Pros: A well-written, balanced and non-judgmental look at legalized prostitution in Nevada.
Cons: Sexual discussion and content may be offensive to some readers.
The Bottom Line: This is an interesting and provocative book about a very controversial subject, as well as an intimate look at women who are often misunderstood by society.
mrosie's Full Review: Alexa Albert - Brothel: Mustang Ranch and Its Wome...
I have always been interested in prostitutes. I am not interested in what they do, but rather in why they do it. Prostitution, after all, can be terribly dangerous. Street prostitutes are regularly beaten, robbed, raped, even murdered. I have read enough books about street prostitutes to know that most of them do what they do because they feel they have no other choices. Many
struggle to support drug habits. Others are trying to provide for their children. Sadly, many street prostitutes are also exploited by pimps who claim to love them. To a coddled middle class girl like me, it seems like a miserable existence. I was particularly interested in reading "Brothel: Mustang Ranch and Its Women" because I wanted to know what life is like for a prostitute in a legal brothel. I found the book very illuminating.
The author, Alexa Albert, is a doctor. She had worked previously with street prostitutes in New York City and had seen first hand the devastating results of the unregulated sex trade. She was curious to see if things were better in Nevada, where prostitution is legal and carefully regulated. After trying in vain for three years, she was finally allowed to take a close look at the Mustang Ranch, probably Nevada's most famous brothel.
Dr. Albert had arranged to rent an apartment in nearby Reno, so she was very surprised when she was offered the opportunity to actually stay at the brothel. She was a little uncomfortable with the idea at first, but she realized that she would get a better understanding of the brothel and the women who worked there if she was actually on the premises. She was specifically interested in condom usage among the prostitutes, and at first many of the women were hostile to her questioning. After a while, the women got used to her being there and they started to open up to her. Not only did they answer her health related questions, they started to share their personal stories with her. Eventually, what started as a month-long public health study developed into a study of legalized prostitution that lasted six years.
One of the things that struck me about the women at the Mustang is how ordinary they are. They are just like working women everywhere. They are nervous when they first start at the job. They know they are providing a service and they strive to learn the right skills so they can do the job well. When they develop a good reputation, they take pride in it. And when they go home, they leave the job at the "office" and go back to being wives and mothers.
Another thing I found interesting about the women is that they are just like any other group of women who work closely together. There are cliques. They gossip. They argue. They say nasty things about each other. But when something big happens, all the petty arguments are forgotten and they band together like a group of sisters. When one woman was attacked by a drunken customer, all the girls rushed to her room, even if it meant leaving their own customers, so they could comfort her and make sure she was unhurt. Another time, they threw a baby shower for one of the girls who was having a baby and quitting the business. It was a lavish affair and they literally spent thousands of dollars on gifts.
One aspect of this book that I found very refreshing is that Dr. Albert does not make judgments. She reports the stories as they are told to her by the women. She also strives to report from all points of view. She interviews the prostitutes, as well as the support staff at the brothel. She talks to husbands and boyfriends of the women who work at the Mustang. She talks to men who frequent the brothels. She presents the views of advocates for legal prostitution, as well as the views of those who oppose it. It seems to me that she really tries to present a balanced view of this volatile issue.
I know many people find prostitution to be disgusting and immoral, and find the idea of legalized prostitution absolutely repugnant. My personal opinion is that it should be legalized everywhere, and reading this book reinforced that opinion. Nevada regulates prostitution very carefully. Prostitutes have to go through a rigorous licensing process, including careful health screenings. They are tested regularly for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. They are required to practice extremely safe sex, using condoms for all types of contact. Consequently, there have been no cases of HIV infection in Nevada's legal brothels. Considering the number of clients serviced in all the legal brothels in Nevada, that is pretty impressive. The system also protects both prostitutes and customers because it provides a safe place for the activities to take place. Women don't end up being beaten, and men don't get robbed at knife point. It just seems to me that if prostitution exists, we should try to make it as safe as possible for everyone involved.
I will be very honest. This book is not for everyone. Some people will not even consider picking it up. Others will stop reading it because they find it offensive. Some readers may read it hoping to be titilated, and find themselves disappointed. I think that the open minded will find it, if not interesting, then at least thought-provoking. If you are that type of person, I highly recommend it. Besides, it will give you something interesting to discuss over Thanksgiving dinner!
In this fascinating study of Nevada s infamous Mustang Ranch, Albert puts a human face on the women who work in AmericaUs largest brothel. Brothel is ...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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