Angel wrote in regard of sex exploitation in Hong Kong "beauty" contests:
>However, my friend argued that this is all from my own
>perspective, as a "middle-class intellectual", imposing my
>own "values" on the "working class girl/woman". If they
>willingly do it and do not find it harmful to themselves,
>why should anyone be concerned about them or what they do?
I think that your friend's opinion is legitimate as possible explanation.
People can be masochistic by their own will. Moreover, I'd not surprise if
there are some female participants who are this case. What I doubt is that
there are very many of participating women do it by their own choice and
desire. This is exactly where you Angel can do a study interviewing these
women about their desires and circumstances of engagement in the practice.
Although I found your explanation about poor economic conditions that force
many of the women to go to the "sex industry" (i.e., an euphemism for sex
exploitation) as being more plausible than your friend's, without some
research the picture is not clear. It is important to hear the women's
stories. What do you think?
Eugene Matusov
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Eugene Matusov
Psychology Department
University of California
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
office (408) 459-5180
fax (415) 233-9263
e-mail: ematusov who-is-at cats.ucsc.edu
http://www2.ucsc.edu/people/ematusov
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