Sex For Sale
02
Dec 2008
i can’t tell you you’re oppressed
without asking your opinion on it.
-Fatemeh Fakhraie
I’ve written before on the subject of sex and authorship and believe in the virtues of Neo Burlesque and Suicide Girls as a potential source of empowerment. Yet what still struck me in this clip from Sundance’s Pleasure For Sale is the frank calm with which Kittie approaches prostitution as an independent contractor. Or at least, that which we see on screen? Dunno.
That said, we must keep questioning those things that make us nod or shake our heads, be it assent or dissent.
Comments:
Ed. note: this comment is basically spam, but relevant.
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Is this a mockumentary or something? I mean I find this a little bugged out…
I watched the clip and felt a bit disturbed by it. I understand the need for open discourse on topics of sexuality (specifically women’s sexuality)– something that is inherently complex which we’re often quick to judge and put in black and white terms as either “good” or “bad” or “right” or “wrong.” And yes, perhaps speaking for (or labeling) the subject whom we see as oppressed could be deemed as an act of oppression. But given the usual circumstances that cause women to enter prostitution such as lack of education, sexual abuse and financial strain– I find it difficult to believe that women ever truly “willingly” become prostitutes. These factors almost intrinsically take away the power to make decisions. As one of the women said in that clip, “I wasn’t qualified to do anything else.” Unlike Neo Burlesque, they aren’t owning their sexuality. In this case, these women are psychologically disconnecting from the usual experience/act of sex and simply treating it as a trade. I don’t know, to me, there is something that feels violent about that.