Readers are all over the map with their responses to Monday's story on Dr. Brooke Magnanti, who just revealed herself as the real "Belle de Jour," the woman behind the "Diary of a London Call Girl" column. The scientist said she slept around in order to finance her PhD. Some of you said "Who cares?" to the Brit's means-to-an-end approach to sex work, such as Christine: "The woman used an asset to get ahead in life, she just used her body instead of what other women use."
AnonymousAtty said, "Good for her! Wish I'd had the guts to do it to pay for my tuition. Instead I still owe $140,000 and can't find a job which pays enough to cover the interest payments!"
Some readers thought Dr. Magnanti's story could send a dangerous message that it's OK to sell your body for tuition, like dadashark, who said, "We have now become so accepting that it is now OK to be a prostitute as long as you have a good reason. Boy are we an advanced civilization!"
Kuuipo018 said, "This woman, and the many like her, sold her body to skeezy men for money. That isn't empowering it is demoralizing. There are SO many other ways to pay for college that don't require you laying on your back."
So, is it OK to have sex for money if it's to better yourself in the end, or should there always be shame attached to it?
Comments:
Add a comment
Thursday 19 November
By Julie
Apart from the fact that prostitution is illegal, there is no reason why a woman can't do what she wants with her money. All women are prostitutes--whether you sell your sex for love, affection, respect, attention, etc. To each his own.
Reply
Thursday 19 November
By Julie
Oops, I meant with her BODY, not her money. Although women can certainly do what they want with their money.
Thursday 19 November
By Kay
This story fascinates me. Mainly because I used to hold all the holier-than-thou moral indignation that a lot of women subscribe to (despite trying to seem progressive and non-judgmental). That is, until I joined the forces of the "sex worker/erotic" world. Boy did that open my eyes and shut my damn mouth. I've never been paid to have sex - maybe to give a dance or two around a pole - but honey there are times I wish I had. I can think of a time or two when I should have tapped that fool on the shoulder after he climaxed and I yawned, and said, "that will be $1,000." Honestly, I would have felt less shat upon. Some women take the position that giving away the sweet treat is morally superior to charging for it. I say it's fiscally irresponsible. Love or not, we're all whoring ourselves to survive.
Reply
Friday 20 November
By David
She slept with investment bankers and wrote about it. She thinks men with fancy watches are cool. She's turned on by multilingual sophisticates, as she perceives them. She's as shallow and money hungry as they come. Nasty piece of work, leaving a trail of emotional destruction in her wake. She has a lot of the Tony Blair about her, character wise. Absence of any conscience or sense of personal responsibility. And loves money.
However, that's just my opinion on the complicated character of Dr. Brooke Magnanti. I also think prostitution should be legal, and regulated. Not perfect, but by far the best way to guarantee at least some security and fair working conditions to the majority of prostitutes.
Reply