--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a silly question to ask a…" description: "\"It is a silly question to ask a prostitute why she does it.. These are the highest-paid professional women in America.\" — Gail Sheehy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/gail-sheehy-3031_america_it-is-a-silly-question-to-ask-a-prostitu_1748522.png" --- # It is a silly question to ask a prostitute why she does… ![“It is a silly question to ask a prostitute why she does it.. These are the highest-paid professional women in America.” quote by Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/gail-sheehy-3031_america_it-is-a-silly-question-to-ask-a-prostitu_1748522.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/gail-sheehy-3031_america_it-is-a-silly-question-to-ask-a-prostitu_1748522.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/gail-sheehy-3031_america_it-is-a-silly-question-to-ask-a-prostitu_1748522.png) > “It is a silly question to ask a prostitute why she does it.. These are the highest-paid professional women in America.” [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal judgments often overlook the agency of women in stigmatized professions, ignoring their professional status. **In simple terms:** Women in stigmatized jobs are professionals. Key Takeaway Recognize agency beyond stereotypes. Themes gender stigma agency Mood critical empathetic Type sociological inspirational When to use this quote - media portrayal - policy making - public perception Key Concepts sociology labor economics Questions to Reflect On - What drives women to choose such work? - How can society better respect all professions? A Different Perspective Simplifies complex socioeconomic factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Ask Prostitute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-prostitute-1585164/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Paid Professional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid-professional-1585166/) [Professional Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-women-1585165/) [Prostitute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prostitute/) [Prostitute Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prostitute-does-1585163/) [Prostitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prostitution/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) ## Related quotes > [The one thing prostitution is not is a 'victimless crime.' It attracts a wide species of preying criminals and generates a long line of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/the-one-thing-prostitution-is-not-is-a-victimless-crime-it-attracts-a/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [We're in the NFL. Everybody that lines up across from you is a talented, paid professional, and you have to treat them as such.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minkah-fitzpatrick/we-re-in-the-nfl-everybody-that-lines-up-across-from-you-is-a/) [Minkah Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minkah-fitzpatrick/) > [Being paid as a professional athlete didn't change how hard I was working because I'm always going to do that, whether it's the weight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taysom-hill/being-paid-as-a-professional-athlete-didn-t-change-how-hard-i-was/) [Taysom Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taysom-hill/) > [Who was the greatest prostitute in history? Ms. Pacman, for 25 cents that b\*tch swallowed balls till she died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/who-was-the-greatest-prostitute-in-history-ms-pacman-for-25-cents/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [“There were icons of the Magdalen on the walls and paintings in the Western manner, all kitsch, trash. Mary M., Lucas thought, half hypnotized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stone/there-were-icons-of-the-magdalen-on-the-walls-and-paintings-in-the/) [Robert Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stone/) > [When one lives with problems of importance, the prostitute is ideal. You pay, and whether or not you fail is of no importance. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-giacometti/when-one-lives-with-problems-of-importance-the-prostitute-is-ideal/) [Alberto Giacometti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-giacometti/) > [The contempt which men feel for the prostitute, and the fact that they have always regarded themselves as far superior to her, even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-roberta-noble-neilans/the-contempt-which-men-feel-for-the-prostitute-and-the-fact-that-they/) [Alison Roberta Noble Neilans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-roberta-noble-neilans/) > [What is the difference between a prostitute and a wife? One is a temporary arrangement, the other is a little more permanent. Marriage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/what-is-the-difference-between-a-prostitute-and-a-wife-one-is-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“If a woman thinks that she has the right to sleep with whomever she chooses and without any emotional attachment, the only difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/if-a-woman-thinks-that-she-has-the-right-to-sleep-with-whomever-she/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [“In a world of twelve-years-olds in sexy boots and nans in sparkly mini-dresses, the surest way to tell the prostitute walking into a hotel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belle-de-jour/in-a-world-of-twelve-years-olds-in-sexy-boots-and-nans-in-sparkly/) [Belle de Jour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belle-de-jour/) > [It's not about being a sex prostitute. It's about this power play in the war of the sexes. It's a rat race, like, "I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/it-s-not-about-being-a-sex-prostitute-it-s-about-this-power-play-in/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [“We’ll have to devise another means of income.” “How?” “At this point, our swiftest and more reliable means of making money is prostitution.” “You–you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/we-ll-have-to-devise-another-means-of-income-how-at-this-point-our/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [The prostitute is not, as feminists claim, the victim of men, but rather their conqueror, an outlaw, who controls the sexual channels between nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-prostitute-is-not-as-feminists-claim-the-victim-of-men-but-rather/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Little girls do not wake up in the morning and say "I dream of being a prostitute." It is a terrible, terrible life. Body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/little-girls-do-not-wake-up-in-the-morning-and-say-i-dream-of-being-a/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I've only ever met one woman who actually was a prostitute of her own free will. She didn't have a pimp. She could pick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-ve-only-ever-met-one-woman-who-actually-was-a-prostitute-of-her-own/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) ## More by Gail Sheehy > [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [To be tested is good. The challenged life may be the best therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/to-be-tested-is-good-the-challenged-life-may-be-the-best-therapist/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [No one can control the aging process or the trajectory of illness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/no-one-can-control-the-aging-process-or-the-trajectory-of-illness/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [“Further discomfort from these new realities afflicts men who expected to reach a certain level by dint of their white maleness but who now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/further-discomfort-from-these-new-realities-afflicts-men-who-expected/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [I dare to do things - that's how I survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-dare-to-do-things-that-s-how-i-survive/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [Spontaneity, the hallmark of childhood, is well worth cultivating to counteract the rigidity that may otherwise set in as we grow older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/spontaneity-the-hallmark-of-childhood-is-well-worth-cultivating-to/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [By listening, by caring, by playing you back to yourself, friends ratify your better instincts and endorse your unique worth. Friends validate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/by-listening-by-caring-by-playing-you-back-to-yourself-friends-ratify/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [The first thing one notices about Jill Abramson is her short stature. The second is her intensity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/the-first-thing-one-notices-about-jill-abramson-is-her-short-stature/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [“Ignorant of our own and our mate’s inner life, we are ruled largely by external forces at this stage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/ignorant-of-our-own-and-our-mate-s-inner-life-we-are-ruled-largely-by/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [Family caregiving has become a predictable crisis. Americans are living longer and longer but dying slower and slower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/family-caregiving-has-become-a-predictable-crisis-americans-are/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [“The other real forces urging young people into marriages generally sift down to one of the following: the need for safety, the need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/the-other-real-forces-urging-young-people-into-marriages-generally/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [I'd visually have that idea. I'm diving off the end of the diving board. I'm not going to be worried about if I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-d-visually-have-that-idea-i-m-diving-off-the-end-of-the-diving/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [To hear how special and wonderful we are is endlessly enthralling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/to-hear-how-special-and-wonderful-we-are-is-endlessly-enthralling/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [When men reach their sixties and retire, they go to pieces. Women go right on cooking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/when-men-reach-their-sixties-and-retire-they-go-to-pieces-women-go/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [Journalism today is obviously in a major transition. Going to journalism school, learning how to write, working your way up in a little paper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/journalism-today-is-obviously-in-a-major-transition-going-to/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) [Explore all 142 Gail Sheehy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is a silly question to ask a prostitute why she does it.. 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