Louis Theroux: Sex work is valid work

[Hestyo]

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/6b668836-8849-11ec-a837-0153f5f4adaf?shareToken=82f93f7a57c728c82da0d575b5201d55

"It’s not something you’re especially proud of using. But there are times in your life when you can’t get a decent meal, or you’re in a rush, or you’re just trying to get a need met."

Theroux added that his children were approaching an age where their internet searches may lead them to pornography. “I have said to them, ‘When you see porn, if this is something you’ve stumbled across, just so you know, that’s not the real world. That’s not how people have sex,’ ” he added.

He said sex work should be seen as an acceptable alternative to a traditional career. Forbidden America will investigate the OnlyFans phenomenon, which has given performers their own online following and financial independence.

I remember watching an episode of his where he was talking with 3 women involved in the sex trade, all seemingly "Happy hookers" he uncovered that all 3 of them had experienced CSE and all 3 were living with trauma and mental health issues that caused them to do what they did. A weird kind of self flagelation. It was heartbreaking to watch.

I wonder what changed his mind?

Ugh! I used to think he was attractive. But to compare people being abused to a quick meal!

I did start to watch one of his programmes that was about pornography around 20 years ago. I couldn't bear to watch it, but it started with a company who made "romantic" porn and the "actors" were obviously stressed and drug users. I lasted about 5 minutes but found it too upsetting, with an 18 year old young woman saying she was happy to do anal. It's obvious something has gone badly wrong in your early life if that's what you are putting yourself forward for so young.

Prick.

I believe that LT only has sons and no daughters so there’s an element of not giving the full picture when he says he’s talked about porn with his children.

I don’t believe for one second that he would be proclaiming sex work to be a valid occupation for a hypothetical daughter. Not in any circumstances. It would be: independent school/Oxbridge then something of her own choice safe in the knowledge that her famous father would always be there to bale her out, financially.

He’s being totally disingenuous as he knows “sex work” will never affect his loved ones directly. He’s speaking as a very, very privileged man.

I used to admire his work but I feel really disappointed and quite appalled by him now.

I don’t understand. How could he make the programs he does and come to that conclusion?

Could he imagine himself giving 20 men a blow job each day for months on end? If not, why is it okay for others?

@TheMarzipanDildo

I don’t understand. How could he make the programs he does and come to that conclusion?

Because he's a man who uses porn so he has to convince himself it's a valid lifestyle choice rather than the most dangerous exploitative thing a woman can do

Reading the comments on that article by men defending prostitution tells you why he thinks as he does.

Ugh. I thought better of him. It seems to me he's just going with the prevailing narrative of the "good guys".

And Onlyfans is far from harmless.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.spectator.co.uk/article/there-s-nothing-empowering-about-the-sex-work-on-onlyfans/amp

www.google.com/amp/s/www.moralrevolution.com/blog/the-dark-side-of-only-fans%3fformat=amp

www.google.com/amp/s/www.refinery29.com/amp/en-gb/bbc-onlyfans-nudes4sale-young-women

It's amazing the mental contortions men can make when their dicks and orgasms involved, isn't it?

*are involved

I do think it should be seen as valid work this allows those involved more control this sadly will only really apply in certain situations

It’s not going to go away women will always trade their bodies in some way from wives wanting a new piece of jewellery to young women wanting more cash for holidays to women needing to feel attractive to those who have to feed their children

It’s never going to go away (though I don’t use the term oldest profession as vast majority have limited options)

Yes it should be seen as valid work not because it has a place in modern society but because it will always have a place sadly it’s a truth we can’t escape

As for porn many (certainly vast majority of men) enjoy porn the industry needs to be regulated. I don’t judge people for liking porn that isn’t claiming the porn industry is harmless

@FrancescaContini

I believe that LT only has sons and no daughters so there’s an element of not giving the full picture when he says he’s talked about porn with his children.

I don’t believe for one second that he would be proclaiming sex work to be a valid occupation for a hypothetical daughter. Not in any circumstances. It would be: independent school/Oxbridge then something of her own choice safe in the knowledge that her famous father would always be there to bale her out, financially.

