Is Prostitution a Choice?

February 10, 2010

I am currently reading the book “Half the Sky” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. In the first few chapters, the authors cover forced prostitution and sex trafficking particularly of very young women.  They frequently note that adult women choose the lifestyle and therefore are not in greatest need of assistance (paraphrased).  First let me state that I really like the book.  It has exceptional stories of women rising from the ashes and using their horrific experience to contribute to the greater good.  On the whole, the book’s stories remind me that we are survivors.  I also agree that childhood sex trafficking is abhorrent.

So you might ask “what is my problem?”  Well, I want to explore the proposition that women choose prostitution.  For some women, prostitution is a choice.  But based on what?  I believe the word choice is a misnomer.  I think it is the result of the mainstream economic system’s deliberate (and successful) maneuvers to keep women from engaging in and benefiting from the established labor force in a meaningful way.

I parallel this to the mainstream economic effort to keep African Americans from participation.  It would seem that we have an entire underground economic system in our country for them that exists primarily as a substitute to achieve economic sufficiency and attain wealth.  It exists because African Americans have been systematically denied access to mainstream industry.

The problem with both alternatives lies in their danger.  Selling drugs, other contraband and prostitution are a means to an end.  These industries mimic “above ground” business in many ways however, except that violence is part and parcel of these industries and embedded in the rules of the game.  Both underground economic systems wear on the psyche and body. Prostitution is dangerous at best.   Incidence of substance abuse and sexually transmitted infection are much higher in the population of prostitutes.  Physical abuse is the norm.  Likewise, our prisons are full of participants of this underground economic system.  In the end, death and imprisonment are the risks of this game.

If the need to maintain this alternative economic system suddenly disappeared and the doors to Wall Street and Main Street opened equitably to accommodate all, would those engaged in dangerous and risky activities choose the alternative systems? So…back to my original question, when we say prostitution is a choice, I ask you, is it really?