Sex workers

As promised, a short essay on why crapping on prostitutes is a problem. But, first, let's use the updated term sex workers to give them dignity and remove the stain that prostitution carries with. Second first, some background. In Rome, both during the Republic and the Empire, slaves -men and women- could be raped at any time at the whim of the master. Like using a sex worker, marriage was a contract. It was between the fathers of the man and woman and was entered into only to increase honor, cement an alliance, and/or having heirs. If love blossomed, great! Honor was more important though. Once an elite woman had three children, she was freed from having to have any more, freed from sex if she wanted. Thus, men turned to slaves or women of lower status on the streets. It was not fun to be a woman in the Roman Republic or Empire.

Of course, only the rich had slaves. The poorer men had to make do as they could. Sometimes that was with the temple prostitutes. This is the prostitution Paul talks about in his letters. It's not so much prostitution as we think of it as visiting the temple prostitutes. Such sex was considered sacred to some gods. Paul's directive to not be/use prostitutes is very counter-cultural to gentiles in the Empire.

So why is crapping on sex workers such a problem. Lots of reasons, but I'll go over a few basics. First, outside of religion, there is nothing immoral about sex work. (I would argue inside as well, but that's another thing altogether.) As long as everyone involved - including any spouses - is a consenting adult, there is no harm done. What people do with each other really isn't our business. (I wish more Christians would take this view.) In fact, sex work is legal in Nevada, where it has the advantage of being regulated. This reduces the chances of spreading disease and of having one's wallet stolen. I don't know how well they're paid so I can't say they earn enough to live on. However, high class call girls can earn enough to live on. Some women freely choose to be sex workers and enjoy it. Again, as long as everyone consents, it's fine.

Yet, not everyone consents. Many sex workers have been enslaved, kidnapped, or otherwise coerced into it. Sometimes, even children. Men who use such women or children perpetuate the oppression that keeps them enslaved and trapped. I would argue this includes pornography. Why would we want to look down on such people? There is no reason to kick them while they're down. Regardless of what the male authors of the Bible had to say about it, it is very possible that sex workers in Jesus' time were in the same situation.

Thirdly, some women are driven to sex work because they need money fast and can find no other work or have no other skills. Again, this is immoral because we can afford as a country to make sure everyone is taken care of, if we would stop giving all our money to rich people. The shame is on us, not on the women in question. In addition, addiction or homelessness can be reasons that people choose this. Addicts might choose so for drug money; homeless people, in exchange for a night's shelter. Yes, this really happens; it's called survival sex. These are people who would not otherwise choose such a life and who are facing choices many of us are privileged not to ever have to even think about. Why crap on them?

This doesn't even begin to take into account the attitudes toward African-American, Latinx, or other people of color who work in the sex industry. White people tend to reserve our harshest judgment for those who are unlike us because it's a quick and dirty way to make us feel superior. Only, it doesn't work and it doesn't last.

Finally, it's a problem because no one looks down on the men who are using sex workers. It's almost a rite of passage - especially in movies. "Boys will be boys" - this attitude has caused damage second only to the damage of racism in the United States. It's pernicious and it relegates all women and girls to second-class citizens who don't deserve anything but what men decide to give to them. Crapping on sex workers only perpetuates this ideology as well as the systemic oppression that put many women there and keeps them stuck.

Again, Jesus probably wasn't crapping on sex workers or tax collectors. He was more likely talking with the chief priests and elders using terms they would understand. However, we can do better. Let's all try to remember that most people who commit crimes are driven to it out of necessity rather than as an expression of who they are.