He’s being totally disingenuous as he knows “sex work” will never affect his loved ones directly. He’s speaking as a very, very privileged man.

I used to admire his work but I feel really disappointed and quite appalled by him now.

Spot on Francesca. I am disappointed in Theroux too. I had him pegged as a critical thinker and someone who is not swayed by superficial arguments. Shame.

Men will claim they support sex workers and scream “sex work is real work.” But at the end of the day, talk is cheap. They’ll buy your content and stop you from moving up in life.

twitter.com/Woke_Misogyny/status/1490601146213445634?t=1m3irroiZgNb-q80p5LaQA&s=19

Yes it should be seen as valid work not because it has a place in modern society but because it will always have a place sadly it’s a truth we can’t escape

I assume you think universities should also create toolkits for burglary and drug dealing safely? Because they aren't going away either.

@OhWhyNot
Do you have a daughter and if so would you be happy to promote “sex work” to her when she’s making career choices?

If you’d happily recommend it to your own daughter/niece/granddaughter, how do you think she’d cover her income during times of ill health/pregnancy/post natally? How would she continue earning money when, let’s face it, she ages and her body / appearance is perhaps deemed less attractive by the male “punters”? What skills would she have that would be transferable to another source of income? Many questions…

Do you think there are many women doing this because “they want to buy themselves a piece of jewellery”?

Over privileged male expounds view on something that doesn’t affect him or anyone in his social circle

Next!!

Yes, it should be seen as valid work. It is the oldest industry in the world and will continue to exist in many forms (prostitution, porn etc). I would much prefer that the industry was validated, legalised and the people working in it (women and men) are protected and safe. Remember the Ipswich sex workers who were murdered?

If more visibility was gained then it might be easier to stop the associated exploitation and abuse of adults and children which I think is better than being squeamish that the industry exists.

'Over privileged male expounds view on something that doesn’t affect him or anyone in his social circle'

Exactly. Thought he was better than that. What a plum

@Iamnotamermaid

Yes, it should be seen as valid work. It is the oldest industry in the world and will continue to exist in many forms (prostitution, porn etc). I would much prefer that the industry was validated, legalised and the people working in it (women and men) are protected and safe. Remember the Ipswich sex workers who were murdered?

If more visibility was gained then it might be easier to stop the associated exploitation and abuse of adults and children which I think is better than being squeamish that the industry exists.

I don’t think it’s about being “squeamish”.

Ahh... I always thought he's somewhat unconventional but also quite gullible. Reminded me of his second Saville documentary when he said he did not notice at the time of recording the first one what was happening in front of him, and how he was being manipulated.

I'd need to revisit Kat Banyard's Pimp State to write a proper post on this but I believe regulating doesn't work. You end up with very exploitative super brothels like in Germany. Trafficking increases to supply demand. Think of a warehouse but with prostituted women instead of people rushing to get items on and off trolleys quickly enough.

No I don’t have a daughter

Where have I said that it’s good to promote any form of sex work I haven’t

I said that it’s part of society that is not going to go away. I have said women have always traded their bodies and always will do you really believe women don’t marry for money ? Do you really think all women have the choice to go to university and gain a career? Do you think some women may actually choose the desperate choice to work as a sex worker a few hours a day rather than hours in a dirty factory for pittance not all women have the luxury of choices that you and I have

I have worked with sex workers many who are extremely emotionally damaged from childhood and vulnerable others who went in wanting to earn extra money for nicer things from various different back grounds. The happy hooker well maybe the odd few but this is really more a mans sexual fantasy

I rather see women being protected from
pimps and violent clients and more with access to good sexual health screening. If we pretend it’s not there is it’s not work that doesn’t happen we just sweep this issues under the carpet

@OhWhyNot
I apologise - you said it’s “valid work”.

I think "oldest profession" claims are irrelevant and wrong. It's not a profession. There is no evidence that it was the first job ever invented. I suspect being a hunter or tool maker were there first. Plus something having been around for a long time doesn't make it OK. Slavery had been around for a long time but people don't use that argument to justify slavery and prostitutes are being used in a similar way as service humans.