Review & View

True life memoirs of Jeannette Angell.

CALLGIRL. This book I got in November 2004 and read in about a week time. It did not keep me interested for long. I have almost forgotten the book as well as its theme. Now after 8 years I just happened to spot it in the cupboard. I started reading it in slow pace and would like to pen some notes on it.

Jean was 47 in 2004 and she was a callgirl under an agency between her age 34 and 37 about three years. The profession of a callgirl is giving sex to selected callers and getting paid for it. Jean was not a professional but was working as teaching assistant in a university in US. She was from a ordinary middle class family and was not able to meet both ends with the money received thru teaching. Beside she was cheated by her boy friend using her credit card for all his extravaganzas. She calls him as rat. Yes. He fully used those opportunities bankrupting Jean and leaving credits to be returned. This compounded her financial situation. Her income from teaching was not regular. It was something like contract depending on the number of classes assigned. The stark future stared at her. She decided to do this side line work to add to her income. It was work and sex. She kept the two apart though they were completely opposites.

The teaching curriculum was “death and dying” and “life in asylum”. They were really tryingly interesting and she made demands on her pupil to prepare notes with references and the pros and cons. The debates in the class were stimulating. Students made out a case against the existing practice of committing people deficient mentally or physically; to asylums. They argued that it is a case of human rights violation. As teacher Jean asked them to think about the way on how to save them from hurting themselves without restraint of an asylum. Still some vehemently opposed such restrained. She asked them to write all that in their papers.

Jean entered sideline profession through an agency headed by Peach. The later was sensitive to the girls and tried to counsel and protect them from unwanted situations. She advised them to get out from the clients if she wished. That way Peach was very supportive as per Jean. Peach interviewed Jean on the phone and not in person. She asked her about weight, height, size of bra, age, complexion etc. etc. she sought more of the girl from the clients. All that looked nice to Jean at her first assignment. Although she was 34 Peach asked her to pretend being 25 and less. Yes, Jean looked too young for her age. All these helped her carry on for about three or more years. She had had all kind of experiences. Both violent and peaceful. Most those clients Jean happened to meet were pathetic and psycho deficient. They fantasized sex in various ways and positions which they could not do with their wives or even mention about them. They were not too young. Jean was asked to go down on them in most cases as a preliminary to real sex. The girls were sent on an hourly basis and payments go double if extended. Such things could be done only after Peach gives her consent. Jean gives a number of instances and incidents to supplicate her story. The sex acts whether blow jobs, massaging, allowing clients to manipulate her breasts or vagina on even anus are said in plain language and with all necessary details. It is fascinating though repeating.

Meanwhile Jean did cultivate real friendship with some. One of the most trusted men finally called her a whore and offered to pay for sex. That ended that friendship. Another also ended. The third was disappointing when she met his parents at their home. The mother was a school teacher and father an intellectual. They pried her about subject being thought in her classes. When she revealed them they were too upset. She was starting a course on the history of prostitution and present day. It did not tick with the parents. The one she loved; did not stand up to her and that ended the relationship.

During this period her teaching on prostitution attracted the attention of several in academic circles both in US and out of it. She was invited to lecture on the subject also debates and discussions. This brought her not only a name but lecture fees as well. She was getting a better treat now. She was to prepare the lectures with more and more references. She was feeling better both mentally and financially.

In her memoirs there are certain episodes she covered little extensively. One is her close friendship with a Chinese young girl. The girl was feeling guilty of leaving her parents in China. She started taking liquor and drugs. Jean also imitated her. She was thinking that being her friend she will succeed in getting her normal. But all her efforts failed. The girl started selling her things at home to finance her habits. Slowly in time she started pinching cash and other valuable left by Jean at home or the girl’s place. Finally Jean abandoned the girl to her fate.

Her dallying with a client was covered more for his obsessions.

Still another was her liking a Pakistani. This man just manipulated her to enjoy sex without paying. Jean felt a kind of love towards him which made her have relation with the Pakistani outside of agency. She realised it little late when she came to know the man boosting his catch of white American women for his pleasure. He was saying that while the whites were paying for sex with any white woman; he was getting it free. Jean left him for good.

Her last experience was with a police officer in mufti. The client was completely new even for Peach but the earlier quest from Jen made Peach to call. At the outset Jan was a little cautious from the start. The way the fellow was talking made Jen to doubt his real intention. She saw him using a video camera concealed in the mirror. She used her wit to get out of the situation with speed.

She informed her employer her decision to quit. She did not listen to any more persuasions. That was the end.

Now it is double fast forward. She was having a stable income and also profession in teaching. She felt comfortable to marry Tony and have kids. The story of her meeting Tony and other details are left to our mind. In conclusion she admitted that she kept for herself for long before Tony himself found about it. They did overcome the situation and continued a regular life.

Here I am making some digression from the book but connected to the subject. Prostitution was mentioned in our ancient literature also. They seemed to be a kind of honored section of the then society that was kingdoms. These women were learned in fine arts like singing and dancing etc. they were depicted as adepts in the 64 fine arts. They were partners in courts. One of the best samples is that of Vasanta Sena in Mrishchhakatikam drama of Sudraka. One of the ten types of drama is called “Bhana” a kind of one actor plays. There were a good number in earlier and later Sanskrit literature. Some of them are as late as 14 and 16 centuries CE. I did read many but not able recollect much. In the “Bhana” format the city dweller “Vida” takes the stage and goes about the lanes of prostitute quarters meeting and conversing with all he meets both female and male. He starts his trip in the morning and ends up in the evening with his appointed lover. The dialogues are in the form of messages from himself and the respondents. He conveys what he heard from others. I remember one of those racy conversations depicted in “Mukundananda Bhana” by an orthodox Brahmin for Tamil Nadu. The contents are like as below. At that time the Gujarati businessmen are in that part already. Concentrating on their jobs they neglect their wives. Here the actor  says meaning that “in the households either the reader of ancient Purana or the priest or the servant is the hidden lover of the women.” He talks to the Purana reader going to the house a Gujarathi. The other says: “who will wish to have intercourse with a Gujarati whose stout high busts is tightly covered by corset; when one is holding the hard globular busts of a Dravidian dame.” The Vida replies thus: “though the corseted busts of Gujarati is of not easy access but her pubis mound is of easy access because she do not use a tightly knotted under clothing. It is different in case of Dravidian beauties (the use knotted clothes). It shows that if one thing is of easy access at one place; another thing in another place.” This ends the dialogue. This shows that Brahmin scholars in those times were not demeaning a professional.

Up to the first quarter of last century the big temples of South India did employ devadasi’s to prepare pooja materials, sing, dance and engage in many other services. They were considered betrothed to the deity hence all times virgins. (Nitya Kanyaka.) it is said that some of the earliest film stars in Tamil were from such families. May be. May not be.     

The prohibition came along with foreign rule Muslim, British or other. A number of Hindu orthodoxy absorbed this as their own moral stand. I am of the view that prostitution should not and must not be criminalized at all. It has created middle men in the form of agents and dalals every where making the life of the women in the profession absolutely miserable. Remedy is to free girls and women to choose any profession where they should be protected by law and society.

There is the question of STD & HIV infection. Although many killer deceases like pox and flue and malaria were eradicated or controlled the above two are still here with us. These make prostitution very serious danger to life. Until medical science discovers effective remedies like vaccine or other, the risk accompanying the profession needs a second look by those who enter it. The freedom to enter; will facilitate to understand the future. The poor and illiterate ones should be educated well to understand the risks and seek redress.  

K,N,Krishnan.

May 18, 2012.