Excelle

In case you have missed the buzz about this 22-year-old girl selling her virginity, check out a Excellenews round-up about it here.

Is this a clear violation of not only prostitution laws but of morality? Or is this young woman smart for capitalizing on her own body to support her advanced degree?

What does this say about the way our society thinks about women’s sexuality?

I see it two ways - 1)  Most of us know from past and present experience how some men are - any conquest makes them only feel better about themselves, and less about the girl.  In the end who ever wins the bidding, I'm sure his Mother and family will have to handle a lot of ridicule.  2)  Doing this only shows how less a woman thinks of herself.  Does she feel that her body can be auctioned to the highest bidder.  I wouldn't say this will empower women, it just shows that men will still be men, and keep the thought that women are just a piece of meat.

 My feelings on this go back and forth.  She is obviously an educated woman and this experience will directly relate to her thesis.  Realistically, is this any worse than a girl/woman who gets trashed at a party and then loses her virginity to some drunken slob?  How about those who are sexually abused or raped and had no choice in the matter?  At least this is a controlled situation where the woman can choose who, when and where she will do this, which is in it's own way empowering.  Also, this will pay for furthering her education, which in turn allows her to make her own way in the world and not have to depend on a man to "take care of her", ironically enough.

On the other hand, in a perfect world women fall in love, get married and give themselves willingly to their husband who is their one and only.  Sadly, this perfect world doesn't seem to exist much anymore.

Between this and the "Bikini Girl" stunt on American Idol, I am really worried that we burned our bras for nothing. Using sex as a tool to get what you want in life is wrong, plain and simple. Get a job, a scholarship, or seek grants. That is the way a self respecting woman would handle the situation.

Given that she is a feminist going for a masters in marriage and family issues, I find this highly hypocritical.  Even in 2009, women still have to work hard to be given equal billing with men; to be valued and taken seriously.  If a man were offering this woman's virginity for sale we would be outraged.  What makes the fact that she is offering it herself so different?  This is shaping up to what will most likely be the most expensive prostitution transaction ever, and it's brought 10,000+ Johns out of the woodwork.  While many women struggle to find the balance between feeling desirable and facelessly objectified, this woman is telling men everywhere that it's possible for a fantasy version of one of us to be purchased by the highest bidder.  She may feel empowered, and I've got to give it to her for trying to be creative in raising money for her education, but ultimately she is only hurting herself and the true feminist cause.  Someday when she is lecturing on marriage and family values, who will take her seriously? 

I agree that this is just another way to prostitute yourself.  I guess you could look at it as a business deal.  This woman is knowingly with consent selling something- her virginity that others want and are willing to pay a high price for.  Personally, I find it offensive because of my own morals and values, but to each his own.  If she doesn't have a problem with it, she gets a fully funded education which will take a lot of stress off of her while she is in school.  Worrying about finances in school adds a lot of stress to an already stressful situation.  I was wondering how long she had been planning to do this- if she had contemplated it for a long time and made a decision not to have sex for that reason alone.

I'm a student myself, just finished my Bachelor's and going to start my Masters....getting an education is RIDICULOUSLY expensive. I have to literally save every penny in order to pay for school (I don't have student loans). So I completely understand this girl's dilemma. I don't know if I'd go as far as she did, but I definitely don't look down on her for her choice.

i don't think this is empowering at all - it's down right degrading that a women, any woman, would be raised to offer herself as a piece of meat.  She has the blessings of her sister, who happens to be doing the same thing.  Does she have the blessings of her parents?  If so, what type of parent would raise a child to do anything for money.

Now I do know that desperate conditions calls for desperate measures, but this woman/child is not desperate.  I think all this so called 'education' is only putting a lot of theory or ideas into her head - there is nothing 'educated' about the thought of making money off your body.  She's not giving herself a choice here - as auctions goes - she goes to the highest bidder.  She is not only putting her life in jeopardy, she is putting herself in a position to be sued for a lot more than she's making should she breach the 'contract'.

Granted, people prostitute themselves for many reasons.  Women become strippers (dancers, so they call themselves), escorts, etc., all for money.  Prostitution has always been around - even in biblical days.  But just as then, there is a stigma that goes with it.  Always have and always will be.  No matter what reason and/or excuse you give yourself for doing it.

