Life features an abundant amount of choices. Some choices are endowed to us by documents that forge the backbone of society, others are made for us. However, as an existentialist would say, you always have a choice. Existentialism is a philosophical theory that stresses that all humans are free and responsible for their own development through their own decisions. In the play, The Respectful Prostitute by Jean-Paul Sartre, Lizzie uses her own freedom to advance her socioeconomic status and fulfill her need to be wanted at the expense of two people’s lives and justice for the man who was slain.
The Respectful Prostitute details a fictitious example of injustice in a racially-biased judicial system in the United States south that borrows from …show more content…
Intersectionalism as defined in the article Intersectionality by Christina Emba of the Washington Post is “how different forms of oppression can overlap and interact.” Lizzie is a woman and because of historical gender roles imbedded into our social construct, she is discriminated against. Lizzie is also a sex worker which is one of the least desirable and least respected occupations. The discrimination faced because she is a sex worker overlaps and exceeds that of being a woman. Some have said it is her class that causes her to face dual discrimination but truly, it is her occupation because had she been a poor laborer she would atleast have some respect from the townspeople for doing hard work. Throughout the play, Lizzie faces the belittlement, abuse and mockery of the Senator and his son, Fred. Another factor for her decision was that prostitution was not a viable source of income. Not only was illegal and subjects her to arrest, it also varies in demand as seen by her need to move South for work. Her career also made her want to avoid the spotlight because it is illegal. Standing trial or telling the truth would put her in the spotlight and might have even led to her own arrest through the corruption of the police and judicial system which favored the accused white killer because of familial ties. Lizzie was exploited due to her vulnerability, the intersectional discrimination she faced, and her need to avoid attention but still had the choice to use her freedom in the name of
The Respectful Prostitute details a fictitious example of injustice in a racially-biased judicial system in the United States south that borrows from …show more content…
Intersectionalism as defined in the article Intersectionality by Christina Emba of the Washington Post is “how different forms of oppression can overlap and interact.” Lizzie is a woman and because of historical gender roles imbedded into our social construct, she is discriminated against. Lizzie is also a sex worker which is one of the least desirable and least respected occupations. The discrimination faced because she is a sex worker overlaps and exceeds that of being a woman. Some have said it is her class that causes her to face dual discrimination but truly, it is her occupation because had she been a poor laborer she would atleast have some respect from the townspeople for doing hard work. Throughout the play, Lizzie faces the belittlement, abuse and mockery of the Senator and his son, Fred. Another factor for her decision was that prostitution was not a viable source of income. Not only was illegal and subjects her to arrest, it also varies in demand as seen by her need to move South for work. Her career also made her want to avoid the spotlight because it is illegal. Standing trial or telling the truth would put her in the spotlight and might have even led to her own arrest through the corruption of the police and judicial system which favored the accused white killer because of familial ties. Lizzie was exploited due to her vulnerability, the intersectional discrimination she faced, and her need to avoid attention but still had the choice to use her freedom in the name of