I'm a little late to the party, but I feel like I have a few things to add to the conversation. Let me begin by providing a little insight on the situation, and preface this comment by saying I don't mean anything in a disrespectful manner, just sharing my opinion. I recently met the girl in question, albeit briefly, and from our brief conversation a few things were made very clear. She is a girl, not a woman, in every sense of the word. She walks, talks, and looks like your typical high school female, which would make sense considering she is just beginning her second semester of college. She puts on a front of confidence and stalwart self-esteem, but it doesn't take long to realize she is very insecure about herself. She is very similar to other students of Duke in that she is extremely motivated to succeed, and is not pleased by the thought of being thought of as "below" any of her peers in any way. Unfortunately, due to her identity as a porn actress being, she had to make the decision to try to let it pass and fly under the radar, or come out and defend her actions. Don't get me wrong, I respect and in a way admire her for stepping into the spotlight rather than hiding from the student body of Duke. With that said, I disagree with many of her arguments and do not think of her very highly. She went about it all wrong, and is now trying to paint herself as a martyr and victim of the system she optioned to be a part of. I find her at fault both economically and morally, which are easier to separate in this case. Economically, she took the easy way out. There are a ton of students at Duke who work all year while studying in order to support their education. There are others who take out loans and leave school with six-figure debt. She found a way to pay for school without taking either of these paths, and there are consequences that come with that. If you are performing unskilled labor and being paid $1000's of dollars a weekend for it, chances are it is either highly illegal or heavily stigmatized. In this case it's the latter, and for good reason. She is performing a private, highly emotional act for the world to watch in order to make a quick buck. She defends her choice by saying she loves doing it and has nothing but a positive experience...well, welcome to the club, I enjoy sex too. As for the positive experience, the "porn industry" expands far beyond the set. The public eye being on the actress is not just part of the job, it is the job. Her writing fluff-filled articles that ramble on exponentially longer than this post proves that her career has not been a overwhelmingly fun experience. Morally, I don't even know where to start. I expect a variety of opinions in a community like Hubski, so feel free to dispute me if you disagree, I am always looking to develop my outlook on things. In my eyes, this girl is no better than a prostitute. Not only does she take money in order to be degraded (lets call it what it is), but she allows it to be shown on the internet, to the public. She claims to be taking ownership of her body, but to me it seems like all she is doing is selling it off to support her tuition. If she didn't want to be disrespected, she shouldn't have chosen career that is fueled by disrespect. To answer her own question:
I would describe a woman as a whore if she accepts financial compensation for performing sexual acts. You're a whore, Belle. For further reading, try: http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2014/02/14/portrait-porn-starWhy do we call women sluts and whores?
And that's about 99% of what needs to be said, I think. All that remains is this: I'll say "no better or worse" while also stating that societies that don't stigmatize prostitutes tend to be healthier overall. If ever there were an industry in dire need of regulation, policing and training, "prostitution" be it.In my eyes, this girl is no better than a prostitute.
I agree with you on both points, "no better or worse" would have been better phrasing. As far as the stigmatization, our society would likely be healthier if that came to an end. The fact is, we aren't nearly there as a whole and she shouldn't have expected any better treatment than what she is getting. It might not be right, but it certainly isn't unfair.
Meanwhile, I do both of these things! But not at Duke, and with five-figure debt. I agree with you. At the time of me posting this article I might not have, but at this point I do. Although I think porn stars and prostitutes are a bit different, granted both are selling their bodies. One does so to expose the intimacy of the bedroom while the other maintains that and provides a more personalized experience.There are a ton of students at Duke who work all year while studying in order to support their education. There are others who take out loans and leave school with six-figure debt.