Questions

1) In the Overlake School example mentioned in Kristof, the implication is that education is the "way out" for prostitutes. That is, it is a prevention mechanism. What is the group's thoughts on this? Given the opportunity, do you think girls would choose education over an income, even if they find themselves in dire poverty (and perhaps social and/or family pressures are involved)?

2) This is more of a comment than a question, I suppose. Prostitution seems to be founded on discrimination, on the idea that women may be sexually commodified and this is somehow acceptable. In Kempadoo's article, he mentions that racism and exoticism has played an important role in the Carribean sex industry. He says that this racism, however, is "unique in that it fostered the illusion of admiration for, and attraction to the Other while enacting murder, rape, violence, and enslavement." This illusion is interesting to me, and I'd like to understand how the women themselves see this exoticism and whether or not it is as "flattering."

3) I think it was Kristof who briefly discussed the concept of having women form labor union-type organizations as prostitutes. This helps to formalize their work and engage them in activism efforts. Do we think that this would be beneficial to them in the long-run? Would organization and coordination help the women band together to stand up for their individual and collective rights as women, as humans?