Belle de Jour: On science and prostitution

[n2doc]

Rowan Hooper

Under the name Belle de Jour, Brooke Magnanti wrote about her experiences as a prostitute for a London escort agency, and her blog became a bestselling book, The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl, and a television series.

She has a master's degree in genetic epidemiology and a PhD from the University of Sheffield's department of forensic pathology.

She currently works at the Bristol Initiative for Research of Child Health and told her agent: "if New Scientist asks for an interview, I'll do it". We did ask.

more:

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2009/11/belle-de-jour-on-science-and-prostitution.php

[rayofreason]

1. TA or T&A?

Interesting question and article. The comments are pretty good as well.

My libertarian streak says "Go girl!", though some of the "anti-" comments raise interesting and non trivial points, such as the question of whether normalization of prostitution might lead to forced work in the sex trade or else risk loss of benefits for not taking an available job.

One question the article does not answer is, did she enjoy her work?

[RagAss]

2. She looks happy.