I can’t believe he commented and was still subtly condescending. “The sex worker who I see (who is just like one of you!) also thinks the same thing that you guys have written so well! ”

It just brings to mind Archer, when someone says, “I don’t want to be racist but -” and the other person responds, “But you’re going to power through it?”

“I’m an ally but – I’m going to disresgard what workers actually have to say about a slur and tell you, what I, a mere comic book writer, think you should do!”

I enjoyed this review. Honestly I found it more entertaining than “Paying For It”, which just reminded me of my milquetoast hobbyist clients who feel the need to run online and not just comment on whether the session was enjoyable or not, but to describe the woman in detail and write out the stories in their head for other men to enjoy.

I loved Denise a lot in _Paying For It_ so thank you for telling me that, Chester–I appreciate it!

I’m a huge fan of Riane Eisler, and she tackles a lot of the biblical history as connected to patriarchy, especially in Sacred Pleasure. Back then, “pagan” was pretty much synonymous with “Goddess worshiper”. Growing up, I remember the word “pagan” having a very creepy, sinister feel to it. Not having followed a terribly religious life, revisiting the concept of paganism as an adult via Eisler was pretty eye-opening. And looking back, it was fascinating that I was made to “fear” anything pagan as a child in church (and hence, never questioned it). Interestingly, I remember also feeling a culturally-induced “fear” of sex and men: being prescribed to behave in certain ways lest men “get the wrong idea”. Thank goddess I challenged that for myself at 21 when I discovered the delights of penises and lots of delicious, indiscriminate sex with strangers.

Sex work was as common for people to do during biblical times as waiting tables is today. Actually, probably more common. I remember a discussion with an academic friend of mine and several fellow sex workers for her PhD dissertation about different vignettes in the bible, and our views on their meaning. I learned during that discussion that the word “foot” was a euphemism for “penis” back in those days- and that shed a whole new light on the story of the anointing woman. 🙂 Also, the origins of the “symposium” was a gathering of men drinking and carousing, often with sex workers. So when Jesus attended symposia in the bible, you know what he was up to. He liked a good orgy just as much as the next person. 😉

Putting women “in their place” was a goal of monotheistic cultures, and it’s been achieved methodically and calculatedly over time by the perpetual denigration of sex and pleasure. It continues today, of course, but it’s exciting to be a part of a class of people embodying the challenge to it!!