Secret+Diary+of+a+Call+Girl

Hannah Shariatmadari Secret Diary of a Call Girl

**//Secret Diary of a Call Girl// Background** //Secret Diary of a Call Girl// is a British television show originally inspired by the blogging and subsequent books written by Dr. Brooke Magnati, who at the time was a twenty-something year old prostitute working in London at the beginning of the decade to help pay for her doctorate degree (Gold, 2009). Although the show has been influenced by the writings of Magnati (who until several years ago remained completely anonymous), a majority of what transpires on the show is wholly fictional. Billie Piper stars as ‘Belle’, a high-class call girl whose cleverly mischievous and witty character presents a likeable heroine for the television series. Although Belle’s life as a working call girl may appear to be the central concentration of the show, viewers are also exposed to the daily life of Hannah Baxter, who is the ordinary, everyday, non sex-selling side to Belle. The show delivers a well-developed presentation of the professional and private life of Hannah, including most importantly the sexual relationships she ensues in both worlds. It is common practice that in discussing sex, one would only associate it with the private realm of sex whether it involve casual or long-term partners. //Secret Diary of a Call Girl// however manages to present both in a seemingly light-hearted manner, while at the same time approaching the reality of such a challenging and problematic balance. It provides a fresh angle on the sex industry and taboo sexual practices, while developing a sinister reality of prostitution in the 21st Century. **//Secret Diary of a Call Girl// and the glamorization of prostitution** Archbishop Dr John Sentamu of York attacked the show directly in 2009, blaming it for the developing glamorization of the sex trade (Wynne-Jones, 2009). Although standing from a religious perspective, Archbishop Sentamu is somewhat correct in his criticism of the show. Critics see the show ‘with its beautiful and empowered protagonist, glamorizing a business that victimizes the women who work in it’ (Wyatt, 2008). It is evident that the lavish lifestyle Belle is able to lead comes from the bettering of her financial situation through the sex trade. The trade itself is presented as a sanitized version of a controversial sexual behavior not commonly approached in everyday society.

Several factors lend themselves to the glamorization of prostitution in the show and most commonly these are related to wealth and the attraction to the profession as an alluring and desirable trade to be part of. Firstly, Belle is positioned as a high-class escort, finally working independently of her madam, Stephanie, whose agency she left in Season 1. Secondly, the audience can immediately recognize the financial extravagance Belle enjoys, living in an exquisitely decorated central London apartment in the first two series, and eventually acquiring a fortune adequate enough to enable her to move into her own house in Season 3. Thirdly, are the lavish locations that her work takes her, as shown in the opening scene of Season 1 where we see Belle draped in a row of pearls and a designer suit, striding into one of the most exclusive London hotels, the Mayfair. Apart from times when she sees clients at her own home, Belle’s work will always take her to very lavish settings, including trips abroad on private aircrafts to paradise islands. Fourthly, are the clothes Belle enjoys. We never see her in the same items of clothing twice and are constantly reminded of Belle’s delight in shopping for new outfits, in particular lingerie. This association with sexy underwear and erotic attire lends itself to the presentation of sexual encounters as a prostitute as almost theatrical and game-like, two characteristics which could be seen as very appealing to young girls and women. The show fits admirably with the ‘Pretty Woman Myth’ (Dalla, 2000) in that it avoids the harsher realities of life as a prostitute, airbrushing out STD’s, repulsive clients, police records and drug habits. Although Belle makes it clear that she always uses protection, this is pretty much the only reference she makes to sexual health and the practice of safe sex.

When entertaining a client, Belle insists on a strict routine of showering, fresh sheets and never allowing herself to consume alcohol. The reality of prostitution however, is far grimmer than this. it is reported that 95% of prostitutes have drug or alcohol problems (Boycott, 2007) and 41% of prostitutes use drugs on a daily basis and individuals say that there is no reason to be out there if not for drugs (Dalla, 2002). As well as seeming completely in control of herself, Belle is also presented in the show as being completely in control of her clients. The harsh reality of life as a prostitute commonly involves rape, beatings, physical abandonment and being threatened on a regular basis whether it is by pimps or clients. On the other hand however, some argue that most pimps do not inherit these traits and are actually voluntarily chosen by the woman and only occasionally employ violence, their primary role being to provide emotional support that prostitutes find difficult to acquire elsewhere (Carmen and Moody, 1985). It could be said that Belle too finds this in Stephanie, however Stephanie’s main role was mentor to Belle before Belle became an independent call girl. **Prostitution as an empowering female profession** ‘My problem with the job market is that I’m used to thinking on my back, not my feet’ is a line spoken by Belle during her attempt to leave the sex trade to keep her boyfriend from leaving her after he finds out she is a prostitute. She attempts to pursue an office career, carrying out menial tasks, however this results in a humorous string of unfortunate events which inevitably lead her back to what she’s good at – being a call girl. The show communicates a message through Belle to stick at what you’re good at, even if it is prostitution. Archbishop Sentamu asks are we seriously ‘meant to believe that these sex workers are independent women, empowered by the hold they have over men, who sell their bodies for money but who treat it like any other day job’? (Wynne-Jones, 2009). Sex as a profession is heavily advertised in the show and explains that Belle has freely chosen to become a call girl after participating in a one night stand with a man, after which, to her surprise (and apparent joy) he leaves her an envelope of cash. In a survey entitled Uncovering Women's Inequality In The UK however, 74% of the women cited poverty, the need to pay household expenses and support children as the main reason they became sex workers. Belle suffers from none of these unfortunate situations (Boycott, 2007).

