TED2015
Sarah Jones: One woman, five characters, and a sex lesson from the future
Filmed:
Readability: 3.6
1,736,532 views
In this performance, Sarah Jones brings you to the front row of a classroom in the future, as a teacher plugs in different personas from the year 2016 to show their varied perspectives on sex work. As she changes props, Jones embodies an elderly homemaker, a “sex work studies” major, an escort, a nun-turned-prostitute and a guy at a strip club for his bachelor party. It’s an intriguing look at a taboo topic, that flips cultural norms around sex inside out.
Sarah Jones - Polymorphic playwright
Tony Award-winning monologist, UNICEF ambassador, firebrand and FCC-fighting poet -- Sarah Jones assumes as many roles offstage as on. Full bio
Tony Award-winning monologist, UNICEF ambassador, firebrand and FCC-fighting poet -- Sarah Jones assumes as many roles offstage as on. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
This is a play called "Sell/Buy/Date."
0
963
1929
00:14
It's my first since "Bridge and Tunnel,"
which I did on Broadway,
which I did on Broadway,
1
2892
3071
00:17
and this one, I -- thank you --
2
5963
3370
00:21
I've excerpted it just for you,
so here we go.
so here we go.
3
9333
4662
00:29
Right. Class, let's be absolutely certain
4
17763
3138
00:32
all electronic devices are switched off
before we begin.
before we begin.
5
20901
4717
00:38
So class, hopefully you'll recognize
what you just heard me say as the -- ?
what you just heard me say as the -- ?
6
26268
5107
00:43
Very good, the cellular
phone announcement.
phone announcement.
7
31985
3214
00:47
Right? This was also known
as a mobile phone.
as a mobile phone.
8
35199
4179
00:51
So you'll remember, people of that era
9
39378
2229
00:53
would have had an external
electronic device, right,
electronic device, right,
10
41607
4876
00:58
something like this,
11
46483
1951
01:00
and they all would have carried
one of these around with them,
one of these around with them,
12
48434
2936
01:03
and amongst their biggest fears
was the sheer mortification
was the sheer mortification
13
51370
3379
01:06
that one of these might ring
at some inopportune moment.
at some inopportune moment.
14
54749
3390
01:10
Right? So a bit of trivia
about that era for you.
about that era for you.
15
58139
2401
01:12
(Laughter)
16
60540
2560
01:15
So the format of today's class is
17
63100
2751
01:17
I will be presenting multiple
BERT modules today
BERT modules today
18
65851
3942
01:21
from that period in history, right,
19
69793
2370
01:24
so starting circa 2016.
20
72163
2810
01:26
And remember, this was
the very first year of the BERT program.
the very first year of the BERT program.
21
74973
4347
01:31
So we've got quite a few
of these to get through.
of these to get through.
22
79320
2370
01:33
Bear in mind, I will be living
into various different bodies,
into various different bodies,
23
81690
4007
01:37
different ages,
24
85697
1178
01:39
also what were then called races,
or ethnic groups,
or ethnic groups,
25
87815
3588
01:43
as you'll remember from Unit 1.
26
91403
2090
01:45
And -- (Laughter) -- and along
the gender continuum,
the gender continuum,
27
93493
3320
01:48
I will be living into males as well.
28
96813
2508
01:51
It was quite binary at that time.
29
99321
1670
01:52
(Laughter)
30
100991
1559
01:54
Also, don't forget, we are reading
the book module
the book module
31
102550
3317
01:57
for next week's focus on gender.
32
105867
1975
01:59
Now, I know some of you
have requested the book in pill form.
have requested the book in pill form.
33
107842
4043
02:03
I know people still believe
ingesting it is better for retention,
ingesting it is better for retention,
34
111885
4316
02:08
but since we are trying to experience
what our forebears did, right,
what our forebears did, right,
35
116201
5499
02:13
let's please just consider doing
the actual ocular reading, okay?
the actual ocular reading, okay?
36
121700
5507
02:19
And also, how many people
have your emotional shunts engaged?
have your emotional shunts engaged?
37
127207
5015
02:24
Right. Please toggle them off. Okay?
38
132222
2694
02:26
I know it's challenging, but I want you
to be able to feel the entire
to be able to feel the entire
39
134916
4945
02:31
natural emo range, all right?
40
139861
1858
02:33
It is essential to this
part of the syllabus.
part of the syllabus.
41
141719
2809
02:37
Yes, Macy?
42
145888
1238
02:39
All right. I understand.
If you're unwilling to --
If you're unwilling to --
43
147756
3871
02:43
All right, well, we can discuss
that after class.
that after class.
44
151627
2369
02:45
All right, we will discuss your concerns.
45
153996
2433
02:48
Just relax. Nobody's died
and gone to composting.
and gone to composting.
46
156429
4120
02:52
Okay. After class. Okay? After class.
47
160549
3344
02:57
Let's just get started, okay.
48
165133
2011
02:59
This first subject identified
as a middle-class homemaker.
as a middle-class homemaker.
