Tell me, who is a prostitute?
SIR — Why are respectable and pious men calling for the banning of prostitution as if it were already legal? Though prostitution is illegal, it is thriving. To help fight Aids and protect the sex workers, their trade should be decriminalised.
SIR — Why are respectable and pious men calling for the banning of prostitution as if it were already legal? Though prostitution is illegal, it is thriving. To help fight Aids and protect the sex workers, their trade should be decriminalised.
Sometimes men call certain women prostitutes when they reject their sexual advances. To protect women from discrimination and violence there should be a legislation defining what makes a person a prostitute.
Unemployed single women have been branded prostitutes even when they are not. Some unmarried but working women have also been called prostitutes when they are unaccompanied. Divorced or separated women have been called prostitutes when they flee from violent partners.
Some women are locked up in unhappy marriages that sometimes lead to their murder because they fear being called prostitutes, should they leave their tormentors.
Young widows as well as older ones, who choose not to remarry, have been called prostitutes by our Ugandan men.
To protect women from harassment and stigma brought about by the misleading assumptions as to what constitutes a prostitute, it is important to debate this matter freely.
Women have been harassed into getting married to partners who may turn abusive by some of their relatives for material gain. Often they oblige rather than remain single for long for fear of being called prostitutes.
Ugandan men ought to change their attitudes towards women and stop constructing them. When there was a suggestion that prostitution should be debated, several men were up in arms speaking for or against women.
Some went on to suggest that because certain men are addicted to sex, for this selfish end, prostitution should be legalised! More enlightened women have a duty to speak on behalf of others rather than leave it to men to play “saviours†to women. Women are the custodians of the society and ought to be recognised as such.
Jenn Jagire
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada
Sometimes men call certain women prostitutes when they reject their sexual advances. To protect women from discrimination and violence there should be a legislation defining what makes a person a prostitute.
Unemployed single women have been branded prostitutes even when they are not. Some unmarried but working women have also been called prostitutes when they are unaccompanied. Divorced or separated women have been called prostitutes when they flee from violent partners.
Some women are locked up in unhappy marriages that sometimes lead to their murder because they fear being called prostitutes, should they leave their tormentors.
Young widows as well as older ones, who choose not to remarry, have been called prostitutes by our Ugandan men.
To protect women from harassment and stigma brought about by the misleading assumptions as to what constitutes a prostitute, it is important to debate this matter freely.
Women have been harassed into getting married to partners who may turn abusive by some of their relatives for material gain. Often they oblige rather than remain single for long for fear of being called prostitutes.
Ugandan men ought to change their attitudes towards women and stop constructing them. When there was a suggestion that prostitution should be debated, several men were up in arms speaking for or against women.
Some went on to suggest that because certain men are addicted to sex, for this selfish end, prostitution should be legalised! More enlightened women have a duty to speak on behalf of others rather than leave it to men to play “saviours†to women. Women are the custodians of the society and ought to be recognised as such.
Jenn Jagire
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada