All this talk of academia and prostitution has just brought back a funny memory: watching my geography teacher at secondary school be escorted from the school premises by the police for being a pimp. The thing was he didn't look like a pimp - thick glasses, shaggy beard, 70's haircut, chequered brown and white shirt and cords.

For those interested in the human consequences of the sex trade - he then lost his house, had to move back in with his mum (I think he was like 48) and spent most days in the public library on the computer. I wonder whether he was maintaining a blog?

Whhhahaha, Wally, that's hilarious! I mean, really hilarious! The most exciting thing that happened at our school was music teacher dating a sixth former. Clearly teaching pay was pretty bad back then; did sell his story to the daily wail dressed in a satin nighty?

There was some discussion on C4 news last night with Jon Snow, a sex worker and another blogger. Apparently from a new survey of a sample of 500, about 38% used prostitution to fund their education and 30% already had a undergraduate degree. It's the video clip 'London call girl unmasked'
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/arts_entertainment/media/belle+de+jour+blogger+reveals+herself/3425602

Nice try, but you'd have to be quite old for your Latin and rhetoric classes to outdate mine :)

Back to the debate? Yes, sure, if you don't mind...

To be honest, I cannot blame Magnanti's father sleeping with 150 prostitutes. I know of men and women who have done worse. It's more of a problem if, say, she figured it out at a young age? Did her father hide it at all?



I must confess I have been very disturbed by this idea since yesterday. For some reason I pictured my MA sup' in that purple gown - she and Magnanti look alike...

I'm sure all of those reading this who have ever been paid for sex will repent their contribution to the 'moral 'decay' of society after thinking hard about what is being said by some. Haha. I can no longer take this thread seriously. It is super interesting though how uncomfortable people get about someone charging for sex. For some, it is just not what they want to do or would feel comfortable doing. Just like I don't want to screw people by being a lawyer or a politician, they don't want to screw people by being a hooker and that's perfectly ok.
But for those who feel qualified to negatively judge sex workers I suspect there are other reasons. I suspect for some it is about religion, and/or about subscribing to the gender stereotypes that say sex has to be about love. For others however I think it may be jealousy that they don't have the guts to get out there and do it themselves.

Yeah you are right. The laws and the judgements combined can have dire consequences and this is a perfect example. A prostitution related offence has life long consequences. You can't travel to certain countries and your other job opportunities are ruined. Many women and men have gone to jail for running good brothels and agencies that treat their workers with respect. Whilst others continue to exploit and abuse without being apprehended. It is a really messed up system.

I do think that it is the system that is messed up rather than the actual profession. For someone to suffer in the way that Wally describes IF he was treating his girls well and taking care of them is quite awful. I don't really class myself as a total liberal, but I do have something of a live and let live attitude to life. I don't like disrespect, I don't like violence, I certainly don't agree with people hurting others, however, if a woman chooses to make money out of this and if, like BdJ she is taken care of and treated with respect then why not? Its not something I could do - for a start hubby would hate it lol, but for me personally I do equate sex with love and can't imagine doing that with someone I didn't know and then get given some cash for it.

The figures stated for those in academia relying on prostitution to fund the degrees and post doc is quite alarming. It does say an awful lot about the state of education at the moment. I personally knew a couple of girls when doing my BA who were topping up their student loan in this way - but 30+%?

Sod 300quid an hour, I'd do it for 30 if the lady was attractive!, might struggle at all otherwise mind.

Hasn't belle de jour heard of jobseekers allowance?

I'm pretty sure this is not the only option available to impoverished late stage PhD student's. As long as you lead a sensible-ish lifestyle and have tried to save a bit each month, most people can normally scrape by for 6 or so months being poor whilst they find a job.

Perhaps there is an element of wanting to, or accepting prostitution amongst the people doing it, I don't know. I do think for many, but not all that this is a choice, not something they are forced into. As hourly rates go it certainly beats post docing hands down!

Exactly. She's "proud" of being a whore and has practically endorsed it as a viable alternative to JSA for young women under financial burden.