Anyone watching the Louis Theroux programme?

Agree, I'm really not sure about the ethics of showing a 14 yr old on the show.

Sexual abuse, low self esteem, poor relationships - just the thread that runs through the stories all three women featured in this - which makes me sad. Lots of parallels with the show I've just mentioned upthread C4's "Date my Pornstar".

I missed the part where Louis insinuated the husband may have encouraged the wife to take this path, sinister to say the least.

Very sad about the daughter, I can't believe she was allowed on TV. She could be mercilessly teased over this. Although of course she had her Mother's best intentions at heart. Shame her Mother hasn't got her daughter's best intentions at heart.
The married woman should definitely not be married and just lead the 'free' life she so clearly wants to. Feel sorry for the husband.

Agree about Louis Theroux - I've never seen a journalist able to interview like he does. He's so real, he connects with everyone, yet still maintains a distance - does that make sense? Never seen anything like is gentle questioning, followed by silence, followed by "ok..."

He rarely lets his own view drive his programs, but I get the sense he has been so deeply troubled by so many of his shows - this one included.

The show he did on he Nevada brothel can, I think, still be viewed. I think it's on YT. Same thing there. Just deeply troubled at how vulnerable the women seem.

"Date My Pornstar" - despite the dubious title - is a real eye-opener on porn too (to me little separates porn and prostitution) - not Louis, but a very good programme to watch - still available on C4 / All4.

He did, but only touched on it lightly, I’m thinking there’s more to it..just odd

I wondered if she’s been steered into this/controlled by the husband? I may be reading it all wrong, just very strange

Yes, definitely! And Louis did pick up on that.

*This was a brilliant programme, but so sad. It really crystallised for me what I already thought of prostitution, women putting themselves up for abuse and men paying to abuse them8

in a kind of convoluted, and ill conceived way, the women are attempting to heal themselves : to use their past abuse and the ensuing numbness of it.......in prostituting themselves in this way, what they are saying is " You can't hurt me anymore" - and in fact "I'm going to get something out of this" ( money). Men are now having to pay for something that was originally stolen from them.

Of course, this won't really heal them; and will only cause further numbness, as well as poisoning their view of the potential and meaningfulness of human relationships.

My TV is broken so only getting the gist of the show from this discussion. As far as I know in rare cases in New Zealand the health system pays for sex workers to provide sexual services to people who have had accidents. (Through their ACC system which is an excellent health care model). Totally prepared to be corrected on that because I don't know for sure but an interesting one for sure.

I wonder what Ashley's friends will make of her admission to Louis at the end - that sex is very far from meaningless to her

Louis is excellent

All very sad. The strangest was the older lady, I almost feel there’s more to it, in regards to the husband? She didn’t seem happy at all and although she made comments to the contrary, I wondered if she’s been steered into this/controlled by the husband? I may be reading it all wrong, just very strange.

Difficult subject all round! The older couple might easily have become a divorce statistic as she realised how much she’d missed of her sexual nature, so they seem to be finding a creative way to stay together. Even so, he seemed ambivalent about how her emotional energy seemed divided. I also wondered why they didn’t simply get into polyamory rather than her becoming an escort? I agree it’s dubious ethically to have a 14-year-old interviewed when she could be destroyed on social media for it. I believe anyone has a right to do with their body what they wish as long as no one is being coerced or forced. I would not demonise anyone who chose a transactional approach to sex: buying or selling.

This was a brilliant programme, but so sad. It really crystallised for me what I already thought of prostitution, women putting themselves up for abuse and men paying to abuse them.

In the past I would have felt sorry for the disabled man, but what stood out for me was his male entitlement. I want sex, so I deserve it. And Louis showed what it cost the women.

Was how one of the 20 something's described sex as something everyone was doing with everyone and that it was meaningless

I was struck about how little self reflection was going on......how little emotional honesty.......these young people have grown up up in a culture which suggests that everything is 'cool' and that to have any doubts or questions is just being 'hung up'.

Really hope that her daughter doesn't follow the same path

i don't think she will. She seems to feel loved and valued; and she is.

Very good journalism from Louis. I'd say probing but that would be the wrong terminology. I do think the women seemed vulnerable and dare I say it, damaged / confused. Ashley's story was so sad. I guess I think there'a no way these females could gain the upper hand through sex work, really. It did seem they were looking for a relationship or validation really...

I'm concerned about the daughter too. What a depressing watch

The mother and daughter had a very close bond; and I suspect that the daughter will see herself, in some way, as her mother's protector.

Louis always seems to get to the heart of issues.......and the truth is that all three of these women were immensely vulnerable; two having been sexually abused when young, and now numb....trying to turn the sexual abuse around into a form of empowerment. It isn't and can't be, though.

The married couple seem to have got themselves involved in some kind of elaborate fantasy/fetish...which has now taken on a life of its own. Not healthy - the woman seems to feel that sex is now her main or only means of self worth or value.

Hints that her husband kind of led her this way.....as a means of making her sexually more available to him.

Other than the daughter, for me the most depressing thing (aside from the depressing personal stories) was how one of the 20 something's described sex as something everyone was doing with everyone and that it was meaningless (or did she say almost meaning less). Cannot quite articulate why I found that so depressing, but it is somethIng to do with loss of joy, meaning and magic.

@Justhadathought I missed that - my DD loves Louis and it was she who was watching it - I started concentrating halfway through.

I think he said that Caroline, the mother of four, was open about what she does so maybe not so much fallout? Really hope that her daughter doesn't follow the same path ...

It's the married couple who are the most ... strange. She's doing it to boost her self esteem but what's in it for him

Louis did suggest that it was the husband who encouraged it......as a sort of fantasy scenario for his own pleasure; problem is he now is not feeling quite so good about it.

All very sad!

Imagine going to school on Monday when everybody has seen you on telly with your Mum the night before, talking about how she's an "escort"/ porn actor.

That family are very identifiable now. God knows what the fallout will be.

The mother normalising prostitution and getting her daughter to repeat it, is disturbing. The daughter clearly doesn't understand what its doing to her mother and what is happening. And i suspect there will be real life fall out from the documentary.

Don't think it should be shown on tv.

And now Ashley turns out to be really damaged too.