49
167144
6408
03:05
Remember, these early modules
50
173552
2299
03:07
in these people's full identities
were protected,
were protected,
51
175851
4133
03:11
and this allowed them to speak
more freely on our topic,
more freely on our topic,
52
179984
3216
03:15
which for many of them was taboo.
53
183200
3933
03:20
Okay honey, now,
I'm ready when you are.
I'm ready when you are.
54
188110
3622
03:23
No, sweetheart, I said,
I'm ready when you are.
I'm ready when you are.
55
191732
3228
03:28
I'm freezing.
56
196060
1291
03:30
It's like a meat locker in here
in this recording studio.
in this recording studio.
57
198061
3145
03:33
I should have brought a shmata.
58
201206
2600
03:35
All this fancy technology
but they can't afford heat.
but they can't afford heat.
59
203806
3599
03:40
What is he saying? I can't hear you!
60
208375
3303
03:43
I can't hear you
through the glass, honey!
through the glass, honey!
61
211678
2879
03:46
There you are in my ear.
62
214557
2763
03:49
Oh, you can hear me?
63
217320
2600
03:51
The whole time.
64
219920
1858
03:53
Oh, yes, I am a little chilly.
65
221778
3086
03:57
Yes, oh the cold is for the machines,
the new technology. Okay.
the new technology. Okay.
66
225980
5573
04:03
Yes, now remind me again, you're recording
not only my voice but my feelings
not only my voice but my feelings
67
231553
5751
04:09
and my memories? Right.
68
237304
2300
04:12
Yes, BERT, yes, I read about it.
69
240414
2019
04:14
Bio-Empathetic Resonant Technology.
70
242433
3051
04:17
Right, right, so people will be able
to feel my experience
to feel my experience
71
245484
5157
04:22
and my memory? Okay.
72
250641
1902
04:24
No, right, I'm ready.
73
252543
1415
04:25
I just thought you were going to give me
a test to see how my memory's doing.
a test to see how my memory's doing.
74
253958
4097
04:30
I was going to tell you you're too late,
it's already bad news.
it's already bad news.
75
258055
3217
04:34
No, no, go ahead, honey.
76
262847
2801
04:37
Oh, that's the first question?
77
265648
2336
04:39
What do I think of prostitution?
78
267984
3274
04:43
Are you soliciting me, young man?
79
271258
3341
04:47
I've heard of May-December romances,
but what are you, about 20 years old?
but what are you, about 20 years old?
80
275483
4472
04:53
Eighteen? Eighteen years.
81
281102
1742
04:54
I think I have candies in my purse
older than 18 years old.
older than 18 years old.
82
282844
5619
05:00
(Laughter)
83
288463
1478
05:04
I'm teasing you, sweetheart.
No, I'm comfortable with any question.
No, I'm comfortable with any question.
84
292281
4239
05:09
Sure. So about the prostitution --
oh, sex worker, sex worker.
oh, sex worker, sex worker.
85
297940
4431
05:15
No, just in my day, they called it
prostitution, not sex work.
prostitution, not sex work.
86
303951
3969
05:19
Oh, because it includes pornography also?
87
307920
2746
05:22
Okay.
88
310666
1811
05:24
No, well, I guess when I was a girl,
89
312477
2182
05:26
we didn't really have
a name for that either.
a name for that either.
90
314659
2508
05:29
We would have said dirty magazines,
I suppose, or dirty movies.
I suppose, or dirty movies.
91
317167
5735
05:34
Well, it's not like what you have
with the Internet.
with the Internet.
92
322902
2468
05:38
No, well, I don't mind sharing.
93
326130
3506
05:41
My late husband and I,
we were a very romantic couple.
we were a very romantic couple.
94
329636
4992
05:47
Lots of tenderness, you understand.
95
335898
2816
05:51
Well, as you get older, you know,
at one point I thought my husband
at one point I thought my husband
96
339794
3370
05:55
might be helped by using
some of the pills men can take,
some of the pills men can take,
97
343164
4153
06:01
but he wasn't interested in those,
98
349317
3096
06:04
so I thought, what about maybe
watching an adult movie on the Internet?
watching an adult movie on the Internet?
99
352413
6061
06:10
Just for inspiration, you understand.
100
358474
3434
06:13
Well, at the time, neither of us
were very good on the computer,
were very good on the computer,
101
361908
4998
06:18
so usually, if we needed help
with the Internet,
with the Internet,
102
366906
2713
06:21
we would just call our children
or our grandchildren,
or our grandchildren,
103
369619
4978
06:26
but obviously, in this case,
that wasn't an option,
that wasn't an option,
104
374597
3566
06:30
so I thought, I'll have
a look myself, just to see.
a look myself, just to see.
105
378163
5425
06:35
How difficult could it be?
106
383588
2539
06:38
You search for certain key words
and you look --
and you look --
107
386127
3633
06:41
Oh wow is right, young man.
108
389760
2195
06:43
You can't imagine what I saw.
