The Soviet Collapse and the Sex Trade

[jake williams]

I don't know if this would have better belonged in History, but I'm trying to find stuff out about this.

Is there any work on the the effects of the fall of the Soviet Union on the sex trade? Any insight on this? I don't know if it's to simplistic to hypothesize that prostitution expanded drastically after the fall of the SU, but is there any research on the topic, or why it happened?

[skki]

The collapse of the soviet union expanded the crime rate drastically, lowered the quality of life to third world levels, and brought poverty and drug addiction to an all time high. So without a doubt it will have lead to more prostitution, yes.

[jake williams]

The collapse of the soviet union expanded the crime rate drastically, lowered the quality of life to third world levels, and brought poverty and drug addiction to an all time high. So without a doubt it will have lead to more prostitution, yes.
I thought it was obvious too, but is there anywhere I can look at it in more detail?

[OneNamedNameLess]

Actually, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a large market opened up for pornography which many foreign companies exploited. Many young girls from the former 'bloc' nations became pornographic actresses in the United States after being recruited from the emerging scene in the SU's former territory.

I bellieve pornography was banned by the CCCP just like it is today in Cuba. This may explain it's rising popularity after the collapse.

It's quite interesting really, I remember reading an article on this a couple of years ago. I will try to find it and post a link.

I know this is not directly related to the sex trade but it was the closest thing I could think of.

[BIG BROTHER]

i remember someone hear saying about this Russian prostitute that was told or asked by a news reporter if she was the victim of the worst of men, to what she answered something like this. "No, i'm a victim of the fall of the soviet union, before i use to go to college, i use to have a job and i use to have an apartment"

[Wakizashi the Bolshevik]

Sex trade, exploitation of eastern European prostitutes and all related things are consequences of the collapse of the USSR.
The maffia rules, poverty is extremely high, capitalists join the trade just to earn lots of money, the women of Eastern Europe are desperate to find a job, earn some money or come to Western Europe.

It's another "achievement of democracy" in Eastern Europe.

[punisa]

I don't know if this would have better belonged in History, but I'm trying to find stuff out about this.

Is there any work on the the effects of the fall of the Soviet Union on the sex trade? Any insight on this? I don't know if it's to simplistic to hypothesize that prostitution expanded drastically after the fall of the SU, but is there any research on the topic, or why it happened?

Good topic ! Would make a fine, but very difficult, research. You'd have to fly to the ex-USSR and make a bunch of interviews with prostitutes I guess:p
But as that would probably be a little bit too risky, let's focus on what we can presume.

For once here in Croatia (Ex Yugoslavia) there is a sinonim for prostitute - "Ukrainian girl", not to offend anyone, but it seriously is :(

Another matter which you must account for is that every socialist government did invest huge efforts into concealing criminal activities, especially sex trafficking. So it would be naive to say that there was no prostitution (sometimes called the oldest occupation) in USSR.

Just remembered reading Sergei Yesenin the other day, he had some references there :rolleyes:

The extent of prostitution in USSR will be hard to determine, but there is no doubt that it must've had increased after the collapse.
For one reason, western capitalism usually portrays young woman as prostitutes in one way or another.
There is a huge propaganda telling us fictional stories about successful business women who got where they are solely upon they're sexual attractiveness and/or exploiting her sexual attractiveness.

These elements make young women feel less guilty over what they are doing, choosing to use their bodies instead of their mind.
And here I talk only about women who willingly pursue such a "career", lets not forget about scores of young girls who fall victims into human/sex trafficking mafia.

The organized crime which develops the mentioned traffic routes is something that I believe could not exists during the socialist rule. This is the direct product of the capitalist model taking over.
And this is actually the answer you've been looking for.

Yes, prostitution increased.. or let's be more precise and honest - multipled several times after the collapse.
Strongest argument to this thesis is the fact that the capitalist model that took place in all ex socialist countries (Ussr, Checkoslovakia, Yugoslavia..) is NOT the one you have in the US or Western Europe (although that one is also bad, no mistake about it).
US and W.Europe lived for centuries under capitalism and people were used to it, some like it, some hate it, but you're living it from your day 1 (if you are from mentioned regions). Here in ex-socialist bloc you have a derranged cruel system established aka "Wild Capitalism".

