The Scarlet Road

I watched part of this documentary last night called The Scarlet Road about an Australian sex worker who specializes in working with people with disabilities. It was pretty incredible. As she explained how many of these men crave human companionship and intimacy but are unable to find it and how she gives them some facet of what they are missing in life, I still couldn't help but feel repulsion as they showed her getting intimate with a man with cerebral palsy (yes, they showed it and yes, I watched it...).

I felt wrong about reacting this way because when you think about it, it seems so unfair that people should be born with physical disabilities but completely functional minds and, as such, are unable to live normal lives. And because there minds are completely functional, they are fully aware of what their lives are lacking. Fully aware of how unfair it is.

It was pretty touching how the woman, Rachel, was with her clients. The thing is, it wasn't just sex. She was so tender and loving and caring. She fed her clients, bathed them (sexy bath but still, a bath) etc. etc.

The elderly parents of the man with cerebral palsy paid for Rachel's services for the man's birthday. The mother made up a double bed for her son, put rose petals on the floor and a box of chocolates on the bed. When the man's uncle called to wish him happy birthday, she told him about Rachel's visit. It was a happy occasion and an occasion that the whole family was happy about. Which makes you think... what life is this when your entire family is overjoyed that you get to have sex? It was incredibly sweet and touching and sad at the same time.

I'm pretty adamant on my attitudes towards sex work. It should be legalised. The end. Anyone who says otherwise are douche bags. The documentary just cemented this fact. Mostly, I say this because prostitution will always exist in society and it (most likely) always has. By legalising it, you can regulate the industry and protect the health and wellbeing of sex workers.

But after watching The Scarlet Road it occurred to me a second (glaring) point. There's nothing inherently wrong or immoral with sex work. It's people who abuse the industry that are wrong. If the industry is operated in the right way then its place in society is positive. It brings people joy. I thought there was something very noble about Rachel was doing. But then again, there was nothing noble about what she was doing. She wasn't giving up anything (she had a partner, a life, a means of living etc.) and she was getting paid to do it like any other job. And good money too.

J