109
391955
2717
06:46
Well, first of all, I was just trying
to find, you know, couples,
to find, you know, couples,
110
394672
4946
06:51
normal couples making love,
111
399618
2345
06:55
but this, so many people
together at one time.
together at one time.
112
403303
4488
06:59
You couldn't tell which part
belonged to which body.
belonged to which body.
113
407791
3808
07:03
How they even got the cameras to
capture some of this, I couldn't tell you.
capture some of this, I couldn't tell you.
114
411599
4179
07:07
But the one thing they didn't capture
was making love.
was making love.
115
415778
4830
07:14
There was lots of making of something,
116
422658
4730
07:19
but they took the love part
right out of it, you know, the fun.
right out of it, you know, the fun.
117
427388
4109
07:23
It was all very extreme, you know?
118
431497
3924
07:27
Like you would say,
with the extreme sports.
with the extreme sports.
119
435421
2508
07:31
Lots of endurance,
120
439149
3629
07:34
but never tenderness.
121
442778
3022
07:37
So anyway, needless to say,
that was $19.95 I'll never get back again,
that was $19.95 I'll never get back again,
122
445800
6316
07:44
but it only showed up on the credit card
as "entertainment services,"
as "entertainment services,"
123
452116
4829
07:48
so my husband was never the wiser,
124
456945
2787
07:51
and after all of that,
125
459732
2351
07:55
well, you could say it turned out
126
463133
2439
07:57
he didn't need the extra
inspiration after all.
inspiration after all.
127
465572
3840
08:03
Right, so next subject is a young woman
-- (Applause) --
-- (Applause) --
128
471152
3582
08:07
Next subject, class,
is a young woman called Bella,
is a young woman called Bella,
129
475924
3033
08:10
a university student interviewed in 2016
130
478957
3947
08:14
during what was called
an Intro to Feminist Porn class
an Intro to Feminist Porn class
131
482904
3924
08:18
as part of her major in sex work
at a college in the Bay Area.
at a college in the Bay Area.
132
486828
4489
08:23
(Laughter)
133
491317
3355
08:26
Yeah, I just want to, like,
get a recording of, like,
get a recording of, like,
134
494672
2767
08:29
you guys recording me,
135
497439
2369
08:31
like a meta recording, or whatever.
136
499808
2089
08:34
It's just like this whole experience
is just, like, really amazing,
is just, like, really amazing,
137
502887
3724
08:38
and I'd like to capture that
for, like, Instagram and my Tumblr.
for, like, Instagram and my Tumblr.
138
506611
3520
08:42
So, like, hi guys, it's me, Bella,
139
510131
2995
08:45
and I am, like, being
interviewed right now
interviewed right now
140
513126
3507
08:49
for this, like, really amazing
Bio-Empathetic Resonance Technology,
Bio-Empathetic Resonance Technology,
141
517723
5782
08:55
which is, like, basically where they are,
like, recording, as you can see
like, recording, as you can see
142
523505
6275
09:01
from these, whatever, like, electrodes,
143
529780
1922
09:03
the formation of, like, neuropeptides
in my hippocampus, or whatever.
in my hippocampus, or whatever.
144
531702
5338
09:10
They will later be able
to reconstitute these
to reconstitute these
145
538160
2760
09:12
as, like, my own actual memory,
like actual experiences,
like actual experiences,
146
540920
5360
09:19
so other people can, like,
actually feel what I'm feeling right now.
actually feel what I'm feeling right now.
147
547540
4105
09:24
Okay. Okay.
148
552320
2252
09:26
So, like, hello, BERT person of the future
who is experiencing me.
who is experiencing me.
149
554572
5568
09:32
This is what it feels like to be,
like, a college freshman,
like, a college freshman,
150
560750
3807
09:36
and also the, like, headache
that you are experiencing through me
that you are experiencing through me
151
564557
5224
09:41
is the, like, residual effect
of the Jell-O shots which I had last night
of the Jell-O shots which I had last night
152
569781
6419
09:48
at the bi-weekly feminist
pole dancing party
pole dancing party
153
576200
2915
09:51
which I cohost on Wednesdays.
154
579115
3042
09:54
It's called "Don't Get All Pole-emical" --
(Laughter) --
(Laughter) --
155
582157
3622
09:57
and it's in Beekman Hall,
156
585779
3343
10:02
and, what else, like,
157
590072
2178
10:04
non-Jell-O shots are also
available for vegans,
available for vegans,
158
592250
4047
10:08
and, oh, okay, yeah, totally, yeah, we
should also focus on your questions also.
should also focus on your questions also.
159
596297
8243
10:17
So for your record, I am, like,
a sex work studies major
a sex work studies major
160
605980
4202
10:22
but minoring in social media
161
610182
2275
10:24
with a concentration
on notable YouTube memes.
on notable YouTube memes.
162
612457
2694
10:27
(Laughter)
163
615151
2138
10:30
Yes, well, of course, like,
I consider myself to be, like,
I consider myself to be, like,
164
618239
3251
10:33
obviously, like, a feminist.
