Hi:

I'm in graduate school and am doing my thesis on the life of "Providers".

Am interested in chatting with any of you, either by phone, here or e-mail.

If you can help, my e-mail is [email protected].

Of course you will remain unknown!

Thanks and I hope to hear from any or all of you!



-- Modified on 12/18/2002 4:18:58 PM

One word "Biased" One provider does not speak for all providers. There is little or no unity in the "provider"industry, and very little commonalities as a result. Also I tend to be suspiscous of persons wishing to chronicle the lives of providers. For years, providers have been portrayed in books, magazines, movies,and television in unflattering ways.They are also a vulnerable group who are at high risk of exploitation, with little or no means of recourse. I also think that nobody ever wants to see a provider portrayed as "normal," they only want to hear sad or shocking stories about our lives (that fit their preconceived notions). As a result of this, I for one am wary of people who want to learn about my provider life because do they really want the truth, or do they have other motives?In addition, if you do find a provider to interview, please make a footnote that he or she most likely is not representative of me. Now people may ask why I don't set the record straight if the unfair portrayel of providers upsets me? All I have to say is that I would like to continue to have a private and professional life outside this, but society would never allow that if I became vocal about involvement in such a taboo, scorned industry. Good luck on your thesis, but like many before you, I do not feel that you will really be able to gain an accurate understanding of the variety and diversity of the women in this buisness.

-- Modified on 12/17/2002 9:04:13 PM

I think that your reply to the original post is to the point
and very accurate. there is no single way to look at the
providers and be able to portray an accurate picture of
why she does what she does, each woman has her own reason
for belonging in the industry, there by all that can be said
is that each lady is unlike any other. the only thing that
can be said is that all providers are just that, Providers!
no one could ever begin to even come close to giving an
accurate portrayal of the whole community of providers based
on the facts and experience of so few.

I'm sorry if I was not clear on what I was seeking.

Any thesis must be based on both "quantitative" as well as "qualitative" data.

Therefore, my thesis would include information from many different providers.

I heartily agree with you that there is no "one" profile for a provider.  That was never my intention.  If there was some confusion there, please accept my apology.

So, I am still interested in hearing from any/all of you if you wish to be involved in this project.

You can e-mail me at [email protected] for further information.

Thanks everyone for your patience and understanding..and hopefully your help!

bltzfgrw

I am just stating my opinion. You did nothing to me, and have a perfect right to put up your request. I am curious as to what graduate program you are in, feminist/women's studies? Also, as I am sure you know, any study with a smaple size of less then thirty tends to skew the reults of quantitative studies. I wish you luck finding thirty providers who will tell you all the details of their lives. In addition, what is the incentive for this study? Isn't it unethical to provide many types of incentive in a research study, and isn't it also suspect when you do research on vulnerable populations? I just really want to know what the incentive will be for the providers to spill their guts? Please feel free to e-mail, or TER personal mail me if your choose to take this off the board. I am sure my postings could start to become a thesis themselves.

Lisa

-- Modified on 12/18/2002 8:00:03 AM

I'm puzzled by the fact that your email address doesn't end in ".edu".   Yahoo seems like a strange starting point for an academic endeavor.

As you no doubt know, a thesis is more than just a generalized  discussion of a broad topic (no pun intended).  I for one would like to know what the carefully defined focus of your thesis will be.  If you can articulate it well, perhaps some of the ladies might be more amenable to an interview.  Otherwise, I completely agree with Lisa and others who question the utility of your undertaking.   OTW, it sure would be fun to interview many of these great ladies and I wish you luck.

Lisa has the right idea and very good questions too. This kind of exposure providers do not need.My 2 centavos,don't touch interview requests with a 10 foot pole.

hey, er ah, I am journalist writing for ah Vanity Fair...
er, um, no, I mean a psychologist researching with Masters and Johnson... ah just kidding. but on Lisa's note, I was cracking up thinking of all the stereotypes of both providers and clients.

please forgive the stereotypes I know they are mostly  wrong but i've seen a lot and they cover the spectrum.  funny thing is you find the same stereotypes outside the field. i've seen a lot and heard about a lot. that alanis morsette song comes to mind

single housemom looking for supplemental income
the big playa looking for diamonds and emeralds and 'dubs'
the whip-smart thrill seeker girl sick of corporate like
the helpin' the boyfriend out in prison girl
the helpin' the lazy husband out
the early-days salty dog who's moved on from parlors to independence
the just for frills, I'll try it a little while
the "i was a swinger, but I might as well get paid" girl
the tough life woman
the former stripper
the "pretty woman" hopeful
the looking for Mr Big
the former pornstar
the recently divorced, relocated, exploring the town lady
the "see the world AND get paid" adventurer
the student with massive credit card debt
the kinky husband and wife combo
the 3 muskatettes... one for all and all for one
the make enough to cash out and live my dreams
the make enough to pay for grad school, support my art, buy a new or recently used car
the tantric wholistic henna girl
the material girl in a material world
the yound and naive
the old and wise
the old and naive
the "pushed into it"
the "escorting is power" radical
the european transplant
the dwarf porn star
the nympho
the classy guy "try and buy" temp
the schemer
the therapist helping the dysfunctional and rejected
the surrogate
the husband and wife fantasizer
the struggling cosmotologist, masseuse, wattress, dancer
the mean spirit
the angelic
the unfortunate from broken homes
the spoil from upper middle class households
the normal middle american gal who wants something different
the anthony robbins devotee
the rimbaud domina


my 2cents for today. hope it didn't make anyone mad. have smurfy day!

Hey All!

Can you please just ignore the post if you aren't interested.

I believe I had mentioned that I would accept inquiries from any interested providers.  I have been around the block enough to know that they can speak for themselves.

I'm not trying to create problems in your lives, please don't create problems in mine.

FYI, I have now received 8 replies from providers, 4 of which have consented to be involved.  Of course that isn't enough yet, but time will tell.

Finally, I'm not using my school address because I don't need whackos replying and stuffing my mail with unneeded comments.

No offense intented to anyone.  If a provider is interested in the project or getting more information, she will contact me.  If not..then she won't....simple huh?

Thanks and now I'm done complaining.

bltz

Well said. I was thinking the same thing this morning when I read the post. Good luck.

this question is directed at BLTZFGRW I couldn't help but ask
this? I seen where you have recently posted that you were
looking for a provider and this was to be your first time,
so what gives? it is not that you owe me any explanation
but I think that you would be in a better postion if you
were to be upfront and honest with what ever is going with
your real intentions, and good luck!

will have to agree with lisa there no reason i should want to no the providers reason for there job. iread lisa,s bio and she sounds a very fine person

oh my....I am laughing so hard smurfy!  After reading the first 10 I had already pictured about 6 providers whos story is just those