To put in painfully simple terms - it's like changing peoples life for 360 degrees over night !
They don't know that taking credits and mortgages on their house in order to go on vacation is bad and they'll end on street,
they don't know that their little talking box aka TV is not a reliable media any more,
they don't know that they'll never be safe for their future any more (housing, job, healthcare),
they don't believe and refuse to believe that their society has become rotten crime infested shithole - but it has.

Suddenly over night the headlines are packed with "Son killed father", "4 death in armed robbery", "girl gangraped", "homeless people are dying in the cold". These topics many still refuse to discuss about. But lives have been shattered over money, millions of lives.

In such a society that is still adopting to the new crap, prostitution is flourishing. People need their escapist shot everyday, just so they could cope with their screwed up realities - drugs, booze, cheap entertainment and yes - prostitutes.

Hm... or instead of all that I could've just written : "yes, prostitution is on the rise since the collapse". Yep, that sound nicer. Please ignore the upper chunk :laugh:

[Cumannach]

Sorry, you're all wrong. The collapse of the Soviet Union was,

"an occasion for rejoicing for anyone who values freedom and human dignity."

-Chomsky ( "Powers and Prospects" p 83)

[communard resolution]

Sorry, you're all wrong. The collapse of the Soviet Union was,

"an occasion for rejoicing for anyone who values freedom and human dignity."

-Chomsky ( "Power and Prospects" p 83)

Fair enough sarcastic point, but to celebrate the collapse of one rotten system isn't the same as to celebrate the arrival of another.

[Cumannach]

To celebrate the restoration of Capitalism in the Soviet Union isn't to celebrate the restoration of Capitalism in the Soviet Union?

Oh yeah, the evilness of the Soviet Union was so great it even twisted basic logic into totalitarian propagandas of delusion and paranoia, all to confuse the oppressed workers.

[Killfacer]

To celebrate the restoration of Capitalism in the Soviet Union isn't to celebrate the restoration of Capitalism in the Soviet Union?

Oh yeah, the evilness of the Soviet Union was so great it even twisted basic logic into totalitarian propagandas of delusion and paranoia, all to confuse the oppressed workers.

That statement is so full of sarcasm it's pretty much impossible to understand.

[punisa]

That statement is so full of sarcasm it's pretty much impossible to understand.

And really off topic :(

[communard resolution]

That statement is so full of sarcasm it's pretty much impossible to understand.

Yeah, I was struggling too.

As for the other sentence he wrote, I think he means that there's only two alternatives: capitalism or the system that was in place in the USSR (whatever you prefer to call it). Therefore, if you disagree with one you must be a supporter of the other.

I bet some people would beg to differ.

[Cumannach]

don't worry guys you'll get there.

As for Chomsky, it should be clear even to you, from that quote, he implied the collapse of the soviet union (=restoration of capitalism *what everybody agrees is capitalism) was a good thing. This is a fairly reactionary statement, one of the many reasons why, being, the subject of this thread. It's perfectly on topic to point out the hypocrisy of some people with regard to the devastating impact the collapse of the SU has had on the lives of so many women.

[communard resolution]

[don't worry guys you'll get there.

What if we've already been there and don't wish to go back?


he implied the collapse of the soviet union (=restoration of capitalism *what everybody agrees is capitalism) was a good thing. He implied that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a good thing for those who value freedom of expression, the freedom to move, the freedom to decide for yourself what information/literature/art you wish to be exposed to, and so on. I'm pretty sure that's what he meant. Basic individual freedom.

These aspects of individual freedom are obviously not quite as essential as the rights that capitalism has taken away from the Soviet people post-USSR (the right to have a job, the right not to be homeless, the right not to be a victim of crime, the right not to be kicked to death by a bunch of neo-nazis, etc), but important nevertheless.

Why shouldn't we have both?