165
621490
2089
10:35
I was named for Bella Abzug,
who was, like, a famous, like,
who was, like, a famous, like,
166
623579
4992
10:40
feminist from history,
167
628571
2415
10:42
and, like, also I feel that it is, like,
important to, like, represent women
important to, like, represent women
168
630986
6269
10:49
who are, like, sex-positive feminists.
169
637255
3690
10:54
What is sex-negative?
170
642224
2717
10:56
Well, like, I guess I would ask,
like, what do you think
like, what do you think
171
644941
4458
11:01
sex-negative is? (Laughter)
172
649399
3018
11:04
Yeah, because, like, the terms that we use
are, like, so important, because, like,
are, like, so important, because, like,
173
652417
4897
11:09
we call it sex work because it helps
people understand that, like, it's work,
people understand that, like, it's work,
174
657314
7038
11:16
and, like, you know, just like there are,
like, healthcare providers
like, healthcare providers
175
664352
4876
11:21
and, like, insurance providers,
176
669228
2484
11:23
like, we think of these workers
as, like, sex care providers.
as, like, sex care providers.
177
671712
5689
11:30
Yeah, but like, I don't think of myself
like, providing direct
like, providing direct
178
678511
3673
11:34
sex care services per se as, like,
being a requirement
being a requirement
179
682184
4249
11:38
for me to be, like, an advocate.
180
686433
2461
11:40
Like, I support other women's right
to choose it voluntarily, like,
to choose it voluntarily, like,
181
688894
3669
11:44
if they enjoy it.
182
692563
2113
11:46
Yeah, but, like, I see
myself going forward
myself going forward
183
694676
2833
11:49
as more likely, like,
protecting sex workers',
protecting sex workers',
184
697509
3738
11:53
like, legal freedoms and rights.
185
701247
3041
11:56
Yeah, so, like, basically,
I'm planning on becoming a lawyer.
I'm planning on becoming a lawyer.
186
704288
3925
12:02
Right, class. (Laughter) (Applause)
187
710133
1702
12:03
So these next two modules
are also circa 2016.
are also circa 2016.
188
711835
4086
12:07
One subject is an Irishwoman
with a particularly noteworthy
with a particularly noteworthy
189
715921
3994
12:11
relationship to this issue,
190
719915
2932
12:14
but first will be a West Indian woman,
191
722847
3662
12:18
a self-described escort
192
726509
2322
12:20
who was recorded at a
sex workers' rights rally and parade.
sex workers' rights rally and parade.
193
728831
5410
12:26
She was interviewed whilst marching
in full carnival headdress
in full carnival headdress
194
734241
4551
12:30
and very little else.
195
738792
2668
12:36
All right, you want me
to start talking now.
to start talking now.
196
744295
2084
12:38
Yeah, I told you, you can
put those wires anywhere you want to
put those wires anywhere you want to
197
746379
3130
12:41
as long as it don't get in the way.
198
749509
3027
12:45
Yeah, no, but, tell me again
what the name of -- BERT? BERT.
what the name of -- BERT? BERT.
199
753164
4905
12:50
Yeah, I was telling you, you know,
I think I have in all my time
I think I have in all my time
200
758069
3039
12:53
I have had at least one client with that
name, so this won't be the first time
name, so this won't be the first time
201
761108
3689
12:56
I had BERT all over me.
202
764797
2599
13:03
Oh, I'm sorry,
203
771905
1313
13:05
but you got to get into the spirit of it
if you're going to interview me.
if you're going to interview me.
204
773218
3452
13:08
All right? You can say it.
205
776670
1866
13:10
No justice, no piece!
No justice, no piece!
No justice, no piece!
206
778536
2398
13:12
But you see the sign? You get it?
P-I-E-C-E. No justice, no piece of us.
P-I-E-C-E. No justice, no piece of us.
207
780934
5944
13:18
You understand?
208
786878
1912
13:20
Right, so that's the part
where I was telling you
where I was telling you
209
788790
2454
13:23
is that when I first came to this country,
I worked every job I could find.
I worked every job I could find.
210
791244
4365
13:27
I was a nanny; I was a home care attendant
for all these different old people,
for all these different old people,
211
795609
4690
13:32
and then I said, child, if I have to touch
another white man's backside,
another white man's backside,
212
800299
4123
13:36
I might as well get paid
a lot more money for it than this,
a lot more money for it than this,
213
804422
2959
13:39
you understand?
214
807381
1904
13:41
Pshh, you know how hard it is
being a domestic worker?
being a domestic worker?
215
809285
3065
13:44
Some of these men, they're heavy.
216
812980
1749
13:46
You have to pick them up
and flip them over.
and flip them over.
217
814729
2799
13:49
Now, I let them pick me up
and flip me over, you understand?
and flip me over, you understand?
218
817528
4458
13:53
Well, you have to have a sense of humor
about it, that's what I think.
about it, that's what I think.
219
821986
3413
13:57
No, but see, listen,
220
825399
1950
13:59
you find me somebody who don't hate
some part of their job.
some part of their job.
