“A woman should not be so cheap”. The Prostitute as a Constructed Other in Estonian Post-Soviet Life Stories
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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Groningen Press
2017-08-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Life Writing |
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| Online Access: | https://ejlw.eu/article/view/31491 |
| _version_ | 1818084975282487296 |
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| author | Riikka Taavetti |
| author_facet | Riikka Taavetti |
| author_sort | Riikka Taavetti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T20:02:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-765d3b5fa3674dee8fe27848da71113e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2211-243X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T20:02:25Z |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
| publisher | University of Groningen Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Life Writing |
| spelling | doaj.art-765d3b5fa3674dee8fe27848da71113e2022-12-22T01:35:30ZengUniversity of Groningen PressEuropean Journal of Life Writing2211-243X2017-08-01619721710.5463/ejlw.6.19931491“A woman should not be so cheap”. The Prostitute as a Constructed Other in Estonian Post-Soviet Life StoriesRiikka Taavetti0University of HelsinkiThis 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.https://ejlw.eu/article/view/31491post-socialismsexualityprostitutionestonia |
| spellingShingle | Riikka Taavetti “A woman should not be so cheap”. The Prostitute as a Constructed Other in Estonian Post-Soviet Life Stories European Journal of Life Writing post-socialism sexuality prostitution estonia |
| title | “A woman should not be so cheap”. The Prostitute as a Constructed Other in Estonian Post-Soviet Life Stories |
| title_full | “A woman should not be so cheap”. The Prostitute as a Constructed Other in Estonian Post-Soviet Life Stories |
| title_fullStr | “A woman should not be so cheap”. The Prostitute as a Constructed Other in Estonian Post-Soviet Life Stories |
| title_full_unstemmed | “A woman should not be so cheap”. The Prostitute as a Constructed Other in Estonian Post-Soviet Life Stories |
| title_short | “A woman should not be so cheap”. The Prostitute as a Constructed Other in Estonian Post-Soviet Life Stories |
| title_sort | a woman should not be so cheap the prostitute as a constructed other in estonian post soviet life stories |
| topic | post-socialism sexuality prostitution estonia |
| url | https://ejlw.eu/article/view/31491 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT riikkataavetti awomanshouldnotbesocheaptheprostituteasaconstructedotherinestonianpostsovietlifestories |