Written By: Rabi Roy
A few years back (year forgotten) while traveling China, Pope John Paul, the spiritual Chief of Catholic Christians of the world, having been excessively moved by the fact that China had completely abolished beggary and prostitution, said with a passionate voice–what Christians had been trying for last two thousand years, but couldn’t, China had successfully done within only a couple of years. Before 1949, the years of capturing political power by the Chinese communists in almost every town of China prostitution was very common. In Rickshawala written by Lau Chua, the popular Chinese novelist, there will be found the deplorable condition of a woman which compelled her to join prostitution. Though it is presently nonexistent there, still reports are often found on cross-country trafficking of Chinese women for prostitution. The Chinese government also acknowledges the fact and has taken a very firm stand on the matter. No mercy is shown to the traffickers, and after trial, traffickers can seldom avoid facing the firing squad.
In 1917, after the formation of the Soviet Republic in Russia, prostitution was completely abolished there. But unfortunately in recent decades, especially after the fall of the Soviet Union, it has relapsed there rapidly. Nowadays it is heard that to walk freely is troublesome along the
streets in Moscow after sunset because of a frequent, mischievous approach by flying prostitute girls. Even many families now live on supplying their minors to foreign tourists for their entertainment. Fair-looking girls, who are sent by mafias to Gulf countries for bringing western goods, earn a little extra by prostituting themselves there because meager payment by mafia employers leads these girls to prostitution for mere survival. Why and how such degradation could happen in Russia and to some extent in China is not our concern in this article. Instead, we shall duly go through the experience of how prostitution was abolished in two countries after overthrowing the old rulers from political power.
The total abolition of prostitution in the Soviet Union is a memorable event of the 20th century. In 1923, five years after the capture of power by socialists, the Soviet Government primarily took initiative and there started a direct struggle against prostitution which was introduced since time immemorial. The then powerful soviet Government could stop this infamous practice within a week or month simply by proclaiming an ordinance. But the government’s policy was to uproot this activity completely and not merely to stop it temporarily. Aiming to overthrow the age-old practice from its root, the government set up a long-drawn, consistent and manifold planning. First of all, the government decided to find out the origin of the problem. It was not entirely unknown to the authorities. Yet they wanted to further investigate the whole thing. They prepared a questionnaire, and then copies were distributed among hundreds and thousands of women engaged in prostitution. Women in infamous practice were basically asked in what circumstances they accepted or were compelled to accept prostitution as a profession. They were assured that their identities were kept a secret when their replies were analyzed.
Prostitutes (presently called “sex-workers”), too, did not hesitate or fear to respond, because the experience they gathered during the last few years under Soviet rule made them gradually believe that the new government would not act against their interest and their survival would not be at stake but would be restored.
After having thoroughly analyzing replies, two things were found. The first was poverty. Though there was no doubt about the role of poverty behind prostitution, yet there arose a question. If it was only poverty, which forced them into prostitution, then why did every property–stricken woman of the country not accept the profession? The answer was also found. Coercion: Some women, of course, did choose the profession themselves to get rid of poverty, but others were somehow forced to join by an evil nexus. Consisting of mafias, traders, brothel–keepers and pimps. So authorities came to the conclusion that poverty and coercion were two basic reasons for women to join in prostitution.
The soviet Government thus having been confirmed about basic reasons for the problem from the grassroots level, then prepared to step forward to finish forever the exploiters and on the other hand to rehabilitate the women rescuing them from the hell. In fact, most of the women, while preparing their replies, appealed to the government for rehabilitation for starting a new life. Aiming to the abolition of prostitution, the policy adopted by the government was unprecedented. The steps were taken to make the women settle down with dignity of labor and severe punishments were proclaimed for those who earned from engaging the women in flesh trade.
Before this, in Russia or in other countries, whereas an initiative was taken to eradicate prostitution, the prostitutes were targeted to attack by the state. But the Soviet government took action in a completely opposite direction. The prostitution, not prostitutes, i.e., victims of the system, was targeted. Those hapless women were given whole-hearted support to get rid of the system for entering into a meaningful life with dignity.
A few steps taken by the Soviet Government to abolish prostitution were as follows:
1. It was decided to start Cooperative farms and factories to involve women who had no one to protect them and trade unions were appealed to take responsibility to ensure those women’s participation there. They were also asked to help the government to eradicate the superstition associated with women’s physical labor.
2. It was also decided to set up residential buildings for the women who had no shelter and for those who used to rush in urban areas in search of earning. In addition, the initiative was taken to look after the orphan children of both sexes.
3. A campaign was organized to make people conscious regarding the bad effect of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) on society and the medical practitioners were directed to give free treatment to patients suffering from these diseases.
4. All repressive laws adopted by Czar, the former ruler, against the prostitutes, were declared null and void.
5. Measures were taken to punish those persons who used to earn a profit from flesh trading.
Right from the beginning of 1924, the government started the operation of finding out brothels and arresting keepers and others related to flesh trading. But the officials were strictly instructed not to arrest any prostitute women, even they should not be badly treated. Besides, they were also instructed to pay those women’s honor as those officials themselves enjoyed in the society and if any case those women made any objectionable comment, they would not retaliate. Even their names and addresses would not be noted down without their consent.
