Commodification of sex

[blueerica]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

If that were remotely true, then entire shelves of the bookstore would disappear as would most afternoon TV.

I view this as a probably inherent mental pathology that requires help, likely from a professional who can deal with the often long-standing emotional issues that develop in people, myself included. Often, when I have done something that results (often repeatedly) in unhappiness or some other unwanted outcome, I did so in the belief that a positive outcome would happen, logic be damned.

My mother for example:
She has gone from bad relationship to bad relationship of varying degrees. She remains in these 'bad' relationships often because she thinks her actions will give her love (or her definition of love), or the opportunity to 'change' or 'help' someone (something she believes will make her, and the other person happy - gaining their gratitude for a 'better life'). Despite the often abusive (mental and/or physical) that come as a result of staying, the brief moments of feeling something she craves (and often feels like she can't get elsewhere) are enough of a reward to keep her there. I find that this is often the case.

There is also the flipside. Those who 'avoid.' I have a friend who is fairly shy. Painfully, at times. She would like to be more confident and wonders why she doesn't have more friends (negative outcome of her shyness), yet she remains quiet, away, and sometimes aloof because inside she hopes to avoid a potentially painful moment or rejection. By my definition of selfish, I'm not trying to qualify it beyond doing something or avoiding something because a person percieves it to benefit them, even if they're not directly thinking of the benefits. There are countless books on confidence, and simply because they're there doesn't discount my view on humanity. The people buying it are, again, hoping that doing so will result in a positive outcome.

But back to the topic at hand, the commodification of sex. I don't really hold a view on it, in terms of other people. I would not do it myself, at least currently, though I try to not pass judgement on those who do.

My cousin is a former stripper, who also is a recovering drug addict. Interestingly enough, her three stints swinging around the pole did not co-incide with the times she was using drugs. For her, a part of her liked the attention, but even more of her loved the pay. With the limited education she had at the time, plus her ballet and jazz dance background, there were few opportunities to make that kind of money. She sold her 'sex' for money and for the feeling of being desired.