Prostitution: An Overview
Prostitution, by definition, is the practice of engaging in sexual behavior in exchange for payment, whereas a prostitute is a practicing party who offers his or her body for sexual activity. The payment can be monetary, services, products, or anything else agreed upon by the parties to the transaction. Some sex workers claimed that it is a lucrative business since they utilize it to earn a livelihood, maintain the family, and pay for school tuition. Prostitution is thought to be one of the oldest professions, dating back to the time of Rahab of Jericho, who protected Israelite spies sent to investigate the city. It is a profession illegally practiced in most countries while some very few countries like Amsterdam, it is legalized but under strict control by the State laws. In the past decades, this business has tremendously grown with most of the attention only given to some types of sex workers like street prostitutes, but much less attention paid to others like escort prostitution. It is the objective of this paper thus to highlight some of the various types of prostitutes in this profession with an in-depth exploration of escort prostitution.
Types of Prostitutes
In his book "Legalizing Prostitution," Ronald Weitzer tries to identify the various six types of prostitution that are mostly practiced and the identified places where the prostitutes work. These are; street prostitutes, window workers, brothel employees, casino/bar employees and escort prostitutes. Some sex work is considered suitable for women than others (Outshoorn, 2012). The various types of prostitutes face varied challenges and the considered benefits in this profession.
Streetwalking Prostitution
Streetwalking prostitution is one of the considered fields of the sex industry that is notoriously facing a lot of dangers with relatively less pay compared to other types. The prostitute is publicly visible and vulnerable to exploitation by an unruly client, (for example, being murdered or not paid after giving herself out), more so the independently operating prostitutes unlike those under the control of the pimps. These sex workers are seen to be attractive because of their less pay, easy access, and the excitement cruising for sex. The dress in skimpy clothing that are provocative irrespective of the prevailing weather conditions as they wait at the corners waiting to solicit for customers.
The Bar or Casino Worker
The bar or the casino worker is considered a prostitute having some privilege advantage over the street prostitutes. These workers have an initial contact with the customers who come to the casino or bar and have the privilege to go have sex at another totally separate place. The customers pay the "bar/casino fee" in order to leave with the worker, spending several days with her while meeting all the expenses in the process. Meeting these expenses always depend upon the agreement that confers the prostitute’s status. The salaries of these prostitutes are low-to-moderate.
Brothel Employees
The other considered field of prostitution in the field of the sex industry are brothel employees. Brothels are designated prostitution places where people go to pay in order to have sex, majorly found in big cities. These places also have massage parlors. There are, for example, licensed brothels that are legalized in parts of Nevada. The prostitutes here can converse and even make a long-term relationship with the client. The owner of the brothel premise gets part of the sex worker’s earnings from the customers. Brothel employees’ pay is moderate and they endure exploitation is moderate.
Window Work
Window work is another type of prostitution involving enticing the passersby to enter prostitution houses by displaying women in the windows. Women mostly spend by themselves most of the time in front of the windows. The rooms are singly occupied and the workers are separated from each other. This is a contrast situation compared to brothels where there is room to enjoy a party atmosphere and social contact with the customers and even other staff members. Window work is a prevalent type of prostitution in Amsterdam. Their wage pay is low-to-moderate.
Escort Prostitution
Sex industry as a community is made up of different job roles than people may think. There have been controversial arguments that have raged on whether an escort is considered a prostitute or not. And if an escort is also called a prostitute, then, what makes an escort different from other types of prostitutes like streetwalkers, brothel employees, or window workers? While other types of prostitution solely involve the provision of sexual satisfaction in exchange for money or any other agreed benefits, with no consideration of the level of education of the prostitute, an escort is considered a glorified name for prostitution that does not necessarily involve the provision of sex, though it may come in the process (Christie, 1999). An escort is a companion that escorts the customer to whatever destination indicated, for example, high-profile people like politicians (both local and foreign ones), the elite, and the great business and company owners, among others (Weitzer, 2009). For these reasons, an escort must be presentable, having a sexy and glamorous look, and even smart upstairs to represent the companion client in whatever business activity. Beautiful women and handsome men are chiefly hired to provide entertainment services. There are escort prostitutes that work independently and those operating through escort agencies.
Independent Escorts
Independent escorts are self-employed working for themselves and located in such places as hotels or private buildings like houses. They keep off from the public eye, most of the time doing their advertisements online in seeking clients. They charge relatively high prices, keeping all the profits since they are self-employed.
Escort Agency Employee
Escort agencies are privately-owned businesses operating hotels or private companies that act as an intermediary between an escort seeker and the escort service provider. These escort agencies either recruit new escort employees or connect the escort workers with the clients through booking. The agency takes parts of the escort's earnings. The escort agency mainly dispatches fresh-faced young beautiful young ladies and young handsome men to the client’s location that can be hotels, houses, or any other required place as requested by the customer. Escort provision can be of longer duration that may involve days and months of business or holiday trips. The great benefit enjoyed by these considered highly esteemed types of prostitution professions is the provision of medical coverage and all the expenses that may be incurred while on the trip. Unlike other types of prostitution in the field of the sex industry, escorts enjoy the privilege of traveling to other big cities within the agency-located country and even abroad.
Provided by the escort agency, which is of great paramount for new escorts in the industry, is the training. The employees are trained on the basics that involve languages like French and some other preliminaries briefings that are considered important in the field such as always looking pretty and please the customer, and even not hesitate in meeting the required demand while outside on the trip.
While considered a lucrative field of business, prostitution as a profession is a dirty practice that has had a lot of negative impacts both on the practicing individuals and the surrounding community at large. Many, like street prostitutes, have lost their lives, and majority victimized, led to drug addiction, trafficking, and even sex promiscuity leading to the contraction of sexually dreaded diseases like HIV/AIDS.
Conclusion
Considered as one of the oldest professions, prostitution has for the last decades tremendously grown with various types of prostitution gaining varied roles within the sex industry. These are; street prostitutes, window workers, brothel employees, casino/bar employees, and escort prostitutes, with some sex work being considered suitable for women than others. There have been controversial arguments that have raged on whether an escort is considered a prostitute or not. This is due to the professional services required by the high-profile customers of dignitaries. An escort is a companion that escorts the customer to whatever destination indicated, for example, high-profile people like politicians (both local and foreign ones), the elite, and the great business and company owners. An escort must be presentable, having a sexy and glamorous look, and even smart upstairs to represent the companion client in whatever business activity. There are escort prostitutes that work independently and those operating through escort agencies. While sex workers demand for prostitution to be legalized, most of the countries still remain reluctant to meet this demand (Outshoorn, 2012).
References
Christie, M. (1999). A Prostitute Is a Woman Who Does It for Money. Books Ireland, (224), 239. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/20631908
Outshoorn, J. (2012). Ronald Weitzer, Legalizing Prostitution. From Illicit Vice to Lawful Business. Sexuality Research And Social Policy, 9(4), 363-364. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13178-012-0098-x
Weitzer, R. (2009). Legalizing Prostitution: Morality Politics in Western Australia. British Journal Of Criminology, 49(1), 88-105. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azn027
