You think you know about prostitution?
It's Monday, and what better way to start the week with a post about prostitution.
Most people think they know what prostitution is, what a prostitute is like and who the typical 'Johns' are who attend them.
Its an industry full of desperate, trafficked and enslaved women from Eastern Europe and third world countries, right?
If they choose to do it, by hanging out on street corners (obviously), its out of a desperate need to fund their drug habit or feed their impoverished families, of course.
And the people are seek the services are always dirty, old men who crawl the streets with windows down and cocks out ready for a quick, cheap fuck with some STI-ridden, sore-covered, skeleton-framed abuse victim.
I think this is a pretty accurate picture in the minds of the vast majority of members of the public.
But let's shake things up a bit.
Let me present you with an alternative:
Meet Johnny. Johnny is an escort. Or a giggolo. Or a prostitute. He doesn't care - they are all synonyms in his mind.
Johnny tells me he is proud of his work as a prostitute.
Of course, I surmise, he gets to have sex with women and get paid for the privilege. What better way to earn money?!
Johnny rebukes. While he may get some physical enjoyment out of the act of intercourse at times, his pride is not in the sex but in the service and its outcomes. Sex, Johnny claims, is merely a small factor for many of his clients. In fact, he states, for some, it is not a factor at all.
Johnny reels off a list of some of the clients he has provided his service for:
a divorced lady in early stages of Parkinson's fearing the inevitable loss of sexual intimacy, wishing to explore this side of the human experience before she is no longer physically, and mentally, able to do so.
a doctor from India working 24 hours a day for 2 weeks running, with little time to pursue, and explore, a sex life of any description, let alone a relationship, or even a friendship, wishing to spend time in London having great conversation and, if the opportunity arises, some intimacy too.
a 40-something intellectual who wishes to have her virginity taken and experience sexual intimacy for the first time in her life with someone who completely understands her predicament, requirements and able to treat her with the respect and decency she deserves.
a 30-something who was repeatedly abused during her youth and had a long-standing fear of any level of physical intimacy, who sherked at the mere suggestion of being kissed.
Then Johnny urged me to read this first-hand review of his services from the last of those examples:
"I don’t really know how to express my gratitude to yourcompany and Johnny.
Thursday’s night booking went better than ever could havehoped for. Johnny was incredible, sweet, tender and passionate, but most importantly cleverly intertwined the upmost respect for my pace, but gently guided me to conquer my issues. At the end of the date he expressed how proud he was of me and we talked about how although this has happened it didn’t mean sex and my sexual journey was finished merely that it had just begun and doing this didn’t mean everything was going to plain sailing. This is so true. I feel now that I’vecaught up all that I physical side of things I missed due to the abuse and my next continuing hurdle is my emotional journey. I had the most incredible night and saying thank you,although it’s all I can say doesn’t really cover how much you have done. Johnny literally gave me back my body and my life. Please ensure he reads this. Not that you will need it, but if anyone with an abusivepast approaches you and would like some reassurance or to chat to someone in asimilar situation,then I would be happy to do so."
Johnny insists that there are problems within the world of prostitution. That there people who are prostitutes that should not be, that are trafficked from far-off lands and forced, beyond their will, essentially, sex slaves to paying customers. He never denies that this exists. But, he argues, what must be fought is the criminal elements of human trafficking, slavery and physical abuse - which existing laws and law enforcement agencies already tackle, albeit not sufficiently enough.
The open and honest contract between a client and a prostitute (that being sexual and intimate services in return for monetary compensation) is not the problem, he insists.
Johnny is not addicted to drugs, has not suffered an abusive childhood. On the contrary, he had loving parents and an enviable youth. He is well-educated and been employed in various positions and professions over the last 15 years. Yes, he has bills to pay and mouths to feed and needs an income, particularly while his recent start-up business is not providing him with any form of financial support.
But he is a prostitute out of choice. He is proud and passionate about all the work that he chooses to involve himself with, prostitution included and believes in what he does - that, at the very least, he provides a service of sexual enjoyment, at times fantasy fulfilment, and, at best, life-changing results that empower his clients to re-discover and re-take control of their sexualities in order to, in many cases, move on with the next phase of their private lives.
You may wonder how I know Johnny so well. I have known Johnny for many, many years.
How? Why?
Because I am Johnny.
