All of this is only true to the extent that you believe prostitution is EVER non-exploitative. That is, high-class or low-class, I was under the impression that prostitution as a general matter was often viewed as exploitative all the way through.
Sure, but that's a very controversial claim within as well as without the feminist community. There are many sex workers who will say "hell no, I'm not being exploited, I'm making great money." (Whereas everyone agrees the kind of prostitution that involves pimps and beatings is exploitative.)
IN FACT: better a prostitute than an intern! At least prostitutes don't have to worry about their jobs...
I don't think I realized the extent to which my point was a controversial claim. I should have noted, as you did, that I'm far from the most well-informed person about these issues.
This is going to be extremely paternalist on my part, but I probably wouldn't take the testimony of sex workers on whether they're exploited or not. A big part of their exploitation would likely be convincing (brainwashing?) them that they aren't being exploited.
Oh, also, I should note, as long as we do assume that there's not serious exploitation going on, that I actually agree with the main point of the post: I don't particularly care that Spitzer used a prostitute, and I don't think anybody outside his wife and family (and priest?) should.
See my post for the feminist perspectives, guys!
He broke the law. If we don't care that he broke the law, then why do we have laws? If we can each make a decision about which laws to follow and when, then why do we need society at all? The point isn't WHAT he did, the point is that he VIOLATED the laws of our society, and he is in the position as a top law enforcer of our society.
So this was Ashley Alexandra Dupre as the prostitute on this video with Governor Eliot Spitzer?
http://eliot-spitzer.blogspot.com/
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