Joshua Co

11213442
Greawks
Selling Sex in Heaven Reaction Paper
Prostitution sometimes call the Worlds Oldest Profession, actually lives up to this title being present in almost every country. Many people have their own thoughts on prostitution and
how it should be dealt with. Some feminists would say that it perpetuates the long standing
battle against the objectification of women, yet others would argue that a woman should have
full autonomy of her body and may do as she pleases. There are those who see it as a heinous
act that is practically rape, and those that see it as a chance to make a living, being born into
the world with nothing. In the documentary, Selling Sex in Heaven, we see the kind of
destitution and impoverishment of the sex trade industry in the Philippines. We are given a
glimpse of the kind of misery and suffering young girls undergo as sex workers. Here we can
identify 3 social issues that stem from prostitution: 1.) the lack of opportunities, 2.) the poor
regulatory systems in place, and 3.) an apathetic society towards the cruelties in Angeles City.
From these, we look at the possible solutions to address these issues, and conclude on what
must be done about prostitution.
To say that all sex workers are forced into prostitution would be false, and to say that no
woman in the right mind would want to be a sex worker is incorrect as well. I believe that there
are two main reasons why a woman goes into prostitution, both very much interconnected. The
first is that she simply wants to, while the second is that she does not have any other choice,
that is, there is a lack of opportunity. It is not impossible to fathom why some women would want
to become prostitutes. If the pay is good, if they enjoy sex, and if there is no possible risk of
harm to them, then it does not seem like such a good idea. Looking at it in another light, we
must understand that not all humans are born with the same silver spoon in their plate. Some
lack the opportunities others have, and if women believe that they can use their bodies to attain
these opportunities then who are we to deny them? If a woman uses her body to her advantage,
to her brighter future, then should we not let them be? The problem arises when these women
do not want to use their bodies for this purpose. It is those women who are truly affected by
societys lack of opportunities. Women would are forced into prostitution as a means to survive.
Much like in selling sex in heaven where in many of the women there were forced into horrible
prostitution situations due to the lack of opportunities. They were hardly getting paid and yet
their bodies were being over-exploited by men who saw them as bags of meat rather than

human beings. Those women who would be locked up in rooms until called upon to please a
client, and did not fight back for they did not know any other way, they did not have any other
opportunities to turn to. Truly this lack of opportunities is rooted much deeper into the political
system as well as the economical situation of a country, and would be too big of an issue to
solve. Specifically targeting abused sex workers, there must be a three part solution to this
issue. The first would be to get all these abused sex workers out of their current slums and pits.
By enlisting a special ruthless police task force to hunt down these extortionists and to bring
these sex workers out, these sex workers would be free from this kind of living and free to make
their own decisions. Second would be to create a government organization that specifically
deals with prostitution and trafficking issues like this that can take these women in, and help
them to be integrated back into the real world. Third would be for these organizations to show
these women their options. Opportunities for them to earn and make a living that does not
involve being coerced into selling their bodies for cheap coin. By hunting these criminal brothels,
we save the women and at the same time discourage this kind of trafficking and extortion of
women. By taking in these women who were once living in such destitute conditions, we ensure
that they do not return to become a sex worker, as many do since it seems to be all they know.
Lastly by providing these women with the opportunities they deserve, we give them a road to a
better life.
In selling sex heaven, we saw how poorly treated the girls were. We saw how they were
beaten, and abused up to the point that they feared for their life. We saw how little they actually
got paid and how many men they had to sleep with just to make enough to get by. We saw how
Mila, the character the story revolves around, eventually dies due to a sexually transmitted
disease she received due to poor check-up routines. Finally we saw that in these so called
brothels, women would be locked up in small and barely livable rooms, until a client would come
and rape them. The sensible answer would be to simply illegalize prostitution and criminalize all
those that take part in it. But we must remember the argument that some women actually enjoy
prostitution as previously stated. We also must realize that as disgusting as it may seem, there
is actually a market for prostitution, and that it could be beneficial not only for the women but
also the economy. In Amsterdam, where prostitution is legal and taxed, it is actually
economically beneficial since a significant amount of income flows into these establishments.
The red light district there has even become a tourist attraction for some. Rae (2014) even cited
that in Amsterdam, the logic of legalizing prostitution is so that the criminal aspect of it all would
disappear. That by shedding light in prostitution we begin to recognize it, we begin to see it for
what it is, and how it should be. The point I am trying to drive at is that in the interest of all

parties involved, maybe the better solution would not be to completely illegalize prostitution, but
rather to regulate it. If the Philippine Government took a bigger role in prostitution, then there
would be less criminal activity going on. Through regulation the government should be able to
do the following things: 1.) increase the price of prostitution and in turn the amount earned by
the sex workers, 2.) criminally charge clients who would abuse or hurt the sex workers, 3.) have
better forms of STD checking and other disease tests, and 4.) require establishments to pay
taxes and have permits. Through these actions, the women will be protected, and those that
cause harm to them will be criminally liable. This make the option of prostitution less shameful
and less dangerous. Although a farfetched and most complicated idea, it is better than the
government turning a blind eye to an already prevalent problem in the Philippines.
Prostitution has been a big issue in Asia, particularly in the Philippines for a very long
time. Trafficking and prostitution have destroyed many lives of the poor, yet when was the last
time a government official gave the issue any specific importance. When was the last time a
government official made it his personal advocacy to fight for the rights of these women? With a
country caught up in more devious problems like poverty in corruption, its issues like prostitution
that get tossed aside for another meeting. But the problem does not simply rely on the shoulder
of the government. If we want the movement against prostitution to be an effective and powerful
one its going to take the whole nation to move. The whole nation to open their eyes to the harsh
and morbid realities that is prostitution. Being largely a Catholic nation, we tend to turn a blind
eye on things we disapprove of like selling sex, but then what happens to these miserable sex
workers? Who will take care of them if we dont? What must be done is a government official, a
celebrity, a doctor, an athlete, an artist, a business magnate, and anyone else to take the stand
against prostitution. We must raise awareness through campaigns, through social media,
through word of mouth. We must get those with influence to lead the movement much like how
celebrities started the ice bucket challenge to raise awareness of ALS, or how Pnoy started the
movement against corruption. By raising awareness, and by seeing people aside from ourselves
take a stand, the whole nation will eventually follow.

Sources:
Bell, K. (2009). A Feminist's Argument On How Sex Work Can Benefit Women. Retrieved June 16, 2015,
from http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/28/a-feminists-argument-on-how-sex-work-can-benefitwomen
Rae, L. (2014, September 30). Why Amsterdam's Prostitution Laws are Still Failing to Protect or
Empower Women. Retrieved June 16, 2015, from http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/why-amsterdamsprostitution-laws-are-still-failing-protect-empower-women-1467733