I read this article about a homeless man who accepted $5 from an arrogant shit in exchange for pouring hot coffee over his head. And the arrogant shit filmed it on his phone, presumably for "fun".
The homeless man, Ronald Leggatt, explained later he was desperate for the money and so willing to take the burns from the hot coffee.
Shocking and appalling behavior from the arrogant shit.
There's a happier ending in that someone overheard the whole thing, confronted the shit and then tried to make things better for Mr. Leggatt, including paying for him to get into a shelter during Hurricane Jonas and getting him some clothes from Walmart.
But this whole sorry story got me thinking. About the parallels with prostitution. Hang on, bear with me.
I just thought that most people would be appalled by the story of Mr Leggatt and empathize with his desperation to get $5 and yet when women are desperate, penniless, just surviving in dire financial straits and ready to do something, anything even though it will cause them harm such as sell their bodies, I don't see good Samaritans rushing to buy them clothes in Walmart and checking them into hostels for the night.
I think many people feel that people working as prostitutes are (a) willing and (b) maybe even like it. Never considering what desperation can make a person do.
Mr Leggatt was desperate and acted in a way that most people would never do.
Many prostituted women are desperate and act in a way that many people would never do.
One is understood and receives empathy, the other not only accepted but vilified, judged and othered.
Just thoughts about the misogyny that permeates our culture.
(And I hope Mr Leggatt gets medical help and support, because he does sound desperate, poor bloke.)