Questions about Prostitute Procedure

March 22, 2004 1:31 PM

Short Story Research Filter: In films, a prostitute will often ask if she can use the bathroom. I'm guessing that it's for the purpose of freshening up, but (a) does this entail anything specific? and (b) does this actually happen? (cue embarrasment at my woeful lack of knowledge / ability to ask what is probably a stupid question / the nature of the question).
posted by seanyboy to Human Relations (17 answers total)

Honestly, not all, but the refresh-in-up includes having their fix, which is not always a pretty sight. Not everyone whom likes coke likes the sight of crack.
posted by thomcatspike at 1:33 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

IANAW, but I would guess that she is either actually using the toilet, getting high, putting on makeup, powdering her nose (yes it really happens), washing certain body parts, brushing her hair, or sucking on something...maybe a nice mint. Or any combination of the above. None of them sound too implausible to use in your story.

Maybe some nice, honest-to-goodness whores will chime in and give us the skinny.
posted by iconomy at 1:45 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

I always thought it was to put a diaphragm or iud in or something. (i only knew male whores--sorry)
posted by amberglow at 2:08 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

IUDs have to be inserted by medical professionals, as they go inside the uterus and require dilation of the cervix.
posted by eilatan at 2:13 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

They could also be checking to make sure there isn't a psycho in the house, or calling their agency to let them know where they are.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:18 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

My friend Jim, who knows from some whores, says: She is calling her pimp/madam on a cellphone to say that yes, you paid her and no, don't send the knee-capping thugs.
posted by xmutex at 2:21 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

I assumed it meant making everything purty-smellin' down south.

Or whatever.
posted by pomegranate at 2:28 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

The above are all good ideas. Applying some lubcrication might also be a reason.
posted by scarabic at 2:35 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

Sorry, off-topic, but man, I kinda want to hear the story now. If before the act, it could be for all of the above reasons, or if after, she might actually have to use the bathroom. Some women have to go right after sex because of g-spot stimulation or regular clitoral stimulation - everything seems to be connected down there.
posted by plemeljr at 2:55 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

Visit this website (which is some great reading) and maybe send her an email.

http://belledejour-uk.blogspot.com/
posted by jopreacher at 4:05 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

I always assumed it was for the purpose of inserting a diaphragm and is a hold-over from the pre-pill era where "liberated" women carried diaphragms instead of worrying about pregnancy. They're not fun to wear around, so you'd want to put them in pretty much right before you got horizontal and insertion can involve messy spermicidal creams [i.e. not the world's best turn-on, esp if you're being paid]. Alternately douching, rouging nipples, breath mints, fixing, all are likely scenarios. Probably you see it in a lot of movies because the people who make the movies all watch the same movies. I also figured it's so you can get some screen time alone with Mr. Protagonist, so just a handy device.
posted by jessamyn at 5:39 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

why don't you have her try to crawl out of the bathroom window cause she's too scared of the client, or disgusted by him?

or as thomcat pointed out, have her OD' in the guy's bathroom, so he now has a dead hooker to dispose of.

interesting, no?
posted by matteo at 7:03 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

I just asked a FOAFOAF who knows these things, and they said one main purpose was to change from street clothes to something sexier and easier for the client to remove. (sounds reasonable to me)
posted by milovoo at 7:14 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

For a first person look at prostitutes, read Mark Ames Whore-R Stories in the russian ex-pat zine 'the eXile'. Many times the girls shower first.
posted by dgaicun at 7:20 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

Sometimes to check for anything worth stealing, such as prescription drugs.
posted by Goofyy at 11:25 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

In Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts was flossing her teeth...
posted by Alylex at 11:55 PM on March 22, 2004 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: AskMefi is great. I'd guessed at most of it, but the phonecall to the pimp/madam is fantastic, and I hadn't even considered lubrication. The pretty woman line is pretty good too, but I'm trying to stay away from inner dialogue, so not sure that I can use it. Thankyou.
posted by seanyboy at 12:31 AM on March 23, 2004 [1 favorite]