How is she going to feel about herself afterwards.  How does she truly feel about herself now.  This reminds me of the women called Superhead (Karrine Stefans). - www.karine.com - the vixen manual, for those of you who are not familiar. She did what she did but she is now offended by being called Superhead.  She states that 'just because one starts of wrong, doesn't mean one can't turn out right'.  That is true, but being America, she is able to capitalize on that fact - and promote her previous lifestyle.  It still doesn't negate the fact of her life and it still doesn't stop the stigma of being 'Superhead' - not matter what she does, she will always be known as that.

Am I saying that this young girl can't turn herself around?  No, I'm not.  What I'm saying is she should stop herself in her tracks.  She is really no different than a lot of women at here. 

Would I do it?  I'll tell you this much, if I did - you'd never know!.

She has reduced her virginity to a commodity.  Surely we can do better than this!  If she truly had faith in herself and ability to succeed, she would take out school loans to pay for her education and then repay those loans at the superlow interest rates now available.  Then save her "first" for someone who deserves it, not just because he won on the lucky bid.

This is not about being judgemental, this is about morals, reality and so much more, I wander how many of us with our friends at lunch or perhaps sitting at the dinner table talk about the state of our youth and young adults our country for that matter how it has decayed  from the times that we were growing up.  Forget about when our parents were growing up.  My daughter and I had an opportunity to minister at a youth prison, yes a youth prison children from 9-18 years of age  incarcerated for murder, rape, you name it.  36 of them gave their lives to Christ, they wanted to know how  they could have a different life then what has been offered to them thus far.  I think if we all stopped pretending to be so politicaly correct and looked at the true state of  our union or if this was your daughter, neice or friend (because she is this to someone)  and  reflect on what is  really going on here we would all be praying, the money will be gone in a flash but her choice will be with her forever.  For once can we all be true to who we are and who we are created to be, the most amazing, beautiful, wonderful women fearfully and wonderfully  made!

donnal says ...

This is not about being judgemental, this is about morals, reality and so much more, I wander how many of us with our friends at lunch or perhaps sitting at the dinner table talk about the state of our youth and young adults our country for that matter how it has decayed  from the times that we were growing up.  Forget about when our parents were growing up.  My daughter and I had an opportunity to minister at a youth prison, yes a youth prison children from 9-18 years of age  incarcerated for murder, rape, you name it.  36 of them gave their lives to Christ, they wanted to know how  they could have a different life then what has been offered to them thus far.  I think if we all stopped pretending to be so politicaly correct and looked at the true state of  our union or if this was your daughter, neice or friend (because she is this to someone)  and  reflect on what is  really going on here we would all be praying, the money will be gone in a flash but her choice will be with her forever.  For once can we all be true to who we are and who we are created to be, the most amazing, beautiful, wonderful women fearfully and wonderfully  made!

 

 

I think it's wonderful you reached out to inmates.  However your religion is for you and not to judge others by.  Your morals might not be everyone elses morals and there isn't anything wrong with that, contrary to what a lot of religious people believe.  The separation of church and state isn't just a government idea, it's also spoken about in the bible.  Yes, reach out and minister to people, however leave the judging of a person to God.  God never wanted to force his word on others, that would be far more tragic than what is happening here.  I don't want this to derail into a religious discussion though, but just because she might not be opperating under the same set of beliefs as you, that does not make her wrong.  I see change, not decay in the young people of today and wish I had the opportunities and some of the  freedom from judgement that they do today.  Are things perfect?  No, but then again they weren't back then either. 

Also, I doubt the money will be gone in a flash.  3.5 million dollars will last a looong time.  Especially as she's going to get her masters and a wonderful job afterwards. 

They were so hard on her in the Tyra video but ONE THING IS CLEAR-- IT'S HER CHOICE, PEOPLE!!!!

If I would have thought of it, I TOTALLY would have done it too.  She gets to screen the guy first, test him for STDs, do a background check- when the large percentage of women lose their virginity to someone they won't really care about in the long run. 

AND you get your education financed?  Win-win.  YOU GO GIRL!  I totally support her.  Way to use the media to your advantage.  I also think what she says about how virgins are percieved as prudes- I mean come on obviously she is a sexual person and has just chosen to not have sex until now.

GO NATALIE!

It's her body. Her choice. I can see this from both sides, and how it's a violation of her body -- but again, that's her own call. Think of all the young women who lose their virginity drunk, at a frat party? There's so much more choice involved with what she's doing. Plus she gets to test them first and be completely safe. What's so wrong with that?

 On another note, if a girl loses her virginity to someone who:

• she barely knows


• might have some kind of STD


• has some kind of abuse record


• has no job


• has no education


• is already married


• she met and slept with when she was drunk

ALL FOR FREE......then she isn't as smart as Natalie.

 Amen, Angie!