Nellie McKay: "Mother of Pearl" and "If I Had You"

http://www.ted.com The wonderful Nellie McKay sings "Mother of Pearl" (with the immortal first line "Feminists don't have a sense of humor") and "If I Had You" from her sparkling set at TED2008.


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[lucasboden]

I am scared to share this video cause my friends are not all too bright.

[SugarLoveForever]

why is this in Katy Perry mix?

[SugarLoveForever]

@robcunn Well, for me, I had to choose a Katy Perry song to sing at a concert. For other people, I have no clue.

[robcunn]

@SugarLoveForever why would you watch/listen to a Katy Perry mix?

[janetjaan]

lol "Manhood 101"

I've been to that class.

It looks a lot like Swordfighting 101.

[howlinhobbit]

dear Ms. Nellie. you are fabulous. don't ever change.

[SpoookiePoookie]

Only then can we get heard when we prove our points in favour of making it legal. That way, it'll be obvious that the dangers of the profession are not glibly passed over in favour of the rights alone. Denying rights to sell your body is oppression, but it's not oppression on the same scale as contributing to a system where most of these women don't have solid alternatives. Nor is it the same as denying rights to drive/vote/drink which most women want. We must see the uniqueness in it.

[SpoookiePoookie]

After all, 'service' as it may be, they're often treated like slaves by pimps. Many (and most, in poor society) don't belong to an official, observable 'house'. There IS an anxiety that legal prostitution would make it easier for men to feel privileged and treat women like objects that can be 'enjoyed' with money. And that it would get difficult to prove whether a woman wanted it or not. Like how marital rape is tough to prove. You must have empathy for this if you want to be taken seriously.

[SpoookiePoookie]

Of course, perhaps if it's made legal, they WILL be treated better. But what I'm on is how 'What's wrong with prostituion,it's a valid service?' generates a bunch of ethical arguments which Completely overlooks the fact that prostitution in its origins and current state especially, is steeped in a patriarchal-consumerist setup which never gave it the chance to be an authentic/independence choice in the first place. I join you in asking others not to look down on them but it doesn't stop there.

[SpoookiePoookie]

@variablast And as I've said this elsewhere but don't see the comment I'll repeat: in some cultural/economic conditions, the horror and seediness of these prostitutes' lives FAR overshadow the question of their illegal status. I'm Indian. My mum who belongs to an NGO has worked with retired prostitues here. None of them wanted to be in it, or were treated well and some were forced to sell off their children. Often people ignore the urgency of these issues in proving that prostitution is ok.