Comments on: Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution: A review

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 05:30:35 +0000

In reply to Mark van der Beer. Thank you for posting that link! I didn't actually read "here" in the video as meaning the windows of the red light district in Amsterdam. I read it as here in western Europe. And I don't know whether the video is exaggerating the numbers or not, but it seems to me that the women in the legal world wouldn't have any contact with the illegal world. I certainly agree with her that legal prostitution works better than forcing it underground..

By: Mark van der Beer

Mark van der Beer — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 00:35:49 +0000

A decent post about what the museum presents, and how it present prostitution. But of course the real question is if the museum got it right? After all, just because someone claims something, doesn’t automatically make it true. Especially concerning the video they were playing of the girls dancing in the video, and the whole trafficking story.

Now, let me make clear that I’m not at all denying trafficking happens, even in the Red Light District. But a video that claims ‘thousands’ of women end up ‘here’, while there aren’t even 400 windows in all of Amsterdam, it doesn’t take a scientist to figure out that those claims are simply false.

Therefore I’d like to point towards the blog of one of the many Eastern European women who works in the Red Light District (most women are from Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary). In this article a real current working prostitute describes herself how she experience this museum, and how much she recognizes in this museum about her own job.
You can read the article here: http://behindtheredlightdistrict.blogspot.nl/2014/05/so-you-think-they-will-dance.html

Kuddos for the rest of the article

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 22:51:56 +0000

In reply to Shobha. Your comment about Disney-fying it is spot on. That's exactly why I didn't sit there but rather just took that picture of the empty chair.

By: Shobha

Shobha — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 18:53:39 +0000

I went through the red light when I visited Amsterdam years ago (pre-kids). I too was struck by the boredom of the women in the windows, showcased like goods on sale. How can any man find that attractive? clearly I don’t get it. The museum sounds fascinating. Not sure I would want to pose in front of a red window for photos – somewhat Disney-fying an experience that is a not very nice reality for other women. The video though showing the looks the women see from their point of view sounds fascinating though.

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 20:29:43 +0000

In reply to Kristin Henning. Yes, I think that's the point: to think of them as human beings, not as stereotypes or caricatures. To put us in their place so we develop some level of empathy and respect.

By: Kristin Henning

Kristin Henning — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 20:22:51 +0000

I wonder how long this museum has been open? The idea of the window outward, from the prostitutes’ point of view, is intriguing. The use of the word prostitute is powerful, too, both in the name of the museum and in your post. It forces the issue, which is, ultimately, the point.

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 05:57:04 +0000

In reply to Jackie Smith. Haha! That wasn't intentional! Thanks, Jackie!

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 05:55:34 +0000

In reply to The GypsyNesters. Yes, I like Holland's pragmatic approach. It's more sensible and realistic than banning it. I just wish they could do more about illegal prostitution to shift them to legal status so they'd have more protection.

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 05:52:00 +0000

In reply to Paula McInerney. Yes, apparently the prostitutes and shop owners complain about the big, loud, drunken groups that come in and behave rudely but don't spend any money. Often they're British stag parties, I've heard.

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 05:47:23 +0000

In reply to Anita. I like small specialized museums best, mostly because my attention span isn't long enough for a big one! But the quality varies a lot. This is one of the better ones; it covers a difficult, misunderstood topic intelligently.