Julius T Jaesen II | Near East University (original) (raw)
Papers by Julius T Jaesen II
Women in politics, 2018
Many women especially in Liberia and other developing countries when asked if they would consider... more Many women especially in Liberia and other developing countries when asked if they would consider entering politics, i.e., consider becoming a candidate for an elective position in public office or appointed to a decision-making position in government, answer in the negative. Foremost among their reasons is that politics is reputed to be dirty, where methods employed include the illegal and the unethical to win in elections and assume power, and where the corruption of public service for personal and narrow group interests has been the accepted norm. They say that they are intimidated and threatened by these dark sides of politics that they are likely to be pressured to join as their entrance fee into mainstream politics.
Through numerous dialogues and networking at various governance levels from local to national, regional and international, many women in Liberia have come to some consensus that politics has to be transformed and that political transformation needs the active involvement of women. Therefore, women who believe in serving the public trust and can commit to public accountability should enter politics to effect this transformation.
Julius T. Jaesen, II, 2020
Voter trucking is becoming a widespread phenomenon within Liberian body politics since post-war L... more Voter trucking is becoming a widespread phenomenon within Liberian body politics since post-war Liberia and is eroding very severely the essence of representative democracy. Elections in any democratic system as I understand, supposed to be an open discourse of persuasion where candidates compete for popular support by presenting reasoned arguments about why they are most qualified for election to office and not an opportunity for elections outcomes or results to reflect the wallets of the most affluent candidates.
Books by Julius T Jaesen II
Introduction Prostitution is defined as a form of non-marital sexual activity characterized by f... more Introduction
Prostitution is defined as a form of non-marital sexual activity characterized by financial reward and absence of long-term fidelity between two parties (Tierney, H.1999). Prostitution has been
widely debated, condemned for its immoral and degrading nature. On the other hand, there are liberal feminists who have counter argued saying that prostitution is very empowering. The
controversy surrounding prostitution has divided feminists worldwide. Radical feminists are of the opinion that prostitution is an institution of male dominance that exploits economically
vulnerable and emotionally damaged women for the sake of male pleasure. In this regard, prostitutes become involuntary victims of patriarchy or conscious participants in the degradation of women. This therefore has impacts on all women as a group as prostitution continually affirms and reinforces patriarchal definitions of women as having a primary function to serve men sexually.
Conversely, liberal feminists find in prostitution a practice of women‘s resistance to and sexual
liberation from norms and traditional moral precepts of sexuality that have long served to control and subordinate women. Others see prostitution as a means of wrestling patriarchal control over women‘s sexuality that women should be at liberty to do (Tamale, S, 2008). Prostitution therefore raises moral and legal questions. The legal question is should the practice be
criminalized? In addition, the moral question is, is it wrong to sell or buy sex? These are questions I will endeavor to answer which are informed by the lived realities of women who make their living through prostitution. Prostitution or the selling of sex is, as some would call it, one of the oldest professions in the
world as it has been there since time immemorial. What is of interest is the way the law has decided to make it its business who and how people have sex by criminalizing prostitution. As
criminal law is meant to regulate social harms, what harm is caused by prostitution? The law seems to be a toothless bulldog in light of the fact that regardless of the criminalization of
prostitution many women still engage in the trade and make a living out of it. Criminalizing prostitution seems to be a futile exercise as it is failing to achieve the intended results that of deterring other possible perpetrators; instead. it just frustrates the women who engage in it as they are essentially constantly harassed by the police without any prosecution. Why are there
double standards as regards prostitution; why is it that it is only the sellers and not the buyers who are penalized? Is it not a case for patriarchy to further want to domesticate women and ensure that their sexuality is controlled and tamed within marriage? Considering that women in Africa are the least educated and when they are employed it is usually an extension of work done in the domestic arena which is the least paid; is prostitution not one of the better choices from the pool of work that they have to choose from? (Tamale, S, 2008).
It is therefore a need to look at prostitution as work and not on the sex as it were so that prostitutes not further driven underground which makes them vulnerable and susceptible to violence. Criminalization creates a culture permitting violence against sex workers and sanctions violence and discrimination against them. Sex workers are also afraid to report crimes against them, knowing that police may arrest them or may not take their claims seriously.
If criminalization has failed to reduce prostitution or protect the most vulnerable, what alternative model should take its place? It is this research case that prostitution should be viewed
as a legitimate option of work for women that identifies with bodily autonomy, financial independence and the notion of choice (Sanders et al 2009, 23).
