Preview

Pornstars and Prostitues

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
318 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Pornstars and Prostitues
The sex industry is a million, if not billion, dollar industry, encompassing everything from strip clubs to lingerie stores. The two most prominent aspects of this industry are prostitution and pornography. While pornstars and prostitues are two sides of the same coin, they have distinct similarities and differences, namely in their physical appearance, clothing, and, most importantly perhaps, income.

Firstly, the physical appearance, and thus the image, that both portray are two ends of a spectrum. Upon hearing the word pornstar, one may think of someone who is well groomed, beautiful, and desirable. The opposite image is created by the mention of the word prostitute, in that they are seen as filthy, ugly, and unwanted. Pornstars do ‘business’ in fancy mansions or hotel rooms, whereas pornstars are picked up off the sides of streets and dingy alleys. While the physical appearance of the two could not be more different, they are same in their underlying appearance of sexuality.

Secondly, a large part of their image relies heavily on their clothing. The differences here are similar to those of their physical appearance; while both are scantily clad, pornstars make their clothing look glamorous, while prostitutes are better seen as disheveled.

Finally, a similiarity they share is their income, in that for both pornstars and prostitues, their income is generated from sex. However, even within this similiarity there are significant differences. Pornography is a greater business than prostitution, almost 1/3 of the Internet being based on prostitution alone. Due to this, on average, prostitutes make significantly greater money than an average pornstar. There are exceptions to these cases, however. Prostitution also has its high end prostitutes, better known as escorts, who look just as glamorous and desirable as pornstars, while making a similar income. You also have pornstars on the bottom few rungs of the pornography income ladder, who have incomes and images

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    A prostitute is someone, especially a woman who earns money by having sex with people.…

    • 431 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When discussing the “XXX” industry, otherwise known as pornography or the adult film industry, people tend to discuss it in hushed tones, or rather not discuss it much at all. When it comes to sex in general, America generally is uncomfortable talking about sex and topics related to it. It should come as no surprise that the porn industry is treated in a similar fashion. Pornography, according to Sullivan, was considered “sexually 'explicit' writings, still or motion pictures and similar products designed to be sexually arousing,” (Sullivan, 2012, pg.321).…

    • 438 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Prostitution is said to be “the world’s oldest profession” (Ramchandran par. 1). The Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines prostitution as “the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relations especially for money” (“Prostitution” par. 1). Many people argue that prostitution should be legalized, but it hurts people more than it helps. Legalization of prostitution condones sexual behavior for profit. Not to mention, the increased risk of illness or infection via sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), or death. It also does not “enhance women’s choices” (Raymond par. 45). This means that whether legalized or not, prostitutes are going to continue their activities for the simple fact that they feel they have no other choice. Lastly, prostitution and the sex industry promote sex trafficking, more specifically human trafficking. For these aforementioned reasons prostitution should remain illegal.…

    • 1505 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Firstly, legalizing prostitution would provide sex workers regulatory protection. Therefore, according to Doreen Carvajal journalist at Chicago times says making the buying and or selling of sex illegal pushes the practices underground resulting in discrimination, harassment, rape, and violence (carvajal). So I think what she is saying that if we make it legal we can hopefully decrease the number of violence, and the number of bad things that happen. I think she also thinks that by legalizing this that we can give them regulations and laws that can help these ladies out in their best…

    • 1795 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prostitution is one of the oldest professions in the world and it is not likely to go away anytime soon. Just like any other job, it is a way for people to make a living and it has a supply and demand. Unfortunately, sex workers have terrible work environments. They are subjected to working in unsafe neighborhoods and the threat of violence is always near. Many are raped, abused and murdered while working on their own. If prostitution were decriminalized and regulated, we could decrease the negative consequences of being a sex worker. Legalized brothels in Las Vegas control and monitor their workers and customers much like other businesses. Sex workers are regularly tested and contraception is employed to avoid the transmittance of sexually transmitted infections and diseases. Services are also conducted in safe environments to eliminate the risk of violence. Although prostitution is certainly a less than ideal profession, it…

    • 661 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    African-American Pimps

    • 1410 Words
    • 6 Pages

    But this gender-neutral language belies the gender and racial stereotypes usually applied to the figure of the pimp. Pimps are almost always seen to be men who exploit female sex workers; in film and popular literature, pimps are often African—American men. Clearly, however, pimping can be performed on and off the street; it can be conducted by women (who may be called ‘madams’ or ‘escort managers’ instead of pimps) and by men of all nationalities. Pimps may also simply be the partners of sex workers, perhaps offering protection and support on the street or during an escort call, or (like other partners) just sharing income. In many jurisdictions (for example, in the USA and UK), living off the earnings of the prostitution of another is always illegal. In other jurisdictions (for example, in parts of Australia), ‘living off earnings’ is only illegal if it has been achieved via coercion. This latter approach allows for sex workers to share their income in the way they see fit and thus gives sex workers the same rights as other…

    • 1410 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Sex Work

    • 2504 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Social scientists have studied reasons why woman begin sex work and why they continue. Sex work is work that is within the sex industry. A sex worker refers to individuals in all areas of the sex industry including prostitutes, escorts, pornography models and actors, phone sex operators, and exotic dancers. The term “sex work” was invented in 1980 by sex worker activist Carol Leigh. The usage of the term “sex work” marks the beginning of a movement. It acknowledges the work done rather than being defined by status. Leigh states, “After many years of activism as a prostitute, struggling with increasing stigma and ostracism from within the mainstream feminist movement, I remember the term sex work and how it felt to, at last, have word for this work that is not a euphemism. Sex work has no shame and neither do I.” (Leigh) Much research depict these women as alcoholics and drug addicts, abused, being from broken homes, low self esteem and not possessing the skills or education to do anything else. Generally research suggests that women would only choose stripping because of desperation or poverty. Overtime social norms have broadened and more research has emerged on the women who work in the sex industry and their motivations for doing so. I would like to focus on exotic dancing for this paper.…