Thereafter, a massive program was taken to bring back women in the mainstream. They were given treatment for STDs and at the same time, they were sent to centers for vocational training to enable them to earn a living for their own in the future. Women from poverty-stricken families, in general, were also given training in the same centers, as these centers though guided by the government’s policy but were run by the trainees themselves, not by the officers deputed by the government. Furthermore, women from prostitution were not at all discriminated against in respect of the women from the mainstream. Such an atmosphere helped the hapless women to overcome the physical and psychological trauma they experienced in the past as well as the inferiority complexes that they had come from a vile profession. Besides authorities regularly arranged interaction on social and political issues to educate and make them conscious of self-esteem as human beings.
The policy adopted by the Soviet government towards the customers of the women was also unique. In 1925, the discussion was commenced regarding what should be the attitude towards them. The customers were not regarded as exploiters; therefore, they should not be punished. But they were not exploited, too, like the women whom they enjoy. Therefore, they could not be treated sympathetically. They were neither exploiters nor exploited; still, they had an important role in the very existence of prostitution. If it was supposed that they used to go to brothels due to lack of normal sex-satisfaction which was necessary for every human being, still there arose a question - was it at all healthy manifestation after installation of Soviet state and its earnest effort to encourage sex-life free from filth and bondage? No, authorities came to the conclusion; it was a manifestation of their minds insubstantial. To overcome this filthy state of mind, it was necessary to create social influence on them. And the government itself skilfully performed this very responsibility.
While the searching operation was going on in the brothels if the customers were met, they were neither misbehaved nor arrested; instead, their names and identity were only noting down. The next day lists of these names with identities including a bold caption “Buyers of the Bodies of Women”, were hung on the walls in public places. Naturally, the persons named in the lists were talked of and they faced public censure. Besides, in Soviet society, human relations between men and women were gradually being developed and changed the attitude towards women which caused massive influence to create a healthy atmosphere for normal sex relations and consequently, the rate of brothel goers was fallen down.
In this way, prostitution came to an end in Soviet land within a few years through extensive and consistent effort initiated by the government equipped with scientific thought and ideology.
It should be remembered that while the great war against prostitution was going on, the economic condition of the country was extremely miserable. Still, the abolition of prostitution was materialized there only due to the existence of a welfare state in a real sense and this was, of course, the key to success.
Soviet inexperience inspired Chinese leaders to step forward to abolish prostitution after dethroning rulers of the old regime in 1949. Immediately after the formation of the Chinese Republic, the owners of the brothels were put to jail and, the prostitutes were sent to “Women’s production and Education Centre” where they got vocational training, non-formal education and along with these, they took part in a discussion which included polities, and social inequalities in relation to their lives. They were prepared in such a manner that they would no more have to earn their living in the future by selling their bodies but by employing labor with dignity.
The experience of the Soviet Union and China can, of course, help us in our thought process while we are facing the question of legalization of prostitution in India today, but it should not be copied at all since the situation is different between ours and theirs in relation to the economy and social and political structures. The very experience only can show us light to find out a justified solution in our own national context.*
THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN A FEW YEARS AGO
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Prostitution in China: After taking power in 1949, the Communist Party of China embarked upon a series of campaigns with the aim of eradicating prostitution from mainland China by the early 1960s. Since the loosening of government controls over society in the early 1980s, prostitution in mainland China not only has become more visible but can now be found throughout both urban and rural areas. In spite of government efforts, prostitution has now developed to the extent that it comprises an industry, one that involves a great number of people and produces a considerable economic output. Prostitution has also become associated with a number of problems, including organized crime, government corruption, hypocrisy, and sexually transmitted diseases. For example, a Communist Party official who was a major provincial campaigner against corruption was removed from his post and expelled from the party after he was caught in a hotel room with a prostitute.
Prostitution and related activities in mainland China appear in diverse forms, at various venues and prices, and with prostitutes coming from a range of social backgrounds. They are almost all female, though in recent years male prostitutes have also emerged. Venues include hotels, massage parlors, karaoke bars and beauty salons.
Officially, prostitution is illegal in mainland China. The government of China has vacillated, however, in its legal treatment of prostitutes, treating them sometimes as criminals and sometimes as behaving with misconduct. Since the re-emergence of prostitution in the 1980s, government authorities have responded by first using the legal system, that is, the daily operations of courts and police. Second, they have relied on police-led campaigns, clearly delineated periods of intense public activity, as a form of social discipline. Despite lobbying by international NGOs and overseas commentators, there is not much support for the legalization of the sex sector by the public, social organizations, or the government of the PRC.
While the sale of sexual intercourse remains illegal throughout mainland China, as of 2013 erotic massage, more commonly known as massage with "happy endings", is legal in the city of Foshan in Guangdong province. In June of that year, the Foshan Court determined that the sale of erotic massage is not the same as prostitution.
Prostitution in Russia is illegal. The punishment for engagement in prostitution is a fine from 1500 up to 2000 rubles. Moreover, organizing prostitution is punishable by a prison term. Prostitution remains a very big problem in Russia. wiki
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*My article on Sacred Prostitution is getting ready.
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