"Why I Slept with 1300 Women"

categories: Human Trafficking Awareness, Sex Trafficking and Prostitution, Trafficking in Women

Published October 10, 2009 @ 09:00AM PT

Editors Note: The text of Sebastian Horsley's manifesto, available from the link below, contains adult language which I find disrespectful and degrading to women. Read with caution.

British, self-proclaimed "prostitute connoisseur" Sebastian Horsley begins his commercial sex manifesto "Why I Slept with 1300 Women" with an unforgettable statement,

I remember the first time I had sex—I still have the receipt. The girl was alive, as far as I could tell, she was warm and she was better than nothing. She cost me £20.

His bald description of the girl as less-than-enthusiastic (and possibly less-than-willing) is chilling. Since that first, dubious encounter, Horsley claims to have spent more than $180,000 on sex with over 1300 women. Horsley himself may be an anomaly among men, but his attitudes towards prostitution, women, and sexuality are emblematic of the the reasons human trafficking and exploitation are so prevalent in the commercial sex industry.

Horsely describes himself by claiming,

I am a connoisseur of prostitution: I can take its bouquet, taste it, roll it around my mouth, give you the vintage. I have used brothels, saunas, private homes from the Internet and ordered girls to my flat prompt as pizza.

In his bio, he directly compares women in prostitution to pizzas -- both objects of his pleasure to be brought to him when he demands it. This is not an empowered view of women controlling their bodies and sexuality, but an objectifying view of women as the tools of male pleasure. Women in prostitution can refuse sex no more than a pizza can refuse to be eaten. He then rambles on for awhile about his detest for monogamy and emotional relationships, and goes on to discuss why he respects prostitutes,

A prostitute exists outside the establishment. She is either rejected by it or in opposition to it, or both. It takes courage to cross this line.

This shows a common misconception among men who use women in prostitution -- that all women in prostitution enter it freely and willingly because they see it as empowerment, a way to rebel, or simply their occupation of choice. In many cases, women enter prostitution because they are, as he puts it, "rejected by the establishment." They feel the have no other viable economic options, they enter as young girls, they have been abused, they are trafficked, they have substance addictions, or they are desperate. Some women may fit Horsely's idea of outsiders who "cross the line" willingly, but far too many are pushed or coerced over into prostitution. And he follows one common misconception with another,

Of course, the general feeling in this country [the UK] is that the man is somehow exploiting the woman, but I don’t believe this. In fact, the prostitute and the client, like the addict and the dealer, is the most successfully exploitative relationship of all.

Another favorite argument of johns is that if prostitution is ever exploitative, it's the woman in prostitution exploiting the male buyer. In prostitution, the man possesses the social, financial, physical, sexual, and emotional power in the transaction. When prostitution arrests are made, women are far more likely to be arrested than men. Women in prostitution who refuse sex risk being raped, physically abused, and ostracized by society. Prostitution is a manifestation of a gender imbalanced society, and all the power is on the side of the men.

Sebastian Horsley is just one man, but his objectification of women in prostitution and the myths about the indutry he believes are not uncommon at all. These attitudes are in part what allow trafficking and exploitation to take place in commercial sex. As Horsley says,

Yes, yes, I know. Prostitution is obscene, debasing and disgraceful. The point is, so am I.

For once, Horsley, I couldn't agree with you more.

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Comments (19)

I wish I could start an action, to have this man neutered.

Thank God, this isn't my son.

Posted by L.S. hope on 10/10/2009 @ 05:41PM PT
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Yuck... I hope he gets EVERY VD in the Book!

Posted by Rachel Russell on 10/10/2009 @ 07:47PM PT
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I agree...

While there are, in all probability, some women and men who freely choose to become prostitutes for whatever reason, the vast majority either dont have and/or dont believe they have any choice about it...

As for this so called sex connoseur...

He definatly needs to be castrated.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/11/2009 @ 04:29AM PT
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I don't believe this loser at all. This sounds like a braggart with a small penis who wants to feel like a man. Shame on him for writing his manifesto.

Posted by jack barr on 10/11/2009 @ 08:10PM PT
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Interesting to read the outrage displayed in these comments. While I agree that Mr. Horsley's actions are reprehensible, why such outrage from you Thomas, who actively supports legalizing prostitution?

And Rachel, are you kidding? You commented on a criminal justice blog that a known sex offense recidivist who has committed crimes against teenage girls will be forgiven by Jesus and should be allowed near a daycare. http://criminaljustice.change.org/blog/view/sex_offenders_not_even_welcome_at_church

Now you lash out against this guy. Doesn't make much sense. Are you one of those people who just goes along with the blogger so people will click "like" on the comment?

