why is it that modeling is considered a honorific job and prostitution is considered a degrading job?

Question

when both are essentially the same thing- selling your body

Answer 1

With modeling there is no sex in exchange for money.

Answer 2

I'm not so sure that modeling is always considered honorable. It really depends on what sort of modeling you're involved in. There's fashion, glamour, import, etc. As a model, typically--and I'm only going to speak on fashion here--you are selling the clothing, accessory, etc. You are to be seen as a hanger, and aren't usually the main point. Prostitution is a completely different ballgame and shouldn't even be compared to a modeling career. It also involves sex. If you are a fashion model, that is not the case. Just because you essentially have to HAVE a body to be involved in either, doesn't mean that it's the same thing.

Answer 3

I guess it might ought to consider exactly what kind of modeling you were talking about, but it is most definitely not "essentially the same thing," particularly if it relates to the most common modelling - being photographed wearing a designer's clothing. Selling sex, I happen to personally think, could be an honorable (though still very risky) "profession" but as it is it is very, very often directly and/or indirectly associated with some honest-to-goodness crime, including assault, robbery, drug-dealing, etc, which tends to put it (in most people's minds) in the categorization of "degrading" even if you could somehow ignore the very common reality of it destroying the life of the prostitude herself.

Answer 4

What's wrong with you selling your body? Essentially all manual labor jobs are selling your body. Professional jobs are different, there you sell your body and your mind!

Prostitution is a victim-less crime in that it hurts no one and is not bad for society. The only reason that it is illegal is that it went against the religious morals and social norms. To boil it down, the social norms that consider being a sex object or sex is degrading are a product of both the feminist movement and repressive religious morals.

Disclaimer: I definitely believe in women's rights or more appropriately human rights. I just don't think that society should label sex in a repressive way.

Answer 5

It has to do with inherant risk.
As a model you are liscensed and represented through governmental regulations. Yes, models do put themselves in harm's way through drug abuse and other self destructive actions (poor diet). But these are all by personal decision.
Whereas prostitution is illegal, so there are no regulations, it is easy to catch a seually transmitted disease ( even when using contraception), or get robbed or even worse.
Also, having sex has long been considred a sacred act between two people who care for each other, or at least have some kind of mutual attraction. People who do any kind of sacred or guarded act for money are often chastized.

Even though both positions may garner equal amounts of money in the short run, it is the risk at which you expose your self to that affects the stature of these proffesions.

Answer 6

Not necessarily. You may get paid for both jobs, but in modeling, you arent getting paid for sexual favors, allowing married men to destroy their marriages, and transmitted diseases. That is a BIG difference in the "selling the body." My own daughter was a professional model. She began at the age of 15 and continued to age 17. I was with her on each shoot. I even allowed her to be done topless, but with her arms across her breasts, so that nothing was seen, and when she was changing, no men were able see. Major, major difference kiddo.

Answer 7

Modeling is revered because we're told to revere it. The top ones are highly paid because it helps manufacturers to increase the *perceived* value of their merchandise by associating it with super-humans whose lifestyles are completely unavailable to us.

Did you know that fashion designers actually make their fortunes via perfume? They know you can't afford their clothes, so they work really hard to convince you that you need a touch of their mystique.

And enough women will take off ninety percent of their clothing to help them do just that.

Answer 8

Well I guess everything is a matter of degrees isn't it? We all sell our bodies. Women who are looking for a husband or just a good time wear low cut tops to show off their boobs, pierce their belly button and show it to look sexy, and wear low cut jeans or skimpy bikinis. Or if they are going to a formal....it's the backless gown cut to accentuate their breasts. Guys do the same only to a slightly lesser extent. So....your saying that models who show off their bodies to sell fashion are more immoral than all the other women who show theirs off in hopes of getting a husband or in hopes of getting laid?

Answer 9

Both are NOT the same, I don't know where you got that idea. When you're modeling usually you're in tasteful outfits and advertising Designers. When you're prostituting you're wearing next to nothing and getting money from gross men for sexual favors. They're completely different.

Answer 10

One is done with a camera and the focus is beauty. The other is done with... something else and the focus is pleasure. They are far from the "same thing"

You could say prostitution and auctioneering is the "same thing" because they both use their mouths for their money.

Answer 11

Many people do see them as the same thing. I however don't, I think that there is a drastic difference between having sex for money and taking pictures for money.