Friday, April 13, 2007

Number Fifty-Nine

T H I N K.

This is an occasional feature focusing on writers who will capture both your soul and your mind with their message.  And when you read them, you’ll stop what you’re doing . . . . and think.

After Hours was started after its author, Amanda Brooks, realized she had things she wanted to discuss but they did not readily fit into a publishable, marketable form. Nor was she going to spend the time posting her thoughts on various discussion boards. Although she had been aware of blogging for a couple years before she started this blog, she hadn’t seen much purpose in it for her. Now she has.

The name of the blog is based on Amanda’s experiences working night jobs. It was always after work (after hours, if you will), that everyone dropped their “work” face and the most interesting discussions ensued. Anyone who has worked night jobs knows that such discussions are rarely linear and the topics discussed very random.

“After Hours” is not a news blog, a daily journal or an overly intimate look at Amanda. It is her ongoing, after-work discussion where random thoughts become essays.

* * * * *

Collateral Damage From The War On Sex
by Amanda Brooks - April 12th, 2007

This is not the first time this has happened, but it’s the first incident I’m aware of.

A young woman was arrested on prostitution charges in February. She was mentioned by name in the article (both printed and online) and apparently was lucky enough to get featured on the local evening news. Two weeks ago, she killed herself.

I don’t know her or anything about her. I heard this through the Internet grapevine. Yes, it really happened. Her obit was published online with little fanfare. The details are few and far between. It has been made clear that her family doesn’t want the story to get out, so the few details I know will not be repeated here.

I wonder if the fallout has been brought to the attention of the arresting officers to see if they feel they’ve done their job in protecting society. I’ve no doubt they would be glad her recidivism rate has dropped.

In a search for prostitution-related suicides, I found little useful information. One study by a rabid anti-prostitution activist claims that 75% of all “escort prostitutes” (her words) have attempted suicide. Possibly true. As is the possibility that 75% of all Nine Inch Nail fans have attempted suicide. Or how about comparing the prostitution-suicide study to the percentage of attempted suicide among teenagers? Or dentists?

I have yet to find studies on the rate of suicide after arrest or after being “saved” by an anti-prostitution organization. Those are the numbers I’d like to see. (If there are credible numbers on this, please send me the info!)

This young woman is not an isolated incident. I’ve since found out that another woman, a professor, committed suicide shortly before her trial for four counts of prostitution was to begin. I found an article about a young man who was arrested for solicitation, got his name published in his local paper and killed himself shortly after. I have no doubt there are others whose families keep the silence. I wish they didn’t. Society needs to know that prostitutes aren’t scary in any way, but are simply the women next door. Their clients are no different.

I understand why these families wish for silence. There’s the shame of prostitution and the shame of suicide. Yet silence is what feeds the needless shame.

Prostitution-arrest articles always include quotes by police in which an officer will state that they feel they’re doing some good in cleaning up the city and in restoring some order to these poor women’s lives. They feel the only way to “save” some of these women is to arrest them – giving prostitutes a permanent record, possibly brutalizing them and emotionally scarring them. Deeply traumatizing arrests — that’s really helping someone who may already be in desperate straits.

I’m outraged that the police who arrested the young girl in February have gotten away with murder (in my opinion). Worse, it’s likely they will never even know.

Continue with the rest of the article here.

* * * * *

Sincerely.
Eve and JW3 and Mélisande
Dirty Girl Things ©
Unrepentant.  Unpretentious.  Unconventional. ©

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Number Fifty-Eight

In the Company of Courtesans

“Hetaera” by Franciszek Żmurko

Robert Paterson has created an interesting series of articles over on his blog, Trusted Space, in collaboration with his sister, Diana, about “Courtesans”.  How does he gain this first-hand insight into the Courtesan world?  From his sister.

The series begins with Post Hierarchical Gender Roles, which asks:
“Which would you rather be:  Carly (Fiorina) or Pamela (Harriman)?

“Who is Pamela?” You may ask. Pamela Harriman was one of the most influential women of the 20th century.  You still haven’t heard of her?  Well that was part of her power. She was the consummate insider.

As a young woman, she was known for her beauty. But she was so much more than that.  Without a formal education, she became known for her mind. She was at the centre of power in both the UK and the US in her 20’s and thirties and never relinquished her influence on the most powerful people of her time.

Having begun life in genteel poverty, she became very wealthy.  Having been a figure of scandal, she became a major force in American Politics.  Having been a significant force in the Clinton election, she astounded her critics by becoming an exceptional US Ambassador to France.  She died, still active in mind and in body, while swimming in the pool, at the Ritz in Paris. Over 1,000 people came to her funeral at the Washington National Cathedral.

So how did she do this? Well she was a Courtesan. Not a prostitute. A Courtesan.

So what’s a Courtesan? You wouldn’t like to be called one would you?

This is the first chapter in a short series that will make the case that being a Courtesan may be a role that a truly modern, post industrial woman may aspire to. That is if she wants to become economically self-sufficient, psychologically independent, personally powerful and attached to a steadfast group of lifelong devoted friends who are both men and women.

We will discover together the secrets of the courtesan and see how this life can work today. You will see, I hope, that their ability to create a Trusted Space emerges as a critical role in the development of their relationships and in their own lives.

Courtesans don’t make men lose their heads, they are not Helen of Troy.

They gain the man’s everlasting respect, re: Talleyrand returning to Germaine every time he was in trouble.  She was Necker’s daughter, but more interesting than that was her mother.  Also Swiss, and she had been engaged to Gibbon.  A pastor’s daughter, she was well educated and did much to advance her husband’s career.

Their series has five chapters planned.
The Life of the Courtesan - A Model for the Post-Industrial Woman?

Chapter 1 - The Mind - The Core of Courtesanship - Being well educated versus going to school

Chapter 2 - Sex - The art of being really loving rather than making love

The remaining three chapters include:
Chapter 3 - Husbands/Mates, Fellowship and Fidelity - Going beyond the body to the whole person
Chapter 4 - Post Modern Relationships - Return to Hunter Gatherer Society
Chapter 5 - The Kingdom - The underlying contract with nature and with Our Nature

Robert and Diana also look at the core institution of marriage today with Post Modern Marriage - A Return to Eden?

And finally, this describes the distinction between a Courtesan and other women based on Pamela Harriman’s life and story.

Overall, a very interesting read so far.  Kudos to Robert and Diana.  Looking forward to the rest of the series.

* * * * *

Sincerely.
Eve and JW3 and Mélisande
Dirty Girl Things ©
Unrepentant.  Unpretentious.  Unconventional. ©