From: shemlon@occlusal.rutgers.edu (Shiyghan Shemlon)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: Re: POLYGAMY: GOOD OR BAD???? (Was: Walt Mweene Disney does UCT
Date: 23 Nov 92 20:28:57 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

In article <1992Nov23.164831.19499@cs.wayne.edu>, faa@athena.cs.wayne.edu (Felicitas A. Atabong) writes:
> In article <Nov.22.12.31.31.1992.18360@occlusal.rutgers.edu> shemlon@occlusal.rutgers.edu (Shiyghan Shemlon) writes:
> >In article <1992Nov21.131627.21877@lut.ac.uk>, M.Titahmboh@lut.ac.uk (Mana TitahMboh) writes:
> >
> >NB:
> >---
> >I will vote for POLYGAMY over PROSTITUTION if it will stop the pread
> >of AIDS in Africa. Call me whatever you like.
> >
> >
> Just out of curiousity, how will polygamy stop prostitution in Africa?
> Do women practice prostitution because they can't find a man to marry?
> 
> Feli.


I added this line to my article because I wanted to bring in such
questions into the debate. There are many reasons girls choose to go
into prostitution and YES lack of a man to marry is one of them. The
reason most people will like to cite is either economic hardship or
pure sexual promiscuity, but scratching deeply into these economic
reasons you find buried in them the lack of a man. We live in a
society (especially true in Africa) where women marry up and are to a
large extent dependent on the man as caretaker of the family (note I
said caretaker not bread-winner), who very often provides social and
economic security. The absence of such a provider may push prospective
bridegrooms especially those of them who are school dropouts into
prostitution. It is true that the populations of most African
countries is now almost sexually balanced (51% female to 49% male in
most cases), but the number of MEN WHO ARE CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING A
FAMILY, is far below that of WOMEN WHO ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
FAMILY, often by a factor of 1 man to 2 women in most cases. 

> Do women practice prostitution because they can't find a man to
> marry?

So yes Feli, some women do go into prostitution because they cann't
find a man to marry and if you are a proponent of economic hardship
reasons, think again because behind that reason you still find the
absence of a man to provide economic security. 

I do not imply by the above that this is the only reason why women go
into prostitution. There are many other reasons. I am only saying that
if I can find a girl who is prostituting herself because of lack of a
man to marry, I will advice her to get into a stable polygamous family
if she can find one. That will limit the spread of any veneral
diseases to fewer partners (assuming extra-marital affairs are not
prevalent). I maintain this position even if many may think it is
crazy.

By the way Feli, judging from your name I can say you are from or
married to someone from either Cameroon, Gabon or Equitorial Guinea.
If you boubt my statistics check with data from any of these
countries. To convince yourself further, if you can afford, I will
suggest you verify first hand by talking to prostitutes in any of
these towns: Bamenda, Kumba, Limbe, Douala, Yaounde, Malabo, Bata
or Libreville. I have talked to some of them and can affirm that my
information is correct.


Thanks for sharing your ideas with us.


Shemlon wo wa wan Viban.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>