This is a form of psychological violence. Right up to murder. Any claims that punters respect the women they buy and never use those who are unwilling or appear to have been forced or drugged are exposed as a lie by the comments that punters themselves post on sites like Punternet. Studies of men who buy sex punters show that they are significantly more likely than other men to rape and engage in all forms of violence against women. A US study found that punters were nearly eight times more likely to rape than other men.
Are you serious? Do you really believe that men are such weak, fragile creatures that without prostitution they will have no choice but to rape women and children indiscriminately? Are you really serious? Comments by punters on sites like Punternet make it clear that most punters are in a romantic relationship with a woman who thinks he is faithful, and if they are not in a relationship, many admit to being too lazy to seek and form one.
She is choosing survival. It is the absence of choice. Nobody makes the choice to be poor, low caste, or female. Society and individuals take advantage of this lack of choice. Prostitution treats a woman as a commodity that men can use as a sex object, causing her real psychological and physical harm, and in violation of her human rights and the human right of all women to equality with men. Prostitution is still a key plank of the patriarchal system.
Women will never have equality while prostitution is acceptable. It has several elements:. Prostitution is inherently violent.
Women should not be criminalised for the exploitation and abuse they endure. Buying human beings for sex is harmful, exploitative and can never be safe. We need to reduce the demand that drives sex trafficking. High quality, non-judgemental services to support those in prostitution and help them build a new life outside it, including: access to safe affordable housing; training and further education; child care; legal, debt and benefit advice; emotional and psychological support.
