Market Forces And Recession Hurt Nevada's Legal Brothels
Legal brothels in Nevada are in a situation that has seemingly wandered out of an Economics 101 textbook. Scary as it is to reduce In the recession, more women are entering sex work (both legal and illegal) but there are fewer customers to go around.
The downturn afflicting Nevada's legal bordellos leaves one tenacious critic of prostitution with mixed feelings. Melissa Farley, a long-time activist who has studied Nevada's brothels in detail, says that women who end up working in such establishments are already victims of economic woe.
"I'm glad to see the pimps in trouble, But I'm not happy to see any shred of additional economic stress on women who work in prostitution," she says.
Or on any ordinary person who is trying to make a living.
Sex feels the credit squeeze in Nevada [The Observer]
(Photo: gigielmes)
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Another industry ripe for stimulus checks.
I wonder about this line.
"I'm glad to see the pimps in trouble, But I'm not happy to see any shred of additional economic stress on women who work in prostitution,"
Because from what I have seen of Nevada's Prostitution situation, the women WANT to be doing what they are and many are fully capable of holding other jobs but like the money and the sex.
I like the way on the sign the "free showers" offer was crossed through, cause THAT'S the thing you don't want at a brothel.
Queue a bunch of idiotic, sexist comments that are always posted whenever sex work is discussed on this site.
I know that after watching a couple episodes of Cat House (I think that's what it was called) on HBO, I was astounded at how much they charged for their services. I've never been to a prostitute, but good god! I think that show scared a lot of people away from even stepping through the door whereas before, they may have at least gone in to check it out.
"Or on any ordinary person who is trying to make a living."
Us prostitutes ARE ordinary people!!! [runs away crying]
@Jim Topoleski: There is an excellent book by Alexa Albert called "Brothel: Mustang Ranch and Its Women" which goes into the subject of pimps and their women in legalized brothels. While many women enter the business of their own volition, there are many, many more who find themselves saddled with a pimp ("boyfriend") who then regulates how much the women work and how much money is sent back to the pimps. It's a real eye-opener of a book and if you are at all interested in the business it's a great read.
I've been following this (how the poor economy is affecting the sex industry) for a while now. Honestly, some amazingly good deals to be had. There was an "all you can eat/drink/screw" place in Berlin that you can google up. Many places are offering more perks and incentives.
It's kind of fascinating in a sort of Bizarro-world kind of way. On one hand, I'm still aware of the cultural issues with prostitution. On the other hand, it's still a business, and is trying to make ends meet.
Show a pimp some love :-(
I have long suggested that we add the price of "a rub and a tug" to the list of leading economic indicators.
@j-o-h-n: Hmm...Government regulated hookers...Think of all of the senators and other government officials that would no longer have to worry about losing their jobs...
Well, from watching "CatHouse" on HBO they were charging WAY too much for alittle afternoon delight. If the demand is down, lower the price. Problem solved.
@Radi0logy: I noticed that too. Kinda gross for the ladies. But like any business, management has to look at the bottom line and some luxuries need to be cut...
@Radi0logy: "Free showers" were often a benefit for long haul truckers. Many truck stops offer a free shower with the purchase of a certain amount of diesel fuel which for truckers can easily be in the 100 gallon range...
@raleel: That is definitely an observation for the cats at the "Freakonomics" Blog on the NYT's site...
@savdavid: They charge the prices because they can and because it is a "legal" place. Just like a DRM and copyright legal dvd costs $49.95 versus a street copy that costs $5...
@John Henschen: They don't want "tire kickers" but real buyers...
My understanding is that these places are a considerable way from Las Vegas, etc so you have to commit to at least an hour or more drive. I don't know for sure as I have never been to those establishments. I have limited knowledge of illegal alternatives...
@Jim Topoleski: There's a HUGE difference between the legal brothels outside of Clark County and the illegal prostitution inside of Clark County, where Vegas is. There is NO legal prostitution in Vegas but it's obviously everywhere. I lived there for 8 years and believe me, there's plenty of abuse of street walkers of all genders going on there just like any other city.