221
827349
3390
14:02
I mean, there's a lot of things
about this job that I hate,
about this job that I hate,
222
830739
2763
14:05
but the money is not one of them,
223
833502
1570
14:07
and I will tell you, as long as this
is the best possibility
is the best possibility
224
835072
2819
14:09
for me to make real money,
225
837891
1764
14:11
I am going to be Jamaican-No-Fakin'
if that's what they want to call me.
if that's what they want to call me.
226
839655
4156
14:15
No, I'm not even from Jamaica.
That's how they market me.
That's how they market me.
227
843811
3507
14:19
My family is from Trinidad
and the Virgin Islands.
and the Virgin Islands.
228
847318
3227
14:23
They don't know what I do,
but you know what?
but you know what?
229
851495
2216
14:25
My children, they know
that their school fees are paid,
that their school fees are paid,
230
853711
3266
14:28
they have their books and their computer,
231
856977
2507
14:31
and this way, I know
that they have a chance.
that they have a chance.
232
859484
2972
14:34
So I'm not going to tell you
that what I do, it's easy,
that what I do, it's easy,
233
862456
2810
14:37
I'm not going to tell you that I feel --
what's that you said, liberated?
what's that you said, liberated?
234
865266
3552
14:42
But I'm going to tell you
that I feel paid.
that I feel paid.
235
870128
2792
14:46
Right. (Applause)
236
874120
3009
14:50
Thanks, that's lovely,
and just the cup of tea, love,
and just the cup of tea, love,
237
878872
2624
14:53
and just a splash of the whiskey.
238
881496
1974
14:55
It's perfect, that's grand.
Just a drop more. A splash. Perfect.
Just a drop more. A splash. Perfect.
239
883470
4730
15:00
What was your name? Peter?
Is that right, so, Peter?
Is that right, so, Peter?
240
888200
3350
15:03
Right. So that, that is
the unique part of it for me,
the unique part of it for me,
241
891550
3158
15:06
right, is that I ended up in both,
242
894708
2693
15:10
first in the convent, and then
in the prostitution after. That's right.
in the prostitution after. That's right.
243
898681
3869
15:14
(Laughter)
244
902550
1610
15:16
So one woman at the university
here in Dublin, she wrote about me.
here in Dublin, she wrote about me.
245
904160
3960
15:20
She said, Maureen Fitzroy is the living
embodiment of the whore-virgin dichotomy.
embodiment of the whore-virgin dichotomy.
246
908120
5700
15:25
Right? (Laughter)
247
913820
1521
15:27
Doesn't it sound like something
you need to go into hospital?
you need to go into hospital?
248
915341
3018
15:30
Well, I've got this terrible dichotomy.
249
918359
1889
15:32
Doesn't it.
250
920248
1163
15:33
Right. Well, for me though, it was,
as a girl, it started with me dad.
as a girl, it started with me dad.
251
921781
3338
15:37
I mean, half the time, when he
spoke to us, it was just a sort of
spoke to us, it was just a sort of
252
925119
3275
15:40
tell us we were all useless rotten idiots
and we had no morals, that type of thing.
and we had no morals, that type of thing.
253
928394
4462
15:44
And I certainly didn't
do myself any favors.
do myself any favors.
254
932856
3321
15:48
By the time I was 16,
255
936177
2229
15:50
I had started messing about
with this older fella,
with this older fella,
256
938406
2879
15:53
and he wanted it to be
our little secret,
our little secret,
257
941285
3552
15:56
and I did as I was told, didn't I,
258
944837
2508
15:59
and when that got back to me dad, he
had me sent straightaway to the convent.
had me sent straightaway to the convent.
259
947345
6107
16:06
Well no, that older fella, he would still
come to find me in the convent.
come to find me in the convent.
260
954752
3668
16:11
Yeah, he'd leave me notes
261
959170
1596
16:12
tucked into the holes in the brick
at the back of the charity shop
at the back of the charity shop
262
960766
3235
16:16
so we could meet.
263
964001
1187
16:17
And he'd tell me how
he's leaving his wife,
he's leaving his wife,
264
965188
3727
16:20
and I believed him, until I got pregnant.
265
968915
4226
16:25
I did, Peter, and I left him a note
about it in our special place there,
about it in our special place there,
266
973141
5317
16:30
and I never did hear from him again.
267
978458
3019
16:33
No, I gave it up for adoption
so it could have a decent life,
so it could have a decent life,
268
981477
5013
16:39
and then they wouldn't let me
back into the convent.
back into the convent.
269
987070
2605
16:42
No, my one sister Virginia gave me
a fiver for the coach to Dublin,
a fiver for the coach to Dublin,
270
990815
3458
16:46
and that's how I ended up here.
271
994273
1948
16:48
Well, surprise, surprise, I fell in love
with another fella much older than me,
with another fella much older than me,
272
996991
4129
16:53
and I always say I was just so happy
because he didn't drink,
because he didn't drink,
273
1001120
5039
16:59
I married the bastard.
