Palfrey was a victim of prohibition and oppression
I’ve worked as an independent “escort”, and I’ve written two books about the lifestyle, and in those books I make it clear that I don’t like third party management, which is exactly what a madam (or pimp or agent) is doing. I feel that such management steals authority and personal power from the actual sex worker.
However, with that said, I want to make the point right here that Palfrey has been a victim of a system that prohibits women from engaging in the one, true solid profession that women will always dominate, one that self-respecting sex workers will always draw great power from. That such a profession is disallowed is true oppression of women, and this is something that even the feminists miserably fail to grasp.
Whether Palfrey offed herself or was murdered, the truth is prohibition killed her. All of us involved in prostitution die a little bit each day, because of prohibition and oppression.
Palfrey was forced to dare (commit a crime) and she was also forced to hide (launder money) in a woman-oppressive system. And now she’s dead.
The fault is everyone’s.
Aphrodite Phoenix
As a single mother, having been a Teamster truck driver working in a “traditional male” career field, I consider myself a die hard “feminist” in the strictest terms. That said, I agree totally that a system of prejudice killed Palfrey. The thing I find most ironic is that none of the high profile Johns will ever be charged, or even acknowledged. Sexism is alive and well in America, this in spite of the strides we have made to find equal ground. If sex is the way to equalize the pay between the genders, then I see sex/prostitution/escorting as empowering. Unfortunately, in the case of Palfrey, she paid with her life.
Comment by Jan — May 6, 2008 @ 11:26 am
A madam’s careeer choice is no different a choice than that of her ladies. Surely there are good, bad and indifferent madams just as in any other job. Prostitutes I have known and known of have made their decisions about the consequences of being caught. Surely, some of them have elected to take their lumps and some others their lives. Palfrey had likely made her decision long ago and executed it (and herself). Regardless of the merits and demerits of escorts having their careers (lives) governed by another, the fact remains that discrimination is against the profession remains in full bloom and shall likely remain so, thus it shall always be illegal. Unfortunate as that may be, it’s part of the mystique. What really matters is that everyone involved in the profession: madams, escorts and clients, be respectful of the individual(s) in whom they share so much. That kind of respect is what causes any of those people to protect each other, even by making the ultimate sacrifice.
While decriminalization of the profession is a laudable goal, respect cannot be legislated. Thus Palfrey is primarily a victim of society. Unlike the legal profession, for example, the enterprise of prostitution doesn’t deserve its bad name. Rather it’s participants should be praised for their honor and decency. Palfrey was a martyr. Very sad.
Comment by Everett — May 7, 2008 @ 10:16 am