The show not only glamorizes sex for cash, but also spins the act as withholding some form of normality and social acceptability – even female empowerment. Jane Pritchard argues that sex work is not a job like any other. It is not only a symptom of the most degrading and alienated aspects of life under capitalism, but also reinforces that degradation and alienation (2010). //Secret Diary of a Call Girl// makes the trade look easy, safe and carefree – an appealing environment for any woman looking to make a lot of money and enjoy an extravagant lifestyle like so many businessmen in the world. **“**Why do I do it? I love sex and money. I enjoy the sex. I'm lazy. I'm my own boss. I love the anonymity. I'm the expensively dressed woman you see gliding across the hotel lobby - fabulous but forgettable." – another stereotypical line from the show, emphasizing the profession as appealing and achievable as a reality.

**//Secret Diary of a Call Girl//** **in tackling the boundaries between professional and private sexual relations** One area in which //Secret Diary of a Call Girl// makes real headway is the presentation of two very different sexual relationships happening in the protagonist’s life. Prostitutes at the end of the day are still people, they have the ability to experience relationships like anybody else through loyalty to friends, an active and satisfying personal sex life, commitment to family and children and a strong desire to be loved and treated in a compassionate manner. //Secret Diary of a Call Girl// tackles most of these elements very well in the series, mainly via her relationships with three consecutive boyfriends – two of which know about her job and are seemingly fine with it. We witness a parallel between Belle’s sex life with her clients and her boyfriends. She claims that she works as a call girl because she loves sex and she loves money. Many may see the former to be a wild contradiction as a means to emotional and physical satisfaction and is not widely looked at as achievable with strangers. Furthermore, individuals tend to associate sex with their own pleasure and not someone else’s (Potterat, Phillips, Rothenberg and Darrow). Research has been carried out to contradict this however, with 70% of prostitutes reporting to enjoy intercourse with clients //all, most// or //some of the time// (Savitz and Rosen, 1988). Additionally, 72% agreed that their private sex lives benefited from the knowledge they acquired through prostitution and that the average housewife would profit sufficiently if she became a prostitute for a few months. There are times in the show where Belle has displayed some form of removed emotional attachment to her clients, especially the regulars. Her personal life however, continually fails and by the end of the series it is evident that her love for sex as something she is passionate about overrides her chances of finding love and happiness.

**References** Boycott, R. (2007). Why do so many modern women think being a sex object is cool? //Daily Mail Online.// Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-483699/Why-modern-women-think-sex-object-cool.html.

Carmen, A. & Moody, H. (1985). Working Women: The Subterranean World Of Street Prostitution. New York: Harper and Row.

Dalla, R. (2000). Exposing the "Pretty Woman" Myth: A Qualitative Examination of the Lives of Female Streetwalking Prostitutes. //Journal of Sex Research, 37//, 344-353.

Gold, T. (2009). Dr Brooke Magnanti says she enjoyed her life as Belle de Jour. //The Guardian.// Retrieved from []

Potterat, J., Phillips, L., Rothenberg, R., & Darrow, W. (1985). On Becoming A Prostitute: An Exploratory Case-Comparison Study. //Journal of Sex Research, 21,// 329-355.

Pritchard, J. (2010). The Sex Work Debate. //International Socialism.// Retrieved from [].

Rosen, L. & Savitz, L. (1988). The Sexuality Of Prostitutes: Sexual Enjoyment Reported By "Streetwalkers". //Journal of Sex Research, 24//, 200-208.

Wyatt, E. (2008). A Lighthearted Tale of Sex for Money. //The New York Times.// Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/arts/television/15wyat.html.

Wynne-Jones, J. (2009) Archbishop of York attacks Belle de Jour for glamourising prostitution. //The Telegraph.// Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/6292705/Archbishop-of-York-attacks-Belle-de-Jour-for-glamourising-prostitution.html