Why so much anger towards strippers/sex workers?

Question

Yes, I can understand that it is against some people's morals. Some people find that accepting money for any service of a sexual nature (whether it involves actual sexual contact or not) compromises their sexual integrity. Fine. Sexuality is a very personal thing.

But why do I see so much anger? When I see questions on yahoo Q & A (not so much in gender studies as in other areas) so many people seem to have a lot of seething anger. Seems unneccesary, since, if it's not for you, you really don't have to be involved. So why so much venom and name calling?

Alexandra: seems like you proved gnu's point. It really is more convenient to blame the stripper than the person who actually broke their agreement regading fidelity, isn't it?

Answer 1

The easy answer is that many women attempt to use sex as a method of control/rewards/punishment for their men, while at the same time, having sexual inadequacy issues. I would say that both men and women (as the frequency of ED medication commercials seem to hint) share sexual inadequacy issues. Many women also have the long-conditioned fear or aversion to unbridled sexuality, though I think this is coming to be less and less the case as religious fundamentalism loosens it's hold on populations.

With unbridled sexuality, or at least it's simulacrum, being so easily attainable, many women feel this threatens their position as the man's sole source of sexual release.

This is similar to the mother/wife complex with wanting to be the man's sole source of emotional support, although without the icky sexual overtone.

In the case of men, usually these men have sexual inadequacy issues that make them feel that they could not perform as they would like with such a wanton woman, so we end up with the sour grapes of Aesop's fox.

The other sad, sad answer is that people love to put people down, in order to feel better about themselves. Anyone can be subject to it for any reason. If there is no good reason, many people will make up or speculate one, in order to feel enough righteous indignation to excuse their petty hatefulness.

Interestingly enough, I find this question has spurred a number of responses that, like the question suggests, are expressions of hate, not any kind of answer to the question. I guess those folks missed the point?

Answer 2

My opinions on sex workers and the sex industry still aren't resolved. However, I do know of three reasons why many women bear extreme hostility towards sex workers.

First, many women contract sexually transmitted diseases from men who have done business with a sex worker. While these women are angry at the men, of course, they frequently react to the situation with a great deal of anger for the sex worker. Now, I happen to be of the school of thought that anger is reserved for the person who betrayed a direct commitment to you, and not for the other person who had the unhappy privilege of being mistreated by that person too. I don't like to see women lose their dignity with "cat fights"; too often, the man involved benefits from that sort of behavior.

HOWEVER, we boycott harmful businesses and professionals who do harm all the time! Some STDs are fatal. We get enraged when a fast food business causes food poisoning cases even indirectly. Sex workers are fully aware that even the best protective methods fail, and that with the sheer volume of their business the odds of STD transmission are extremely high. Regular testing only reveals that someone hasn't caught something outside a certain amount of time. If someone has, the "risk" is every person who ought to be notified...and their partners.

The se recond reason for the anger is this: sometimes people utilize services of sex workers in a way that does harm to others. The most common example is the adult video industry. When a person watches them in a fashion which causes detriment to the relationship, the harmed party feels negatively towards the industry as well.

The third reason is this: it validates certain acts, behaviors and perceptions people have been fighting a very long time to overcome. By depicting women as mere interactive sex toys, bodies and in some instances clear victims and then fighting to declare these things not only acceptable but respectable and positive, the industry gives some people ready-made justifications for awful behavior. If no one could see a video of a man treating a woman in these fashions, people would have to look harder for any excuse for such behavior.

I still don't know what my opinion is on the industry as a whole, or on the various categories of it. While I agree with some parts of all of the above, I do believe in personal freedom. I'm not sure I could tell anyone else they're not allowed to have sex for money. On the other hand, I know we do tell people they can't use their hands for murder, and people do die as a result of prostitution and the adult entertainment industry. I think many people work in the industry because they're economically desperate and/or don't have the educational resources to find other employment. However, I know of people who work in the industry who are educated and extremely astute businesspeople. I know some emotionally healthy and happy people seek out the industry, but I also know a majority have been abused in childhood. It's incredibly complex, and I don't think anyone can come to an instant conclusion that withstands any scrutiny. It takes a lot of thought to pass judgment on an entire industry.

Answer 3

A great question...one that I'm not sure we can answer here. But we can hypothesize...

I think that a certain level of feminist gets angry about it because it objectifies women...at least thats what I've read here previously.

I think there is also a contingent of women who are young and immature, and feel threatened by that community, as they are afraid that their men may fall prey. I once had a friend who would go ballistic at the very mention of a stripper...and it all had to do with her own insecurities.

And then there is the moral majority. Those who seek answers in the Lord, but are anything but Christian in their attitude towards others and the choices they make.

It could be any one of these, or thousands of other reasons...but the hate is alive and well...and living here in GWS!!!

Answer 4

I wasn't aware of this, because as you say, unless it involves people personally, why should they care one way or the other? However, some have formed a prejudicial feeling about women who expose and exploit their bodies. Could be, the ones who criticize are excessively moralistic, or maybe they could even be a tiny bit jealous. After all, strippers do have beautiful bodies, or they wouldn't be flaunting them. But I can see why a wife or girlfriend would be jealous if their husbands or boyfriends frequent strip joints. I suppose I would be, too.

Answer 5

You can not get "rid" of anger. you need to learn to let it out in a healthy yet useful way. Find something that can relief you, like sports or music or reading. you need to work hard and it doesn't come easily. The first step for you is to learn how to MANAGE this anger ( ex: anger management classes...) then you need to start thinking about ways to help you avoid this anger.

Answer 6

Fear. Of what? That depends on the individual but basically all anger comes from fear and I would think that in this case it comes from fear of:

inadequacy
abuse (of self, of others)
allowing the male domination stereotype to perpetuate although that is a falicy, in any strip club you can see who has the power and it sure ain't the guys.

Whatever they fear it's not your problem.

Answer 7

As I've said elsewhere, I believe that many women direct their resentment at the behaviors (or feared behaviors) of their partner onto the women their afraid the men might "act out" with (like hating "the other woman" more than the cheating spouse).

Perhaps it's easier to direct their rage at someone anonymous they can vilify than to directly confront betrayal (or fear of betrayal) by someone they love.

As for men, men have a great "tradition" of dealing with their shame and self-loathing by blaming those who "tempted" them and of trying to minimize their transgressions with the idea that, since it wasn't a "good girl", what they did wasn't so bad.

So, these women become the scapegoats.

EDIT

Oh, and for men, dehumanizing these women also becomes a way to avoid dealing with feeling these women have power over them because of urges the men are unwilling or unable to control.

Answer 8

I think lioness is dead on. If porn is what you're against, shouldn't you go after the patrons? Strippers and the like do what they do (presumably) because as long as there are people who will pay for it, they've got a job. Right?

Answer 9

Darn, I don't know. In my opinion, sex workers perform a valuable service that is in demand. Why should anyone think they shouldn't be paid for it?

Answer 10

when men name-call strippers and prostitutes: they have a hatred for women and hate to see women owning their sexuality in any fashion.

when women name-call strippers and prostitutes: they have misdirected their anger. they may be upset with the over-sexualization of women in general, and they look at these women as "traitors."

people make choices. i think some choices are more unfortunate or detrimental than others, but i don't name-call. these women are human beings with thoughts and feelings. and, many of them have been victimized before and that is what led them to their profession. no need to kick them while they're down. it isn't right. that's why i am strongly offended when men or women call prostitutes derogatory names like "whores" or "hookers."