The XX Factor: What women really think.

Condoms, Ick!

A correspondent—my former University of Virginia law student Chris Guhin—e-mails to report this:

I'm ... an avid reader of XX Factor on Slate, as well as someone who was for a while mystified by the lack of general media attention on the "things ... you might not think were safe" that Governor Spitzer asked various escorts to do.  Still, it appears that those things were in no way related to sexual violence but instead related to Spitzer's desire not to use a condom during sex.  According to the New York Post, "Two law-enforcement officials said a 'safety' worry expressed by one of the bookers about Client 9 was Spitzer's preference not to wear a condom during his $4,300 night with the prostitute.  One source said he wanted her to perform oral sex on him without the prophylactic. But the hooker, Kristen, apparently insisted on one, and he submitted to her request, according to court papers." 

Interesting, and in line with XX Factor speculation. But though I have no particular reason to suspect Spitzer himself of violence, this doesn't really change my views about what's creepy here: the looming threat of violence that's inherent in the prostitute-client relationship ...

 Thanks, Chris!