    • 2504 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are three different classes of prostitutes. "There are three strata of prostitutes. Within the top layer rests discrete call-girls for the affluent...The middle layer holds bordello-dwelling prostitutes or others in less subtle environments such as strip clubs and massage parlors that offer backroom services. Streetwalkers (harlots, hookers, nightwalkers, ...) occupy the lowest layer." (...)Prostitutes among the top two classes are in good financial condition. Most of them make more money than women who work the common and more suggested jobs. While the lowest layer prostitutes usually don 't live the best of lives, the same holds true for most career fields where the bottom of the barrel don 't have the same living standards as the top class of their profession. So if so many prostitutes are earning such good income, relatively speaking, why should it be illegal? Why it is legal for companies to pay people to accomplish physical tasks, like in factories, construction, or warehousing among others but yet a prostitute providing service to a client isn 't legal? In addition to the money made by the increase of prostitution due to its legalization, the government can place taxes on the brothels to generate even more revenue. In the grand scheme of things, legalizing prostitution would cause a positive spike in the economic flow of money throughout a specific area. Prostitutes earning their high incomes legally can invest…

    • 1080 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prostitution is a labor which involves sexual desire to one or more individuals in exchange of monetary compensations, goods or sometimes as an escape.…

    • 745 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Persuasive Speech

    • 1070 Words
    • 5 Pages

    According to an article titled “The Oldest Profession” Published in 2009 by Prostitute’s Education Network in New York, Arrest figures in 2009 range over 500,000 and over 2 million people in the US have worked as prostitutes. Anti-prostitution laws are not working the frequency of prostitution is not been affected by anti-prostitution laws. For instance over the…

    • 1070 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Merriam-Webster defines prostitution as, the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relations especially for money. Over time, many changes have been brought into that of the global community. More specifically, many changes have been implemented within the sex industry. From these changes, it has become evident that in order to protect others, legalization of prostitution in particular, is necessary. Although some oppose the idea of legalizing prostitution in the United States, it has proven itself useful in making those involved in the sex industry healthier, wealthier, and safer.…

    • 882 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. People who execute such activities are called prostitutes. Prostitution is one of the branches of the sex industry. The legal status of prostitution varies from country to country, from being a punishable crime to a regulated profession. Estimates place the annual revenue generated from the global prostitution industry to be over $100 billion.…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As said by Corrinne Purtill, “Amnesty International now joins the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, the World Health Organization and other global groups that argue the best way to protect the safety of people who sell sex is to legalize the industry.” Some may think that prostitutes could be protected by laws put into place regarding their treatment and safety. Also if prostitution was legalized it may be assumed that prostitutes would no longer fear repercussion from the law when reporting violence towards themselves or others, they could feel more protected, and it could even help the law enforcement apprehend more sexual predators. According to the article “Sex, Lies and Statistics” after investigating the sex trade in eight big American cities, researchers concluded that pimps can do rather well for themselves. Some in Atlanta bring in $33,000 a week, the study estimates. In Denver, with a population of 2.5m in 2007 if you include the suburbs, the sex trade grossed $40 million.The price for a trick today ranges from a miserable $15 to a bounteous $1,000 or more. Prostitutes have many options besides street-walking. The internet makes it easier for them to set up “dates” and negotiate prices, and harder for the police to catch them. They feel less vulnerable using social-media sites than doing the “stroll”. But 36% nonetheless report that some clients were violent or abusive. This proves that pimps actually make more than the prostitutes themselves. If the government were to legalize brothels, prostitution and pimps it is possible that these things could bring in a large amount of revenue for the government if taxed. Every prostitute should work for a pimp and every pimp for a brothel, therefore leaving the brothels to be taxed by the government and to bring in money for that particular country. Most would believe it to be an…

    • 1247 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prostitutes not only had economic power that benefitted themselves, but they also brought economic prosperity to the Roman economy with their taxes. Their money became a large revenue for the economy of Rome because not only were prostitutes being taxed, but the brothels were also being charged taxes. When we look at prostitution in ancient Rome, we have to take into consideration politics and the power prostitutes had ideologically over the power respectable women were given. The emperor of Rome made a specific reunion with his council to discuss how to control female sexual behavior before the adultery statute was passed (McGinn 154). In this council the emperor stated that they needed to “control female sexual behavior” which gave birth…

    • 2071 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    For the women more so than the men society asks why women get themselves involved doing sexual acts on film or live. The porn industry makes it seem like the porn actresses love sex and that they want you to think that they enjoy being degraded by all kinds of repulsive acts. The truth about porn actresses is that they showed up on the set not knowing about certain requirements and were told by porn producers to do it or leave without being paid. Work or never work again. Some of these women don’t have a choice because they need the money bad, so some were manipulated and coerced and even threatened. Throughout their career some of these women have caught HIV, Herpes, or some other kind of sexually transmitted disease from that coercion. Other porn actresses have gone home after a long night of numbing her pain, puts a pistol to her head and pulls the trigger. Now she’s dead.…

    • 707 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays