Pecunia non olet? (was: Gender, Race, and Publishing on the Left)

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

Wojtek wrote:
>On the other hand, I wonder why sex work is demeaned in our society - I do
>not think it is only a gender issue, for male sex workers can't boast  high
>occupational prestige either.  I think it may have something to do with
>cheap sentimentalism in our perception of sex, and moral outrage when that
>sentimentalism is being stripped off by transparent pecuniary motives.
>After all, money does stink :)

Demeaning of sex workers plays two functions: (1) glorification of paid
employment, of _any_ work other than sex work; and (2) letting marriage off
the hook.

Moralism and sentimentalism of the kind Wojtek speaks of regarding our
perception of sex makes us think that while receiving pay for sex is
unnatural and to be condemned, receiving pay for any other line of work is
natural and commendable. Special moral condemnation heaped on sex workers
has an effect of making wage labor other than sex work seem moral.

Also, marriage between partners of unequal economic standings is little
different from prostitution, except that in marriage, women are expected to
not only perform sex work but also house work, care-giving work, etc....all
in the name of 'love.' Demeaning of sex work has an effect of romanticizing
marriage.

Yoshie