Fair enough, but in that sense, it's not clear that anyone was being coerced. I grew up in former USSR, and people in that part of the world are much more effic

Fair enough, but in that sense, it's not clear that anyone was being coerced. I grew up in former USSR, and people in that part of the world are much more efficient utility-maximizing agents, and unfortunately things like social responsibility are considered of no utility. A girl might easily choose prostitution as a career path (so far so good), and when it suits her, make herself look like a victim to a bunch of pious Westerners. I deleted my comments because on a closer look, what I object to is only slightly related to the topic. Namely, the idea that all prostitutes are victims, and all other people involved in prostitution are evildoers. My moral axioms probably aren't those of the HN majority, so I could get nothing out of this besides frustration. Also, I didn't read the article. Also, thanks for the reassuring calm tone of your response. This is just the thing for bedtime :)