Story Archive

Victimless Crime

China Central Television, the government-run broadcaster in the country, ran a “salacious” exposé on prostitution in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, and a harsh police crackdown. Hidden cameras visited hotels and karaoke bars to show sex workers offering themselves for money; some even had price tags on their clothing, starting at 600 Yuan, or about US$100. The exposé reported that 67 people were arrested, 12 commercial establishments closed, and police supervisors who had allowed the activity were suspended. Once the report aired, citizens were outraged — at the exposé and the crackdown. They went online in droves to post support for sex workers. “There are two sides of this anger,” says Zhou Xiaozheng, a sociology professor at Renmin University. “One is that over the last 35 years of opening up, people have come to realize you sell your brains or you sell your body. Either way, it’s honest work.” Protestors say the crackdown was a publicity stunt to draw attention away from the real problems in the country, Zhou says, “like corrupt officials and officials trying to take money abroad. Why is CCTV trying to take out vulnerable prostitutes who are just working?” (RC/Los Angeles Times) ...I think he answered his own question.