To be rather gobsmacked by this

[Rebeccaslicker]

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/news/world/teenage-model-sells-her-virginity-for-2-million-to-abu-dhabi-businessman-who-outbid-hollywood-actor-a3692291.html%3famp

Totally agree, Italiangreyhound.

Somehow I don't think he's going to switch the lights off then politely pop in it and take it out again.

Actually, I think the fact women are sexualised and seen as a commodity that can be bought, and sold, feeds directly into the idea that random men feel they can disrespect, touch, abuse etc women. So being able to sell access to one's body actually sells all women down the swany, IMHO.

Too bloody right, Italiangreyhound, I couldn't agree more. It amazes me how myopic a lot of women tend to be regarding this - it's a much wider issue than the rather trite, 'her body, her choice' argument.

@JanetStWalker @Italiangreyhound

So are you actually saying that people like this woman, who is choosing to do what she wants with her body, are making people like Trump think it’s ok to just grab hold of and feel up any woman they choose to?

Are you really shifting the blame for men’s actions away from men?

"Are you really shifting the blame for men’s actions away from men?" No I am not.

I think men do all kind of weird things for all kinds of weird reasons. Bu my belief is that ultimately prostitution is not empowering for women and anything that co-modifies women or our bodies, makes us into a product for sale, is not helpful in defining boundaries.

Maireadplastic and JanetStWalker thank you.

I think FaveNumberIs2 that abusive men, and any abuser, are and always will be responsible for their own actions.

Typically the men who pay extraordinarily high rates for prostitutes in Arab nations want way more than "just sex." Sadistic acts, using women as toilets, all this is par for the course. This girl will hopefully put aside some of her newfound gains for trauma therapy.

A man who is astute enough (and ruthless enough) to have accumulated such a fortune versus a fairly naive 19 year old - hmm.
He will not in all probably pay in advance so do you all really think she will ever receive the money?
Once the deed is done so to speak, is there a court in any land that would enforce payment?
She would have to produce medical evidence that she was virgo intacta immediately before the act and some sort of (witnessed?) proof that her virginity was actually taken by the man in question.
It's not very comfortable thinking about the actual practicalities of the action is it?

a) £2m is a life-changing amount and having it at 19 means that by 40 this woman, her family and children could be in a position that they will have no financial worries for a couple of generations at least.

b) The price is that she has a shite time (which is probable but by no means guaranteed) when first she has sex, an event so distant and unimportant that many, many people can't even remember when and where it happened.

(Incidentally, you cannot simultaneously argue that virginity is unimportant as it commoditises women and insist that this event is going to be of special significance because it is her first penetrative shag. For the record, my view is that virginity is irrelevant - it is a means to control, criticise and harass and cause guilt in women that deserves no traction.)

c) There is a risk of sexual assault. I am not convinced that that is greater than would occur had the chap bought her some wkds and a portion of chips. I notice that the woman will be chaperoned by a security guard. As part of the negotiations it would be open to her to dictate terms that would actually make it rather safer than were she to sleep with any man.

d) We are not going to advance the perception of women by depriving this woman of her freedom to revolutionise her life. Change will happen because of persistence in our ordinary lives. Daily advertising is immeasurably more damaging than a very occasional headline like this.

e) I don't follow the argument that if she does this, the price would come down. If the price comes down, the seller will decide not to sell. Problem solved. The argument only works if (bizarrely) the person advances it actually supports a market of this sort!!

f) The 'purchaser' is in all probability a man with revolting views of women. He does however have a great deal of money so like Trump and Roy Moore, he will be able to exploit women with impunity for many years to come. Stopping this transaction will achieve nothing. Insofar as it does anything, it allows some of his filthy money to be put to a better purpose than was likely in his hands.

g) I hope she is alright afterwards. But she will be far from unique if she regrets her first shag later. I guess that most of us do in some way. It does not stop us being happy and fulfilled adults later.

h) Leave her alone.

Huppo- I haven't seen anyone here having a go at the girl, so 'leave her alone' isn't necessary.
As for 'He does however have a great deal of money so like Trump and Roy Moore, he will be able to exploit women with impunity for many years to come. Stopping this transaction will achieve nothing.' This just isn't good enough- you can't seriously believe that we helplessly let people of the hook because they have money?

I think you are underestimating the potential trauma. This isn't the average clueless teenage tumble many of us experienced, that we now shrug off.

Did I say that, Mairead? I've no desire to get him off the hook. The question is a) how do we get him on the hook and b) how will it hurt him to try to frustrate what she wants to do? This is a classic example of punishing the wrong person. Years ago part of my job was to prosecute prostitutes in order, I imagine, to protect the public from their pernicious influence. How did that hurt the men involved? It didn't any more than stopping this transaction. Only the woman suffers.

If there was a way of getting at him, I would be at the front of the queue with a pitchfork. Better still, a toasting fork. But there isn't, so as I said, at least some of his money is being taken from him which might be of more profit to society than if it stayed with him.

And I am certainly not underestimating the potential trauma: the potential trauma is everything up to and including death, as it is in any sexual encounter with a stranger and many sexual encounters with non-strangers. I deal professionally with the actual trauma that results. I am simply not assuming that potential and actual are the same, nor concluding that the alternatives are significantly better.

Everyone has their price really.

Wrong, everyone does not have their price, really.

Italiangreyhound
Actually, I think the fact women are sexualised and seen as a commodity that can be bought, and sold, feeds directly into the idea that random men feel they can disrespect, touch, abuse etc women. So being able to sell access to one's body actually sells all women down the swany, IMHO.

Totally agree.

I also don't understand those who think good for her but the man who pays is an arse. He's not forcing her, he didn't put an ad on ebay searching for a woman to prostitute herself for a large amount of money, she did that.

It's prostitution and the agency is more or less her pimp. Bet they take a fee for all the arrangements etc.

2 million? I would. That would set you up for life.