Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

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Sex work would probably be less stigmatized in a currencyless society (self.showerthoughts)

submitted 5 months ago by Ibaudia to c/showerthoughts

61 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Thinking about this because of a greentext I saw earlier complaining about OF models.

It feels like a lot of the stigma surrounding sex work in the modern day (that doesn't just boil down to misogyny/gender norms/religion) is based on the fact that selling intimate aspects of one's self places a set value on something that many see as sacred; something that shouldn't have monetary value.

Not to say anything about the economic validity of a society without currency, but I think that, hypothetically, if that were to exist, sex work would be less stigmatized since this would no longer be a factor. Those engaged in sex work would be more likely to be seen as doing it because it's something they are good at/enjoy, and less because it's an "easy" way to make money, as some think. It would also eliminate the fear of placing set value on social, non sex-work related intimacy (not that those fears were well-founded to begin with).

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 5 months ago (2 children)

We are talking about the world’s oldest profession here. Prostitution far predates the invention of currency, as transactional sex goes farther back than recorded history.

Currency is not needed for prostitution. All that is required is payment, in any form. This occurs during transaction, which constitutes trade.

I don’t think making prostitution more difficult by requiring barter solves anything at all.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I assumed OP was talking about a post-scarcity economy, not one based on barter. I didn't think anyone wants to go back to a barter system considering the overwhelming popularity of currency everywhere it has been used.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

Even in post scarcity, bartering would resume and the stigma would persist. Either way, how the transaction unfolds in not where wrist-wringers get caught up

[–] arin 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Even fucking male spiders give a gift to the females so she doesn't fucking eat him literally.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 months ago

That’s not prostitution because the gift was not for the sex, but instead not to be cannibalized. It’s very clearly a case of “extortion under the threat of cannibalization!” 🤓