jineteras do this for many reasons, but the main idea is that they could potentially form a romantic relationship with these tourists that they could benefit from financially or otherwise. Many women who do this are simply looking for a thrilling night on the town or a romantic weekend during which they will "trade" their knowledge of their city's attractions as well as their affection, for material gifts, possibly currency, and affection as well. " Some are professional prostitutes, with chulos (pimps) and a simple work-for-hire approach. But many more are merely young women…girls, looking for temporary companionship with a foreign male as a way to get by, an admission ticket to the other Cuba they wouldn't ordinarily see: a chance to visit a decent restaurant, a nightclub (Frommers 2). " Because these women go into these situations looking for this type of interaction they are considered prostitutes, whereas single women in the United States who have the similar intentions, when entering a bar for instance, would just be seen as flirting with or courting the opposite sex. In effect, this prejudice creates a double standard between American women and foreign women which succeeds unfairly in taking power and worth away from these foreign women only. There is no reason for this imbalance of power to exist as it only serves to perpetuate the existence of the "Other" stereotype for foreign women vs. white, American women. Seen for simply what it is, jineterismo, or this form of sexual tourism in Cuba is just another way for local women to meet these successful, powerful men that are like the knights on white stallions we always dream of meeting. When realistically compared to the dating practices of American women, this form of "prostitution" which obtains financial rewards for "services rendered", we can see that American women dating rich, older men with the hope of gaining financial security through eventual marriage is just like taking cash from the nightstand the morning after a night of drinking and dancing. You could even compare it to the secretary who sleeps with her boss with the hope of getting a raise or a promotion (Opperman 1). " Liaisons with tourists provide recourse to get by and to get ahead: not just to supplement low wages but also to procure opportunities for recreation, consumption, travel, migration, and marriage (Cabezas 3)." The same so-called prostitutes who are viewed so negatively by society are looking for the same benefits as women from other cultures. This is so obviously another way for "upper-class" citizens to further separate themselves and elevate their status in comparison to people from less-developed countries. If the argument that this kind of prostitution is unethical, immoral, and degrading towards culture holds validity when concerning the origin of motive for these kinds of relationships, then the women who conduct themselves in a similar manner within the context of "the dating circuit" in the United States, would or should technically be chastised as well. Jineterismo exists for many reasons. These relationships can occur because of a woman's biological instinct to find a mate who will be able to provide for their children and themselves or simply because they are looking for a fantasy escape from the confinements of their communist lifestyle, but I do not believe they form because of some immoral characteristic of Cuban women.
By viewing women who specifically choose to court men of high financial status as prostitutes simply based on the probability that there will be a monetary exchange towards the end of the interaction, also implies in some ways that we should feel sorry for these women because for some reason they are resorting to prostitution as a means of survival. This is not necessarily true and is just another way for men to suppress women's sexuality. Why is it that the prostitute is looked at negatively in this situation while the male client purchasing her services is viewed as doing what any "normal" man would do?

" The prostitute woman is viewed as acting in a way wholly inconsistent with her gender identity. Her perceived sexual agency degenders her ( a woman who takes an impersonal, active, and instrumental approach to sex is not a ‘real' woman) and dishonors her ( she trades in something which is constitutive of her personhood and cannot honorably be sold). The prostitute-using man, by contrast, behaves ‘in a fashion consistent with the attributes associated with his gender ( he is active and sexually predatory, impersonal, and instrumental), and his sexual transgression is thus a minor infraction, since it does not compromise his gender identity(Davidson 41)."

