I know, I know: everybody's sense of humour is different and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But I reckon that includes me, so here goes...
Yes, "Respectable" is charming. Hayley is a lovely girl any man could fall in love with and want to cherish. Michael is a decent guy who would never think of exploiting her just because of the work she does.
This is where I have a problem. The 'situation' in this sit-com is prostitution. 'Debonnaire' is a cosy little brothel in a leafy suburb, run by world-weary but motherly Maureen. All the girls are happy hookers, and all the clients are decent (although some have their little peculiarities).
The fact is of course that most women are driven into prostitution, by drug addiction, poverty, or whatever. More and more are being brought from other countries. Up to 18,000 females, including girls as young as 14, are working in brothels across Britain after being smuggled from all over the world. They are sold like cattle, beaten, raped, then made to serve up to 20 men a day (and *they* don't behave like Michael).
This is the truth of the world of "Respectable". You may say the show is a gentle fantasy, but I can't get that truth out of my mind while I am watching. What amazes me is that my wife loves the show, and she's not usually backward in defending womens' rights. As I said at the beginning, we're all different.
Yes, "Respectable" is charming. Hayley is a lovely girl any man could fall in love with and want to cherish. Michael is a decent guy who would never think of exploiting her just because of the work she does.
This is where I have a problem. The 'situation' in this sit-com is prostitution. 'Debonnaire' is a cosy little brothel in a leafy suburb, run by world-weary but motherly Maureen. All the girls are happy hookers, and all the clients are decent (although some have their little peculiarities).
The fact is of course that most women are driven into prostitution, by drug addiction, poverty, or whatever. More and more are being brought from other countries. Up to 18,000 females, including girls as young as 14, are working in brothels across Britain after being smuggled from all over the world. They are sold like cattle, beaten, raped, then made to serve up to 20 men a day (and *they* don't behave like Michael).
This is the truth of the world of "Respectable". You may say the show is a gentle fantasy, but I can't get that truth out of my mind while I am watching. What amazes me is that my wife loves the show, and she's not usually backward in defending womens' rights. As I said at the beginning, we're all different.