274
1007349
2153
17:02
Well, he didn't drink, but he did have
just the wee heroin problem, didn't he,
just the wee heroin problem, didn't he,
275
1010502
3682
17:06
and -- That's right, and before I knew it,
276
1014184
3095
17:09
he was the one who turned me on
to the prostitution, my own husband.
to the prostitution, my own husband.
277
1017279
3624
17:13
He had me supporting the both of us.
278
1021703
2068
17:15
I was 18.
279
1023771
1543
17:18
Well, it wasn't Pretty Woman,
I can tell you that.
I can tell you that.
280
1026144
2945
17:22
That Julia Roberts,
281
1030509
1847
17:25
if she'd ever had to sleep with a man
to put a few pounds in her pocket,
to put a few pounds in her pocket,
282
1033566
4003
17:29
I don't think she'd ever
have made that film.
have made that film.
283
1037569
2541
17:32
Well, for your record,
284
1040110
2229
17:34
my opinion of the legalization,
I'd say I'm against it.
I'd say I'm against it.
285
1042339
3181
17:38
I just, I don't care what
these young girls say.
these young girls say.
286
1046620
2244
17:40
You know, living like that,
you're just lost,
you're just lost,
287
1048864
3111
17:43
and, you know, I'm 63 years old.
288
1051975
2508
17:46
I'm still trying to find who I am.
289
1054483
2040
17:49
You know, I never was a wife or a nun,
290
1057503
3737
17:53
or a prostitute even, really, not really.
291
1061240
3320
17:56
Nobody ever asked who I wanted to be.
292
1064560
3088
17:59
They just told me,
293
1067648
1834
18:01
and if you legalize it,
294
1069482
1951
18:03
then you're really telling these girls,
"Go on and get lost for a living,"
"Go on and get lost for a living,"
295
1071433
3831
18:07
and a lot of them,
they'll do as they're told.
they'll do as they're told.
296
1075264
2608
18:10
All right, so four perspectives
from four quite -- (Applause) --
from four quite -- (Applause) --
297
1078612
5057
18:15
four quite different voices there, right?
298
1083669
2160
18:17
One woman saying sex itself is natural
but the sex industry seems to
but the sex industry seems to
299
1085829
4317
18:22
mechanize or industrialize it.
300
1090786
2008
18:24
Then the second woman considered
sex work to be empowering,
sex work to be empowering,
301
1092794
4368
18:29
liberating, and feminist,
though she, herself, notably,
though she, herself, notably,
302
1097162
3829
18:32
did not seem keen to do it.
303
1100991
2577
18:35
The third woman, who actually was
a so-called sex worker
a so-called sex worker
304
1103568
4427
18:39
did not agree that it was liberating
but she wanted the right
but she wanted the right
305
1107995
3345
18:43
to the economic empowerment,
306
1111340
1760
18:45
and then we hear the fourth woman
saying not only prostitution itself
saying not only prostitution itself
307
1113100
3312
18:48
but proscribed roles for women in general
308
1116412
2526
18:50
prevented her from ever
finding who she was, right?
finding who she was, right?
309
1118938
3460
18:54
So another fact most people did not know
310
1122398
1997
18:56
was the average age of an at-risk girl
being introduced to the sex industry
being introduced to the sex industry
311
1124395
5685
19:02
was 12 or 13.
312
1130080
2030
19:04
Also consider that the age
when all girls in that society
when all girls in that society
313
1132110
3036
19:07
first became exposed
to sexualized images of women
to sexualized images of women
314
1135146
3645
19:10
was quite a bit earlier, right?
315
1138791
2554
19:13
This was a doll called Barbie, right?
316
1141345
4760
19:18
I initially thought she was an educational
tool for anorexia prevention --
tool for anorexia prevention --
317
1146105
3587
19:21
(Laughter) --
318
1149692
1150
19:22
but actually she was considered by many
319
1150842
3367
19:26
to be a wholesome symbol of femininity,
320
1154209
4063
19:30
and often young girls began
what was called dieting.
what was called dieting.
321
1158272
3343
19:33
Remember this? This was
restricting food intake on purpose
restricting food intake on purpose
322
1161615
4239
19:37
by the age of six,
323
1165854
1380
19:39
and defining themselves
based on attractiveness
based on attractiveness
324
1167234
2827
19:42
by around that same time. Right?
325
1170061
1840
19:43
Yes?
326
1171901
1211
19:45
Right, Bradley, okay, excellent point.
327
1173712
2044
19:47
So there was a lucrative market
in that society in convincing all people
in that society in convincing all people
328
1175756
4829
19:52
they had to look a certain way
to even have a sex life, right?
to even have a sex life, right?
329
1180585
3878
19:56
But girls, especially, were expected
to be "sexy" while avoiding
to be "sexy" while avoiding
330
1184463
5155
20:01
being perceived as "sluts"
for being sexual. Right?
for being sexual. Right?
331
1189618
3352
20:04
So there's that shame piece
we've heard about.
we've heard about.
332
1192970
2267
20:07
Yes.
