Hooker Credentials
Matthew Yglesias, responding to a report by Ben Smith on Pamela Martin’s requirements for employees of her DC “escort” service, observes, “Now how’s that for out-of-control credentialism — two years’ college to be a hooker?”
Now, I’m all for credentialism but even I fail to see how a college education contributes the skill set required for work in the oldest profession. Presumably, though, these women actually were doing some actual escorting in addition to their, ahem, more noteworthy duties and Martin figured that wealthy clients would prefer to be seen in the company of women who could hold a conversation. Then again, many college graduates can’t do that and plenty of non-grads can.
By the way, I somehow missed the announcement that Matt had been hired up by the Atlantic Monthly blogging conglomerate. Congrats to him. The Atlantic is, in my view, the best general interest magazine out there and, now that they’re in DC rather than Boston, there can’t be a better place for an opinion journalist to work.
Illustration via Wonk.
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About James Joyner
Maybe she was trying to revive the tradition of the courtesan.
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Or hetaera. Not a new thing.
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[...] Matthew Yglesias and James Joyner both wonder whether this isn’t a case of credentialism gone mad, but maybe it makes sense. If you’re going to run a “high class” call girl operation, you probably want to screen out women who would ordinarily become prostitutes. No drug addicts or alcoholics, minimal exposure to possible STD’s. By targeting college women who want to supplement their income, maybe Palfrey was just being a smart business woman. [...]
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Bubble gum chewers need not apply…
Want to be a Washington DC Hooker. There are certain requirements….
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Is “credentialism” even a word?!? I don’t think so. Another example of James going over the top.
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Is “credentialism” even a word?!?
Yes.
Even if it weren’t, though, there are plenty of new coinages all the time.
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[...] Hat tip- James Joyner at OTB. Below the Beltway is also blogging on this topic. [...]
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