Shame no more

Today, Dr. Brook Magnanti is some kind of British research scientist. A few years ago she was writing – alongside her dissertation – a racy blog describing her exploits as a high-end prostitute in London. Interviewed recently on the BBC chat show Hard Talk, she claimed that prostitution had empowered her; and said she would do it all over again if she had a choice. She also said she wished her daughter would one day follow confidently in her footsteps.

OK, I made that last point up. But Dr. Magnanti could well have made it, if pressed by the host. I have no reason to doubt that prostituting herself brought Dr. Magnanti much empowerment and maybe even joy. I do believe, however, that there is something even more empowering than prostitution in all its variety – relegating shame and all related feelings to the dustbin of your personal history.