Does having sex with a prostitute constitute rape?

[quencher]

A thread triggered this for me so I have decided to ask the question. If you consent to be paid for sex but don't feel like sleeping with the customer, are you being raped?

No - because you are consenting.

Get a grip OP

No, not if the prostitute is consenting.

What? Surely taking the money is consenting

Erm no because the prostitute is consenting

Not always, but often, I would say. How many prostitutes are coerced in some way - either outright or through drugs/financial issues etc. I would have thought most. So yes, that makes it rape imo, since there's nothing to stop men who use prostitutes realising the same thing. They just don't care.

Wouldn't you turn down the job if you didn't feel like it? It's not rape if someone has consented.

No.

OP I saw that thread and know why you're asking. Personally, I don't think so but do think it's worth discussing.

OutragedKoala I don't understand your point?

Outrage why? It's a valid point am making. I didn't want to derail a thread, this is not far off from the point being made but in a different situation.

How is it a valid point? You're asking if a prostitute can withdraw consent even if they get paid?

I imagine most women who turn to prostitution need the money and so don't refuse a customer even if they "don't feel like it".

Do prostitutes ever "feel like it"?

At the extreme end of the spectrum it is argued that as women are opressed by men, all PiV is rape...
witchwind.wordpress.com/2013/12/15/piv-is-always-rape-ok/

In my view the vast majority of prostitutes are doing it for reasons other than because they love sex with strangers, therefore it is not true consent and morally, if not legally, it is generally rape.

I think the OP may be thinking that other situations where a woman consents to sex which she finds unpleasant (for whatever depressing reason) and the man knows that she finds it unpleasant but still continues are often called rape.

I didn't read the earlier thread, but

the man knows that she finds it unpleasant but still continues are often called rape

And rightly so. That is rape!

Wouldn't you turn down the job if you didn't feel like it?

Would you have the option to turn it down if you needed the money for drugs, food, to support your child or to stop your pimp kicking seven shades of shit out of you?

I doubt many prostitutes are prostitutes through informed choice and that many of them are there because even rock bottom comes with bills.

Wouldn't you turn down the job if you didn't feel like it? It's not rape if someone has consented.

How many prostitutes actually have the choice of walking away from a customer going 'Nah, just don't fancy it today'? I bet the vast majority could never even contemplate that because there would be serious repercussions.

I don't know a lot about prostitution but I don't believe they wake up in the morning thinking 'Yeah, I feel like working today- can't wait to get started.' I think most don't have a choice- or feel that they don't. So yes, that would make it rape.

You can't call every man that's slept with a prostitute a rapist though.. if they were a rapist they wouldn't pay for the sex.

Actually this is an interesting question.

Obviously you do have the taking of the money which is deemed Consent.

But then you do have the feeling obliged to have sex even if you change your mind because you took the money side of things.

I can well imagine many would also fear the consequences of they said no at any point throughout the act..

Most prostitute have sex for money rather than enjoyment. Most of the time no feelings involved but act as a sexual release for the other party. So if you have sex with a person with no interest, isn't that violating their body? Even though both parties have consented?
Does the exchange of money act as contract to over ride the feeling of the body not wanting to have sex? As in, consent to violate.

Is sex only mutually ok if both parties are in the mood? If so, how can you say that prostitution is ok because of money?

HeyRoy I don't know if they feel like it or not. Am just giving it benefit of the doubt instead of making a sweep statement.

Thank you Rita. Money seems to override feelings. People seem to be ok with money in exchange for sex in prostitution as a form of consent. The state of mind and situation is usually not questioned.

You can't call every man that's slept with a prostitute a rapist though

Sure you can.

if they were a rapist they wouldn't pay for the sex

That's bollocks. Just because you give someone money doesn't mean they consent.

I will happily call every man who pays for prostitution a rapist

As I'd much prefer to criminalise someone who knows that they don't really want to have sex with them and that they're only doing it because the other options are worse.

I think it's morally rape but in a society where it's ok to pay for sex legally then we can't legalise against it

So if you have sex with a person with no interest, isn't that violating their body? Even though both parties have consented

IMO yes

Does the exchange of money act as contract to over ride the feeling of the body not wanting to have sex? As in, consent to violate

IMO no. Generally speaking a prostitute is not in a position to give true consent

Interesting thread OP

Do you think escorts/prostitutes consider themselves as having been raped?