Like I said, I don't disagree with these comments, but let's keep it consistant. Speak up for the victims, and at all times, do what is necessary to limit the number of future victims.

Posted by Dennis G. on 10/11/2009 @ 09:10PM PT
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Mr. g...

Im old enough and (somewhat) wise enough to know that folks are very diverse in their likes and dislikes among other things...

Simply put...

While I myself would never want to be a prostitute, yes, there are male prostitutes too, I know that not all would feel the same way as I do...So...I say make prostitution legal and put the smackdown on forced prostitution and this will help solve one aspect of the human trafficking problem in my opinion.

As for my view of the author of that manifesto...

He's a prick that gives us real men a bad name due to guilt by association...

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/12/2009 @ 06:38AM PT
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Perhaps this guy has impotency issues and may be helped by therapy.

Posted by Oceania OZ on 10/12/2009 @ 05:45AM PT
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The best therepy for a prick like him as well as for any sex offender would be a bullet in the brain...

Guarenteed to be 100 % effective.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/12/2009 @ 06:41AM PT
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You may be right in that statement, Thomas. At least for some sex offenders. They should at least be given a good, long stay in prison. I would like to hear you voice these oppinions on this site's criminal justice page, where you will find child molesters being supported and protected by members of change.org, including the lead blogger. Disturbing to say the least!

Posted by Dennis G. on 10/12/2009 @ 09:18AM PT
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Mr. g...

The last time I voiced my displeasure over something like that the author of that blog removed my comment...

All I did was to express my dismay at his wanting to protect the "rights" of pedophiles in my usual opiniated manner using my normal sailor mouth...

Apparently he couldnt take the heat so Ive chosen to ignore his whiny little butt.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/17/2009 @ 11:35AM PT
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I Want to slap him across his face

Posted by Jovhanna Mayo on 10/13/2009 @ 11:05AM PT
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Thats a great idea miss mayo...

May I recommend using a sledgehammer to do it with ?

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/17/2009 @ 11:37AM PT
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I am still in shock after reading this disturbing article (nothing to do with the writer, of course). It is absolutely incredibly disgusting how an ignorant sexist pig like this idiot writes so nonchalantly about sexual exploitation! All I could think about was the pain and suffering those 1300 women had to endure. And even sadder is the fact that he is not the only idiot that thinks this way! Something needs to be done, this is not right.

Posted by Gretchen Zoe on 10/13/2009 @ 08:03PM PT
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I think this man has some real mental issues and I mean some serious mental issues and I think he needs some serious professional counseling of some kind but I have to admit that prostitutes and pimps just this type of relationship alone is sick and I think both parties have mental issues. I think women and men have got to learn what is normal and what I just read is not normal. We just live in a very sick world and society to accept this kind of behavior.

Posted by Teresa Cooper on 10/17/2009 @ 10:26AM PT
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What an idiot - guys like him are a disgrace to the male sex.

Posted by Nigel Braddock on 10/21/2009 @ 04:40PM PT
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We are all responsible for our choices. And we are all responsible for the judgement we may or may not pass on others' choices. This includes Sebastian Horsely, all 1300 women, and everyone who reads this article and/or manifesto.

Posted by lisa scudiero on 10/22/2009 @ 08:20PM PT
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Here's an appropriate response. Don't buy the book. It will end up being an enormous monument in his garage of his lack of personal investment in relationships and whatever his compulsive/obsessive disorder is.

Posted by Oceania OZ on 10/23/2009 @ 10:52PM PT
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I don't know about anyone else, but instead of just seeing this as sick, disgusting, disturbing, and abominable (which it is) let's use this as opportunity....in order to stop Human Trafficking, we need to know how to stop the demand part. If we don't stop the demand part, then the industry as a whole can't be stopped. Let's (as much as I DON'T want to) learn from this guy. We'll use what he says and figure out how to stop the "johns" from demanding prostitutes. We can stop them from being so....perverse...right?

Posted by Lucy Mahaffey on 10/25/2009 @ 11:44AM PT
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Thats all well and good miss mahaffey but the desire and biological need for sexual fullfillment would be hard to overcome for anybody...

That being said, I think a better way would be to focus on the long term of teaching young men that while sex is wonderfull, its even better with a willing partner thats viewed as an equal partner...

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/25/2009 @ 02:24PM PT
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Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.

Author

Amanda has been a full-time abolitionist for six years. During that time, she has created reports, documentaries and training materials on human trafficking in the United States and around the world.