It seems that anytime a women "uses" her sexuality she is condemned for it. Her "value" as a woman is brought into question and she is seen in a dehumanized way based on the male and religiously perpetuated belief that it is not in a woman's "nature" to be a sexual being. When a woman displays her sexuality in a way other than to simply pleasure and satisfy the sexual needs of men, her femininity is challenged. This way of viewing a woman's sexuality is what continues to widen the power gap between men and women. The negative stereotypes of prostitution further suppress the sexuality of women, which only continues to allow men to perceive control over women's sexuality. Davidson supports this idea that it is unfair to negatively view one form of sexuality and not the other simply based on gender stereotypes. Because of these stereotypes, prostitutes are given the identity as "the Other", which allows people to avoid admitting the similarities between the American single woman and the foreign woman involved in sexual prostitution.
While in many circumstances it may be true that many of these women decide to engage in prostitution because of economic hardships, it is still true for most of these women that they chose to enter into this profession, and for many good reasons. " The practice of prostitution is no longer characterized by ‘slave-like conditions' and coercive pimps; instead, ‘today's young women practice jineterismo for the freedom to go out dancing, dining, going to concerts, visiting Varadero Beach or other resorts, and shopping in dollar stores not out of economic necessity but by choice, for consumer goods and recreational opportunities (Cabezas 82)." If society ceased to view prostitution the way it does, and women were given even more freedom to explore the possibilities of benefiting from the manipulation of others through sexuality, then women would be in a threatening position towards men. That is why these negative stereotypes and definitions of prostitution still exist today. What these women are doing could possibly be considered something other than prostitution if their sexuality is no longer viewed as an unvalued asset. If Eve had ever realized the potential in using her sexuality to her advantage for compliance from Adam, then their story might have been written quite differently. With all of the advancements that have been made culturally and otherwise, it is about time that sexuality, or more specifically the practice of prostitution, be reexamined as a potential resource for women to attain a position of power among men in the business world. Martin Opperman points out in his essay Who Exploits Whom and Who Benefits?, he discusses many cases of prostitute women, "…who choose that job…" He goes on to observe that, "In many instances, he money that they could earn that way during limited and convenient working hours was the major attraction for entering their profession…'" Opperman even so boldly suggests that, "Women become prostitutes because they decide to go for the best deal – for the amount of time they put in the money is good. It's right up there with being a lawyer (Oppermann 156)." Of course this all relies on the position that the prostitute assumes among other prostitutes concerning level of pay, experience, and stature within that community. Women who choose to engage in this kind of employment should not always be seen as victims of circumstance but rather risk-taking entrepreneurs who know a good investment when they see one. By using the minimal amount of effort they possibly can to earn the maximum amount of profit seems to be a far better option than long hours for minimum wage. Another reason why society, or non-prostitute women, may view this phenomenon of sexual tourism, in which men travel to foreign countries specifically for sex adventures, as having a negative impact on society is because it is lowering the "value" and lure of the "American girlfriend", by repositioning the bar on who represents what to whom in the game of dating and love. These foreign women, who are so negatively labeled as prostitutes, are merely doing what all other women do, searching for a perfect mate. When analyzing the differences between this kind of prostitution in foreign countries and prostitution in America, there are distinct differences between the two that would enhance the enticement of the foreign kind over the Western version. Referring back to the example of sexual tourism in Cuba in which women are seeking financial security and benefit from wealthy foreigners, we neglect to understand the reasoning behind the choice made by men to spend the time and money to travel far away just to meet women when there are apparently so many single women in their home town. " Men also look for ‘love' in a customer-prostitute relationship—thus their ‘disappointment' at the commercial approach to prostitution in Western societies. After all, perhaps this is one reason for some men to engage in sex tourism with planned sexual behavior with prostitutes in developing countries where their money supposedly can but not only more sex, but also more tenderness on the side of the prostitute (Oppermann 157)." Another alluring characteristic of foreign prostitution is that it is not always directly implied in many places such as in Cuba where, although women seek encounters with men for possible monetary gain, it is not so much expected as seen as a courtesy or commonality for romantic relationships between men and women in all countries. What makes the encounters with foreign prostitutes more enticing then meeting single women at a bar in the US, is the reality that there is more potential for sexual enjoyment with these women. Women have found a way to use their relationship skills to earn a living and create an industry combining sex and romance with tourism and foreign travel and there should be nothing legally punishable or even morally reprehensible in that. They could basically be considered more willing than women in Western cultures to offer more of themselves sexually to men for the chance at finding romance and a potentially lasting, loving relationship.
Travel companies, tourism boards, and resorts give men with discretionary income, plenty of good reasons to travel abroad to meet women and they all focus around the possibly of romance, love, and even sex.
This is still considered prostitution, however I believe that the concept of what prostitution is, means to society, and contributes in the business world needs to be reconsidered. This is not the same as prostitution as we now know it to be in Western culture. " The interesting phenomenon of open-ended prostitution where a prostitute may have several relationships to men (or women) overseas who send also money between their visits is yet another area where one might think that the customer has been had(Oppermann 157)." Many opponents to the existence of prostitution and the justification of sexual labor as an industry would argue that it all comes back to the same underlying concept of selling ones body, which essentially prohibits the development of intimacy, love, and affection between the parties involved. In Fantasy Islands, Julia O'Connell Davidson argue that relationships cannot be formed through prostitution because the instant that money, in the form of payment, is incorporated into the interactions between men and women, the intimacy factor is taken out. If this is true for this kind of relationship, then the women who search for the men with the most financial security in the United States should be considered prostitutes and as lacking intimacy as well. They
essentially are willing to offer their sexuality to the man with the most wealth, prestige, and power. Basically in both situations the highest "bidder" wins the lady and should not automatically imply that the woman won is a prostitute for complying. Just because women seek financial security from men does not justify labeling them as prostitutes, especially by a society in which everyone so closely correlates finances with happiness. Pamela Klainer, a workplace consultant and author of How Much Is Enough?, claims that everyone in some form instinctually connects the freedom and benefit of financial stability to the level of their own happiness. This does not mean that intimate relationships cannot be formed because everyone is seeking financial gain, the same way that prostitution should not be viewed as a negative aspect of culture and as devaluing of women. Referring to characteristics of American culture, Klainer supports the reality that money is an important aspect of life.