The brothels are also competing in the free market. For instance, bottled water is competing with free tap water. Likewise, brothels are also competing with lots of other women who will also do it for free (under the right circumstances, like being a SC Gov.), and a variety of on-line services. Oddly, these "free" and lesser expensive options are also legal in all 50 states, so it has a geographical advantage. It's not always worth it to have a box of Fritos on hand or travel to Vegas. However, there is additional risk of the woman going "Fatal Attraction" on you.
The challenge for brothels is to "brand" the service as bottled waters have done, in order to attract the general public. But this may be problematic.
@savdavid:
I've seen 2 posts stating they charge way too much, but I've yet to see a dollar amount. What is way too much? $500? $1000?
@Saboth: We had a local schoolteacher at a Christian school get picked up for hooking, and what amused the hell out of me about the situation was that the outrage generated by the story had little to do with the fact that she was a teacher at a Christian school, and everything to do with the fact that she charged $300 a trick, compared to $20 a blow from the crackwhore streetwalkers. "Those are Chicago prices!" outraged commenters kept saying in the comments section on the news articles.
@Saboth: It's hard to find a dollar amount (in the context of Nevada brothels) because it's not legal to quote a price up-front. The house usually has a set fee (based on time or based on, well, biochemistry) and then the girl (an independent contractor) is supposed to negotiate a rate in private for the activities on the menu.
I'm not sure what all the dancing around is for, exactly, but it seems to me that guys wouldn't necessarily want to talk about the negotiated price because it follows that the negotiated price is proportional to how fugly the guy is.
That said, according to Marc Perkel, in any given city, a good prostitute will cost you about the same per hour as a good lawyer.
@SacraBos: Well sure, but I don't have to work too hard to coax that free water to emerge from my tap.
@Saboth: From what I remember of watching the Cathouse series on HBO, these women charge anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 per hour.
CrAzY.....
@AngryK9:
I believe Nevada's prostitution trade is already heavily government regulated. Probably the only reason nobody's succeed in outlawing it, yet. That and it's steadily declining since the counties where it's legal are rapidly approaching the population limit of the law.
If just anyone can become a whore, why pay a whore when you can be one and get paid for the same thing that you're willing to pay for?
@squinko - doesn't need firefighters: Ugh. It's infuriating. Why can't we just talk about what this site is for, and that is consumer issues. And not get all judgmental about a woman ( or mans) occupation of choice?
@econobiker: Yes. My husband used to be a Vegas cabdriver, and they LOVE when someone wants to go out to the chicken ranch, because they get all the fare, AND a percentage of what the guy spends while inside.
Yeah, god forbid these people have any self worth, right?
Please stop citing Cat House as a source. There are books, blogs, real sites, documentaries -- If you cited CSI to say that a police investigation only takes a few days, and fingerprints are found in the database within minutes to hours, you'd be laughed at.
Besides, to all the comments that "omg cat house sez they charge 2 much lower prices and itll get better durr": another study said that the cheapest prostitutes weren't having as much trouble, true -- but it noted that the extremely high end prostitutes (Think Eliot Spitzer) were still doing well too. I doubt they've lowered prices much if at all.
I wonder if this place takes frito chips as payment?
I'm of the belief that (carefully monitored) legalized prostitution and legalized marijuana are some of the best possible industries for the US. The fundamentalists would have a cow, yes, but they'd stop complaining (or at least quiet down a touch) once the tax dollars started rolling in.
Seriously, make weekly blood tests part of the requirement for the job and offer a "subscriber plan" for returning customers (with free blood tests) and watch the tax money accumulate.
@squinko - doesn't need firefighters: Prostitution should be legalized. In the mean time, they need some sort of secure method of generating pornography at brothels so that their business is legal.
We need to go to Neveda, we must do our patriotic duties as Americans and save this timeless like Apple Pie; American institution from the recession. Who's with me?
@John Henschen: Oscar thought that Michael was referring to a particular brand of cannabis named "Afternoon Deelite," a strain famous for slowing behavior.
Does this mean I can get a good price? :P