“A woman should not be so cheap” The Prostitute as a Constructed Other in Estonian Post-Soviet Life Stories

Riikka Taavetti
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引用次数: 1

Abstract

This article discusses the construction of the female prostitute figure in Estonian life stories on love and sexuality that were collected in 1996. As prostitution was mentioned in the questions posed in the call for writings, more than half of the 61 respondents discussed their attitudes as well as experiences concerning prostitution. The writers portray prostitution as a stable phenomenon that is needed in society; one that cannot be eradicated but should be controlled. Additionally, prostitution is connected to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and particularly to AIDS. The image of prostitution constructed in the writings carries ethicised meanings as it is exoticised as well as portrayed as something inherently Estonian. The main point in this article is that the figure of the female prostitute was constructed as an ‘other’ in the life stories, a sexual outsider who is needed in the society but who is nonetheless perceived as essentially different from the writers themselves. The contributors used this othering in their writing to construct their selves as well as the concept of acceptable heterosexuality. This article was submitted to the European Journal of Life Writing on August 17th 2016, and published on August 28th 2017.
“一个女人不应该那么廉价”——妓女作为爱沙尼亚后苏联生活故事中的建构者
本文讨论了1996年收集的爱沙尼亚人关于爱情和性的生活故事中妓女形象的建构。由于在征文中提出的问题中提到卖淫,61个答复者中有一半以上讨论了他们对卖淫的态度和经历。作家们把卖淫描绘成一种社会需要的稳定现象;一种无法根除但应加以控制的疾病。此外,卖淫与性传播疾病的传播,特别是与艾滋病的传播有关。作品中构建的卖淫形象带有伦理意义,因为它是异国情调的,也被描绘成爱沙尼亚固有的东西。本文的主要观点是,女性妓女的形象被建构为生活故事中的“他者”,是社会所需要的性局外人,但却被认为与作家本身本质上不同。投稿者在他们的文章中使用这个他者来构建他们的自我以及可接受的异性恋的概念。本文于2016年8月17日提交给欧洲生命写作杂志,并于2017年8月28日发表。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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