By Jamie McKelvie.
I have a problem with the mythificaton of prostitutes. It seems to me as out of place as the mythificaton of the Victorian wife, pale and pure, the mythificaton of the suburban mother or any other mother (motherhood). Knowing that 13 and 14 year olds are the majority of those entering prostitution, when they can't vote or drive or buy cigarettes, knowing that over 90% of prostitutes suffer some kind of physical violence, that some 80% are victims of child abuse. Are these numbers right? Knowing that over 80% of prostitutes' biggest wish is to get out of it, the romantic idea of the whore-muse is so unfocused and passé that its mere evocation seems ridiculous. Around four million women are trafficked around the world and four million is a large number, but then trafficking is the selling of a person, unacceptable and illegal since slavery was abolished. Prostitution is selling a service. Bypassing the legitimacy of the "goods" on sale (ASAE?), it becomes as "harmless" as plumbers and lawyers. As such, it should be taxed and legal (whore barcode) so that these workers are entitled to social security, health assistance and a pension. Their work life lasta on average 11 years and that makes them high-risk workers, benefits should be similar to athletes, dancers or any other occupations that use and cause unusual strain on the body. As for the muse idea/ideal, does a woman need to be a prostitute to embody those characteristics that make whores so inspiring?
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