I recommend reading Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Peacekeeping Operations in Contemporary Africa, which is an interesting, four-page look into one of the biggest problems confronting the legitimacy of UN efforts. The problem is grave (and this article’s look into HIV and AIDS is especially interesting), and I in no way want to diminish it. I want to make it very clear that I in no way condone sexual abuse or exploitation; in many ways, I think rape is worse than murder. That being said, one of the key sections of the article reads,
PKOs [Peace Keeping Operations] attract sex workers and there is a historic relationship between soldiers and sex workers… Heightened sexual consumption is an unfortunate characteristic of militarised masculinities. It is often considered kosher, or culturally accepted, among PKO personnel to buy sexual services and/or visit brothels. The expression “Boys will be boys” seems to be a common, albeit sad, phrase in military troops around the world. In some societies prostitution is even considered as something commonplace. Among staff originating from societies where prostitution is considered wrong and is less common, a masculinised military culture within the PKO often suppresses individual moral ideals of commercial sex as wrong.
(I know the first sentence is a run-on; it bothered me too. The report is generally well-written though, I promise.) Mixing rape, forced prostitution, child abuse, and other forms of sexual exploitation and abuse with consensual, commercial sex greatly weakens efforts worldwide. The Trafficking in Persons Report mixes the two as well (click here and search for “prostitution and trafficking”), which is unfortunate for anti-trafficking efforts. Prostitution is morally wrong, but it clearly isn’t hurting anyone the way rape does. Tacking on a gray area can only diminish the consensus against more serious crimes. Many men have visited prostitutes, I don’t know any who have raped or sold women. I’m sure it sucks to decide you have nothing to sell but your body, but I’m also sure it sucks a lot worse to have someone else sell your body without your consent, and I think we should keep our priorities straight. What do you think? Does prostitution merit co-equal attention with sexual abuse? Does peacekeepers’ cavorting with prostitutes hurt innocent civilians and UN legitimacy just as much as rape? As always, I’d love to hear what you think!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
2 parties are mutually consulting. I think 50,000 children dying of malnutrition/starvation is a MUCH higher priority than what soldiers and women do in their free time without compulsion.
It is not even in the same category, in my mind. I used to live with a woman who was a prostitute of her own choosing, and she much enjoyed her chosen profession. I think that a differentiation needs to be made between prostitutes working on their own and prostitutes who are being forced into such work by other men. It’s an important and significant distinction.
Тhe reason all of those are thrown together is because of the very nature of the business. Since most or all of those acts are illegal in most states, it’s already a murky situation because it is all underground. If you were legalize and regulate prostitution, you’d be better able to keep tabs on the other industries. Bring one out of the shadows, and the others would be easier to observe.
I think the reasoning behind joining the two is that it is difficult to differentiate between those who are prostitutes by their own choosing and those who are forced into it by others. Just because a person consents to sex, does not mean they are not being otherwise coerced. If they refuse they may be beaten later or their children may be threatened. Until it can be ascertained that all prostitutes are acting of their own free will I believe it is our responsibility to prevent it.
There is work in every society that operates on the fringe of acceptability. If the work is chosen
because there are benefits to the individual- better pay, scheduling, etc.- then it should not be
considered a blow to the credibility of those who buy or sell the service. Unfortunately, prostitution
cannot always be classified as this kind of work. If there is any coersion, societal/cultural limits
on other work available, or a lack of any other kind of work, can prostitution always be seen as a
choice? The reason for the grouping of prostitution and rape together seems to be because a clear
distinction between the two is difficult to parse. Perhaps more definite classifications between
sex work, exploitative sex work and rape need to be explored.
Hello
I’ve been researching and working in the fields of migration, prostitution and the sex industry for fifteen years and use evidence, not moralism, to back up my ideas. My book Sex at the Margins might interest you, as well as my blog Border Thinking: http://www.nodo50.org/Laura_Agustin
Best wishes, Laura
I think that many people in the world feel that there is great distinction between voluntary prostitution and involuntary/coerced prostitution.
Most Americans, however, do not. For us (and many middle easterners) it is a deeply charged, emotional subject.
IMO, our perspective on this come from our strongly religious heritage (and the cultural mores even athiest Americans carry from it) coupled with modern American feminism. It’s a heady mix.
“CRUSADING” against prostitution.. for example..
As an American who has lived in 4 countries in northeast Asia for the last 7 years, I can assure you that prostitution out here is seen as FAR less of an issue.
Many of my Japanese friends for example fully expect their husbands will eventually see a prostitute of one type or another. They would prefer this kind of “loveless” release over their husbands having an emotional affair with another woman — which they would consider a more serious form of cheating.
The point is: there are many, many views on sex and prostitution in the world. In the American view, prostitution is pure evil, and the distinction between coerced and voluntary prostitution is moot.
To much of the rest of the world, it is not.
I agree with the posts above. I consider myself a libertarian. Personally, I feel prostitution should be legalized, regulated and taxed. It would greatly reduce human trafficking, abuse, HIV/STDs, etc.
I wonder what the consensus on the comments says more about the readership than the actual topic. Props to Hegemonist on having a fairly open minded audience.
Throughout the entirety of this conversation many have not distinguished the difference between a “prostitute” and a “victim” of sex trafficking, rather both have been lumped together seriously undermining the effort to combat involuntary sexual servitude.