Pay for Play OK
The Poms attempt to address that age-old question: Is the world’s oldest profession really more of a folkway, lifestyle or pastime?
BRITAIN is proposing to remove the term “prostitute” from the criminal statutes because it carries too much stigma.
Instead, a new bill that the Justice Ministry has drafted refers simply to persons who sell sex persistently – defined as twice or more in three months.
“We just wanted to remove the stigma of the label ‘common prostitute’,” said a spokeswoman for the Justice Ministry.
“It’s been around since 1824, so it was a bit outdated. It just wasn’t really helpful to label people.”
The new Bill introduces measures to try to get sex workers out of the industry, and in effect decriminalises prostitution for those who are not considered persistent.
Via Jawa, where Mike wants to know whether “persistents” will replace “prostitutes” and also:
How is the frequency of boffing going to be tabulated?
This development in British law presumeably reflects advanced thinking on the traditional practice of requiring men to exchange flowers, meals, movie tickets and other gifts and services, as well as the investment of not inconsiderable amounts of time and attention in exchange for physical contact with the opposite sex, other benefits — affection, companionship, etc. – being incidental to the transaction. Thus, women who offer physical contact as a part of a more efficient cash deal should not be stigmatized.
As a professional tabloid journalist, I can attest that we generally prefer the term “hooker,” which I believe to be chiefly American, colloquial and near as I can tell not addressed by Englihs Common Law.
Topics: Britain
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 11:40 am on Monday, July 2, 2007
7 Responses to “Pay for Play OK”
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July 2nd, 2007 at 12:15 pm
I propose that we no longer stigmatize thieves, robbers, murderers, etc. with the label “criminals”, and instead call them “persons with extralegal intent”. We don’t want to judge anybody.
July 2nd, 2007 at 12:53 pm
I remember a couple of old friends who were ‘nightclub escorts’. No I didn’t. One was the step-daughter of the Chairman of one of Britains bigger companies.
July 2nd, 2007 at 1:40 pm
We have your word on that, do we?
July 2nd, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Mike H if you are referring to me. An Englishman’s word is his bond. I was 20 years ago so I will not be naming her.
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:21 pm
It just wasn’t really helpful to label people.
Right. Now murderers will become “expedient afterlife facilitators” so they won’t be stigmatized.
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:47 am
How is the frequency of boffing going to be tabulated?
What do you think all those cameras in the UK are for, hmmmmmm?
July 9th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
What about “whore.” Is “whore” acceptable?
Maybe they’ll lobby to be called “companions” and open a special school to train them.
(Take my love, take my land…)