The Complicated Politics of Self-Exploitation by Patricia J. Williams

Is it socially acceptable for women to sell their bodies? Each day women create an image for herself. Is being half naked or hiring men to take advantage of ones body the way us girls want to be known for or seen as? Is it lust or is it love? These questions have politics in riots, some wondering why women would do this to themselves and others wondering why more women aren't involved in exploiting their bodies. Patricia J. Williams offers us with an article, “The Complicated Politics of Self-Exploitation”, explaining the ways women can sell her body in order to get by financially. Williams also states in her article, “We could simply shrug all this off and conclude that “Self-Exploitation 101” is the chief skill set to fall back on as the wealth gap grows and the social safety net is shredded.” Women in the modeling industry put their bodies and health at risk each day, however, they continue to believe they are beautiful due to viewers egging them on. With each pageant, photo shoot, or contest they attend their bodies are being exploited far and wide with every photo taken. Women exploiting their bodies by prostitution are at risk too, mentally and physically. Therefore, these women are selling their bodies for the pleasure of making money. Although, the prices of college, gas, schooling, or just about anything has been rising tremendously, a woman should feel shameful for selling her body for sex just to earn a few bucks. Lower class victims will do almost anything such as finding a “sugar daddy”, prostitution, or selling one’s body for sex to get any help they can with financial problems they may have going on. Many negative obstacles will occur from a woman selling her body through prostitution such as, pregnancy, societies v...

... middle of paper ...

...erner, Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, and K. Lee Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 477-480. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

Spector, Jessica. “The Question of Choice and the International Prostitues' Rights Movement.” Prostitution and Pornography. Spector, Jessica. California: Stanford University Press, 2006. 31-39.

Walkowitz, Judith R. "The Politics of Prostitutoin." JSTOR. The University of Chicago Press. 18 Apr. 2014

West, Jackie. "Prostitution: Collectives And The Politics Of Regulation." Gender, Work & Organization. 7.2 (2000): 106-118. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.

Williams, Patrcicia J. "The Complicated Politics of Self-Exploitation." The Nation. N.p., 25 Sept. 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.

"White Slave Trade Act (Mann Act)." American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resources in Context. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.