333
1195237
1602
20:08
Valerie, right? Okay, very good.
334
1196839
1857
20:10
Of course, men were having sex as well,
335
1198696
2810
20:13
but you'll remember from the reading,
336
1201506
2438
20:15
what were male sluts called?
337
1203944
1681
20:18
Very good, they were called men.
338
1206675
1866
20:20
(Laughter) (Applause)
339
1208541
2206
20:22
So not easy living in
a world like that, right?
a world like that, right?
340
1210747
5572
20:28
Though it was not all bad news either.
341
1216859
1852
20:30
Most women in the early 2000s
considered themselves empowered,
considered themselves empowered,
342
1218711
3506
20:34
and men generally felt they were
also evolved in this area,
also evolved in this area,
343
1222217
4233
20:38
and, in fact, most people would have
been aware of issues
been aware of issues
344
1226450
2850
20:41
like human trafficking, for example,
345
1229300
1935
20:43
but they would have seen that
as quite separate
as quite separate
346
1231235
2401
20:45
from more recreational
adult entertainment.
adult entertainment.
347
1233636
2791
20:48
And so we'll just very briefly, class --
we don't have a lot of time --
we don't have a lot of time --
348
1236427
3423
20:51
we'll just very briefly hear from a man
349
1239850
2215
20:54
on our topic at this stage.
350
1242065
1774
20:55
So this next subject was interviewed
on the night of his bachelor party.
on the night of his bachelor party.
351
1243839
5635
21:03
Dude, can you, all right,
can you just keep it down?
can you just keep it down?
352
1251426
3553
21:06
I'm trying to talk to BERT right now.
353
1254979
2206
21:09
Oh, your name's not BERT.
354
1257185
1593
21:11
BERT's the name of the, oh, all right.
355
1259298
2275
21:13
No, no, no, totally, it's totally fine.
I'm mostly sober,
I'm mostly sober,
356
1261573
3065
21:16
so I just want to be helpful.
357
1264638
2835
21:20
Yeah, and I totally believe in causes,
yeah, like, all that stuff.
yeah, like, all that stuff.
358
1268073
3819
21:23
(Laughter)
359
1271892
1440
21:25
And actually, I'm wearing Toms right now.
360
1273332
2382
21:28
Yeah, Toms, like, the shoes,
361
1276954
3606
21:32
like, you buy a pair and then
a kid in Africa gets clean water.
a kid in Africa gets clean water.
362
1280560
3327
21:36
Yeah. Totally.
363
1284857
1537
21:38
But what was the question again? Sorry.
364
1286394
2787
21:41
Of course I believe in women's rights.
I'm marrying a woman.
I'm marrying a woman.
365
1289181
4708
21:45
(Laughter)
366
1293889
2500
21:48
No, but I mean, like, just because
I'm in a strip club parking lot
I'm in a strip club parking lot
367
1296389
3629
21:52
doesn't mean that I'm, like,
a sexist or whatever.
a sexist or whatever.
368
1300018
3024
21:55
My fiancee is totally amazing,
she's totally a strong girl, woman,
she's totally a strong girl, woman,
369
1303042
4412
21:59
smart woman, like, the whole thing.
370
1307454
2495
22:01
Yeah, she knows I'm here. She's probably
at a strip club herself right now,
at a strip club herself right now,
371
1309949
3569
22:05
like, as a joke, same as me.
372
1313518
1992
22:07
My best man, I told him
he could surprise me,
he could surprise me,
373
1315510
2092
22:09
and he thought this would be hilarious,
374
1317602
1995
22:11
but this is not something.
375
1319597
2103
22:14
Yeah, we all went to B school together.
376
1322350
2370
22:17
Wharton.
377
1325060
1480
22:18
(Laughter)
378
1326540
1184
22:19
Yeah, so, dude, can you guys --
379
1327724
2447
22:22
All right, but it's my bachelor party,
380
1330171
1916
22:24
and I can spend it in the parking lot
with Anderson Cooper if I want to.
with Anderson Cooper if I want to.
381
1332087
3508
22:27
All right, I'll see you in there.
382
1335595
2671
22:31
All right, okay, so Anderson,
383
1339076
2138
22:33
so, like, first of all, stripping,
384
1341214
3897
22:37
but then, like, all the other things
you're talking about,
you're talking about,
385
1345111
2784
22:39
prostitution and all that stuff,
that's, like, not the same thing at all.
that's, like, not the same thing at all.
386
1347895
3508
22:43
You know? Like, you keep calling it
the sex industry or whatever,
the sex industry or whatever,
387
1351403
3256
22:46
but it's like, if the girl wants
to be an exotic dancer
to be an exotic dancer
388
1354659
3946
22:50
and she's 18, like, that's her right.
389
1358605
3467
22:55
Whoa, whoa, I hear what you're saying,
but I just feel like people,
but I just feel like people,
390
1363092
3248
22:58
they just want to make it seem
like all dudes are just, like, predators,
like all dudes are just, like, predators,
391
1366340
3636
23:01
that we would just automatically
go to a prostitute, or whatever.
go to a prostitute, or whatever.