" The only people who say money isn't important have always had more than enough. We touch money more often than we eat or have sex – but no one wants to talk about it. Women are looking for stability. When ends don't meet, it takes over the marriage. If you don't have any money, you don't have any choices. That's not a very enviable position. People in our culture don't understand the relationship between money and power. They need to. "

This could relate back to the increasing ability of women to recognize this aspect of culture and learn how to harness the power of their sexuality in order to get ahead. Women are making so many advances towards power equality between men and women and I believe that prostitution and using women's sexuality as a commodity should be seen as a positive step in that direction instead of degrading and exploitive of women. The commodification of sexuality by women creates a new market and a position of power for women in the business world.
Bringing the attention back to popular behaviors of American women, the pursuit of happiness through marrying into money is becoming a more acceptable characteristic of courtship for women in the United States. While it is becoming more acceptable for women to marry for money, the practice of prostitution in foreign countries which falls under the same category as offering sexuality for money, is being even more vehemently attacked. Ginie Sayles, author of How To Marry the Rich, expresses the importance of women marrying wealthy men.

"Trust? Love? Time? Don't those qualities have a value?..there should be tangible proof that your qualities of trust, love, and time that you are giving in the relationship are valued. Translate your relationship into dollars-and-cents…After all, we put a dollars-and-cents value on the skills and time we give in our profession. You may consider it priceless – which means you should be getting even more for what you give. I am a feminist in the belief that for those women who spent twenty years as housewives, only to end up divorced and with little to show for it financially, that the work they poured into their marriage should have at least a financial reward to show for it."

Many proponents of prostitution being a valid profession for women could use this example of American culture to further emphasize that the only differences between prostitution and the American tradition of marrying-for-money would be the form of payment for services rendered. Whereas the housewives in the above mentioned scenario would be paid throughout the entire duration of the relationship and also receive a hefty sum to support themselves in the case of the untimely demise of their marriage, prostitutes are not legally bound to their clients and receive their payment upfront and on time in a cleaner and less emotional distressing manner. I believe that prostitutes should not be viewed as victims but rather as wise career women. Especially women involved in the industry of sexual tourism, this form of sexual labor should be considered a smart career path and a lucrative position of employment. Kamala Kempadoo in her essay continuities and Change, analyzes different liberal views of prostitution and observes that many, "…suggest that the prostitutes be viewed as ‘self-employed individuals who decide the location of business, the services to provide, the fees to charge, the hours of service provided per day, and how to avoid work-related risks…(Kempadoo 17)." Similar to the way in which a women would choose her husband based on how well he will be able to financial support her and care for her, prostitutes seek the same kind of financial security, however, it is derived from their own services rendered and it becomes their profit instead of "the husbands". Kempadoo points out that prostitution and sexual tourism could be seen as "…a ‘strategy for advancement,' as a way for women ‘not just to solve short-term economic problems…but to change their lives ( and their families' lives) in the long term(Kempadoo 17)." By forming relationships with wealthy foreign men, they are establishing relationships that they can financially benefit from in the long run without the strain and legally binding contract of a marriage. Prostitution should be viewed as just another was for a woman, or a man, to make a living.
While many would argue that to much violence exists between prostitutes, pimps, and clients, I would have to point out the more infamous versions of violence that occur with in the supposed safety of marriage as domestic abuse within the United States. Others would say that prostitution as sexual tourism is degrading and exploitive and yet the same people who support these arguments are buying playboy and financing the advertising and entertainment industries that sustain the same kind of behavior that exemplifies the image of women as sex objects. It would be better for everyone involved if prostitution was cleared of the nasty reputation it has acquired unjustly. In her studies of prostitution in Southeast Asia, Than-Dam Troung came to the conclusion that, "sexual labor should be considered similar to other forms of labor that humankind performs to sustain itself – such as mental and manual labor, all of which involve specific parts of the body and particular types of energy and skills." It is just a chosen career for many women, and has been proven to be so in many feminist studies of prostitution and sexual labor in foreign countries. To believe that prostitution is the objectification and exploitation of women is to support the belief that women cannot make their own wise decisions concerning their bodies, that they would never willingly use their sexuality for profit, and that
sexuality is something that belongs to woman only to be given to one man if that woman is a "true woman".