...Awareness and constant self-reflection are prerequisites in my line of work, along with examining and challenging my beliefs, ethics and principles on a regular basis. Clients come for counselling for a wide range of reasons, and some 'issues' are a lot more 'sensitive' than others, so it's really important for a counsellor to be aware of how they how they react and how they feel about all sorts of different topics, ranging from parenting styles, religion, sexual preferences, affairs, political beliefs, termination, adoption, through to the use of escorts, porn and so on... (this list is in no particular order; it's just the order in which the words came out of my head and on to the screen, by the way)...
I can be quite set in my ways and beliefs and opinions, but I have much more of an open mind when it comes to my clients; I have the awareness and acceptance that everyone is unique and has their own set of values. As a counsellor, part of my role involves trying hard to see things from my clients' perspectives, rather than from my own. Therefore, I can find myself feeling that from a client's perspective, it is quite acceptable to have an affair, although that is something that I can't imagine doing myself.
However, on some matters, it is harder and more challenging to be able to accept clients' opinions without judgement; nor would it be right to. Racism springs to mind as an example... But I'm digressing from the point of this blog now, so I'll try to steer myself back onto the subject in hand.
Over the last couple of days, the subject of porn and the use of 'escorts' is something I've been reflecting upon... including thoughts about sexual objectification and so forth...
It's got me thinking... who is really being exploited??
- the woman, who is making money from her body and sexuality?
- or the man, who is paying, sometimes a lot of money, for something that shouldn't have a price tag on it...
... maybe it's a case that 'making love' is something that money can't buy... maybe 'sex' is something different...
Loss of respect is another aspect of prostitution, but whose respect has been lost? Maybe a woman feels empowered, rather than disrespectful or disrespected... maybe it is the man who has lost self-respect or is disrespectful... or maybe a man can feel more self-respect for using an escort... and maybe he is respectful towards the escort?
'Power' is another angle on this - the man paying money is in a position of power, but maybe the woman demanding money is also in a position of power....
Maybe the key is 'choice'... maybe if a woman chooses to be an escort or prostitute, and is happy with her decision, then it is acceptable and empowering... but what about all the people who are forced into prostitution and have no choice, so feel trapped, scared, disempowered, and so on??
hmm... it's a complex subject and is one that I'll no doubt be continuing to reflect upon over the next few weeks...
Please feel free to add your own comments...