392
1369976
3138
23:05
Even, like, when I pledged, you know,
like when I rushed my fraternity.
like when I rushed my fraternity.
393
1373114
4296
23:10
My brothers who I'm close to,
those guys, they're all like me.
those guys, they're all like me.
394
1378350
2987
23:13
We're just normal people, but, like,
there's this myth that you must
there's this myth that you must
395
1381337
3953
23:17
be that guy who is kind of an asshole,
and like, all bros before hos or whatever.
and like, all bros before hos or whatever.
396
1385290
4638
23:21
And actually, like, bros before hos,
it doesn't mean like what it sounds like.
it doesn't mean like what it sounds like.
397
1389928
3715
23:26
It's actually just like a joking way of
saying that you care about your brothers
saying that you care about your brothers
398
1394603
3777
23:30
and you put them first.
399
1398380
2136
23:33
Yeah, but, you can't blame
the media, either.
the media, either.
400
1401466
2110
23:35
I mean, like, if you
go watch "Hangover 2,"
go watch "Hangover 2,"
401
1403576
2534
23:38
and you think that's an instruction manual
402
1406110
2154
23:40
for your life, like,
I don't know what to tell you.
I don't know what to tell you.
403
1408264
2536
23:42
You know? You don't
watch "Bourne Identity"
watch "Bourne Identity"
404
1410800
2062
23:44
and go drive your car
over a gondola in Venice. (Laughter)
over a gondola in Venice. (Laughter)
405
1412862
4244
23:49
Well, yeah, okay, like, if you're
a little kid or whatever,
a little kid or whatever,
406
1417736
2936
23:52
of course it's different, but --
407
1420672
2204
23:54
Yeah, all right, I remember
one thing like that.
one thing like that.
408
1422876
3694
23:59
I was at this kid's house
one time playing GTA,
one time playing GTA,
409
1427380
3100
24:03
uh, Grand Theft Auto?
410
1431280
1230
24:05
Dude, are you from Canada? (Laughter)
411
1433417
2706
24:09
So, like, whatever, with Grand Theft Auto,
412
1437593
3393
24:12
you're this kid, like, you're this guy
walking around or whatever,
walking around or whatever,
413
1440986
3174
24:16
and you can basically, like,
the more cops you kill,
the more cops you kill,
414
1444160
2932
24:19
the more points you get,
and stuff like that.
and stuff like that.
415
1447092
2671
24:21
But also, you can find prostitutes
416
1449763
2838
24:24
and obviously you can do
sexual stuff with them,
sexual stuff with them,
417
1452601
3197
24:27
but you can, like, kill them
and take your money back.
and take your money back.
418
1455798
3857
24:32
Yeah, this kid, I remember he ran over
a couple of them a few times with his car
a couple of them a few times with his car
419
1460525
3941
24:36
and he got all these points.
420
1464466
2854
24:39
We were, like, 10, I think.
421
1467320
2435
24:43
It felt pretty terrible, actually.
422
1471685
2092
24:46
No, I don't think I said anything,
I just finished playing and went home.
I just finished playing and went home.
423
1474827
5388
24:52
All right class, so then there were men
who had more than just
who had more than just
424
1480845
2925
24:55
a passing relationship to this issue.
(Laughter)
(Laughter)
425
1483770
2365
24:59
The next subject described himself
as a reformed and remorseful pimp
as a reformed and remorseful pimp
426
1487955
4925
25:04
turned motivational speaker,
427
1492880
1646
25:06
life coach and therapist,
428
1494526
2438
25:08
but if you want to know more about him,
you'll have to come to the entire play.
you'll have to come to the entire play.
429
1496964
3970
25:12
Thank you so much,
you beautiful TED audience.
you beautiful TED audience.
430
1500934
3986
25:16
I will see you for "Sell/Buy/Date."
431
1504920
1796
25:18
(Applause)
432
1506716
5571
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Sarah Jones - Polymorphic playwrightTony Award-winning monologist, UNICEF ambassador, firebrand and FCC-fighting poet -- Sarah Jones assumes as many roles offstage as on.
Why you should listen
"Chameleon-like" barely describes the astonishing ease with which Sarah Jones slips in and out of the characters in her solo performances -- as many as fourteen personae in her Broadway hit Bridge & Tunnel. Critics marvel not only at her ability to perfectly mimic accents and mannerisms, but also to seemingly reshape her body, down to pupils and dimples, in the blink of an eye.
Jones' performances showcase a biting political awareness, and she has received commissions from Equality Now, the Kellogg Foundation and the National Immigration Forum to address issues of injustice and inequality. She is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and has given multiple performances at the White House at the invitation of President and First Lady Obama. Jones is now at work on a new solo show called Sell/Buy/Date, commissioned by the Novo Foundation. She debuted material from it at TED2015. She is also working on a commission for Lincoln Center Theater and a television project based on her characters.
Sarah Jones | Speaker | TED.com