The Dehumanization Of Prostitution In Video Games And The Media

For an example, think about how video games and the media portrays prostitutes. In these games, who are the people most appropriate to kill besides the villain? Prostitutes. In video games such as Grand Theft Auto, picking up and killing prostitutes are seen as a goal of this popular series. If a video game says it is okay to treat prostitutes like vermin, then it would

reflect in real life and vice-versa (Evans, 2015). In a Family Guy episode, the main character Peter, loses custody of his children to his neighbor, and retaliates by ordering prostitutes. Though his neighbor is single, the presence of the hookers can bring him into a bad light. From the scene, these women look lifeless and drugged-up, when in reality, they can be and look like anyone. There is a notion that associating with prostitutes is a negative impact and that they’re an eyesore for communities. The

Sex workers are dehumanized to the extent of being acceptable targets, where “82 percent had been assaulted and 68 percent had been raped while working as prostitutes.” In another Colorado case study, prostitutes are 18 times more likely to be murdered than non-prostitutes their age and race (NCBI). For an example, Gary Ridgeway was a serial killer, and targeted prostitutes assuming he will not be caught. When he was convicted, the judge stated, “some were prostitutes, but perhaps the saddest part of this case is that some were not” (Jacobin, 2013). This further perpetuates the ubiquitous stigma that prostitutes are different from other women. In an industry that is supposed to serve a consensual and non-violent, pleasuring act, these numbers and cases are a far discrepancy from the statistics of other demographics. This again, revolves around the whore stigma, and the