Monday, February 20, 2006
Amsterdam Holds New Type of Open House: Open Whore Houses
For the first time in history, the red light district in Amsterdam allowed visitors to go into the prostitution windows, if that’s what they’re called, in an effort to give tourists a glimpse of life from the perspective of workers in the world’s oldest profession, prostitution.
If you’ve never been to Amsterdam, the red light district sits on one of Amsterdam’s beautiful canals. Each building lining the canal has multiple windows, and inside each window will sit a woman (or man in some places), often bare-ing her (or his) assets to all passersby. When one of these passersby happens into one of the windows, the curtains are closed and the two people conduct business. As for the layout behind the curtain, well, you’ll have to ask someone else.
The CNN story talked about the prostitutes showing the world the glamorous side of the life, sitting in this window, looking out onto a street with millions of people streaming by, one of the best and most active cities in the world, and everyone in this side of town to look at you. And they suspect that the average person is going to look out that window and see the glamour in these people's lives.
Glamour in these peoples lives? Sure the tourists may see some glamour in it, looking out of that window, because they only have to look out that window. I don’t imagine that it looks nearly so glamorous when the shades are closed. And I can’t help but wonder if, while the industry itself might benefit from this new tourism ploy, if it isn’t pretty humiliating for the women. Of course, having never walked a mile in their shoes (or thongs, as the case may be), I can’t say for sure, but next time you’re there ask one for me.
technorati tags: Amsterdam, Red Light District, Prostitute, Prostitution, Whore, Hooker, Sex, Thong, Tourism
Posted by Scottage at 12:22 PM /
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If you’ve never been to Amsterdam, the red light district sits on one of Amsterdam’s beautiful canals. Each building lining the canal has multiple windows, and inside each window will sit a woman (or man in some places), often bare-ing her (or his) assets to all passersby. When one of these passersby happens into one of the windows, the curtains are closed and the two people conduct business. As for the layout behind the curtain, well, you’ll have to ask someone else. 
