Bill Ayers speaks out! An In These Times exclusive.

Vicious Circle

Shedding light on a cycle of abuse

By Kari Lydersen

Growing up on Chicago’s South Side, Brenda Myers looked up to the prostitutes working outside her window. “I asked my grandmother what those women were doing. She said, ‘They take their panties off for money.’” At age 9 this idea didn’t strike Myers as odd—a family member had been molesting her for years—and she grew up understanding that her body… return to article

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    i think this was a okay artical on prostitution .i’m doing a movie on street prostitution so yes it was insightful

    United States Posted by morgsn on Nov 17, 2003 at 2:22 PM

    i think this was a okay artical on prostitution .i’m doing a movie on street prostitution so yes it was insightful

    United States Posted by morgsn on Nov 17, 2003 at 2:22 PM

    Excellent story.  It could have been longer, more detailed.  But it really shows about how many things in this soceity are many-sided.  They’re caused by a mixture of many things and it’s soceity as a whole that causes them.

    United States Posted by Susan Longtin on Nov 17, 2003 at 8:12 PM

    I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse - incest by my stepfather.  I never had counseling.  I am now a Ph.D. anthropologist and am not an addict.  Yes, this article brings up something that must be considered when thinking about social problems, but it also perpetuates an idea of determinism that I want to combat.  What happened to these women, and to me, was horrible - but it can be overcome.  And should I ever confront my abuser I will not say “this is because of you,” I will say “this is despite you” and I will not have to curse him.  I have the upper hand now...I have a good life.

    United States Posted by crysta on Nov 17, 2003 at 11:02 PM

    Very important issue for all.  Childhood sexual abuse is everywhere.  The result is a very sick suffering society.  Keep addressing the issue.  Good work!

    United States Posted by D Peterlin on Nov 19, 2003 at 5:07 AM

    A very important story. In the course of my life, I have known many many sex workers, including a long-term lover and a number of my closest friends. I have never ever met a sex worker who was not a survivor of sexual abuse. I have never ever met a former sex worker (out of the business at least a year) who did not condemn the sex industry—even if she defended it while she was still in it! No-nothing pseudo-feminists who promote porn and other aspects of the sex industry without taking the very real damage done to the women who make their living selling their sexuality need to read many many more stories like this! Thanks to Kari Lydersen and ITT!

    United States Posted by xyz on Nov 20, 2003 at 12:48 AM

    Prostitution is evil, truly evil.  Unfortunately, this article makes clear that it is men in our families who break females into their role as Men’s Sex Toys, businessmen who find these raped females and put them to other men’s use in pornography and stripping, and average men and women who have bought the lie that their participation in purchasing women’s sexual dignity doesn’t really create a subclass of humans who exist to service men and whose lives are considered less worthy than other humans’ lives.

    I feel another feminist wave coming that’s gonna wash that sexxee Third one off it’s male apologist ass. 

    United States Posted by Sam on Nov 21, 2003 at 6:42 PM

    Heart wrenching.

    United States Posted by Annette Bork on Nov 27, 2003 at 1:03 AM
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