Women in politics, 2018
Many women especially in Liberia and other developing countries when asked if they would consider... more Many women especially in Liberia and other developing countries when asked if they would consider entering politics, i.e., consider becoming a candidate for an elective position in public office or appointed to a decision-making position in government, answer in the negative. Foremost among their reasons is that politics is reputed to be dirty, where methods employed include the illegal and the unethical to win in elections and assume power, and where the corruption of public service for personal and narrow group interests has been the accepted norm. They say that they are intimidated and threatened by these dark sides of politics that they are likely to be pressured to join as their entrance fee into mainstream politics.
Through numerous dialogues and networking at various governance levels from local to national, regional and international, many women in Liberia have come to some consensus that politics has to be transformed and that political transformation needs the active involvement of women. Therefore, women who believe in serving the public trust and can commit to public accountability should enter politics to effect this transformation.
Julius T. Jaesen, II, 2020
Voter trucking is becoming a widespread phenomenon within Liberian body politics since post-war L... more Voter trucking is becoming a widespread phenomenon within Liberian body politics since post-war Liberia and is eroding very severely the essence of representative democracy. Elections in any democratic system as I understand, supposed to be an open discourse of persuasion where candidates compete for popular support by presenting reasoned arguments about why they are most qualified for election to office and not an opportunity for elections outcomes or results to reflect the wallets of the most affluent candidates.
Introduction Prostitution is defined as a form of non-marital sexual activity characterized by f... more Introduction
Prostitution is defined as a form of non-marital sexual activity characterized by financial reward and absence of long-term fidelity between two parties (Tierney, H.1999). Prostitution has been
widely debated, condemned for its immoral and degrading nature. On the other hand, there are liberal feminists who have counter argued saying that prostitution is very empowering. The
controversy surrounding prostitution has divided feminists worldwide. Radical feminists are of the opinion that prostitution is an institution of male dominance that exploits economically
vulnerable and emotionally damaged women for the sake of male pleasure. In this regard, prostitutes become involuntary victims of patriarchy or conscious participants in the degradation of women. This therefore has impacts on all women as a group as prostitution continually affirms and reinforces patriarchal definitions of women as having a primary function to serve men sexually.
Conversely, liberal feminists find in prostitution a practice of women‘s resistance to and sexual
liberation from norms and traditional moral precepts of sexuality that have long served to control and subordinate women. Others see prostitution as a means of wrestling patriarchal control over women‘s sexuality that women should be at liberty to do (Tamale, S, 2008). Prostitution therefore raises moral and legal questions. The legal question is should the practice be
criminalized? In addition, the moral question is, is it wrong to sell or buy sex? These are questions I will endeavor to answer which are informed by the lived realities of women who make their living through prostitution. Prostitution or the selling of sex is, as some would call it, one of the oldest professions in the
world as it has been there since time immemorial. What is of interest is the way the law has decided to make it its business who and how people have sex by criminalizing prostitution. As
criminal law is meant to regulate social harms, what harm is caused by prostitution? The law seems to be a toothless bulldog in light of the fact that regardless of the criminalization of
prostitution many women still engage in the trade and make a living out of it. Criminalizing prostitution seems to be a futile exercise as it is failing to achieve the intended results that of deterring other possible perpetrators; instead. it just frustrates the women who engage in it as they are essentially constantly harassed by the police without any prosecution. Why are there
double standards as regards prostitution; why is it that it is only the sellers and not the buyers who are penalized? Is it not a case for patriarchy to further want to domesticate women and ensure that their sexuality is controlled and tamed within marriage? Considering that women in Africa are the least educated and when they are employed it is usually an extension of work done in the domestic arena which is the least paid; is prostitution not one of the better choices from the pool of work that they have to choose from? (Tamale, S, 2008).
It is therefore a need to look at prostitution as work and not on the sex as it were so that prostitutes not further driven underground which makes them vulnerable and susceptible to violence. Criminalization creates a culture permitting violence against sex workers and sanctions violence and discrimination against them. Sex workers are also afraid to report crimes against them, knowing that police may arrest them or may not take their claims seriously.
If criminalization has failed to reduce prostitution or protect the most vulnerable, what alternative model should take its place? It is this research case that prostitution should be viewed
as a legitimate option of work for women that identifies with bodily autonomy, financial independence and the notion of choice (Sanders et al 2009, 23).