by Graydyl

Created on: April 23, 2009

Is prostitution an occupation a woman should be proud of? In Joss Whedon's TV show Firefly, prostitution is not only legal, but is also a high-standard way of living for women. Should men be able to own women? Buying women from families is a practice commonly acknowledged and accepted in Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. Typical society would answer a very firm "no" to the two questions stated above. High-standard prostitution and the ability to own women conflict very strongly with the values and beliefs of society today. Because of these reasons, current society hinders our ability to fully grasp the concept of high-standard legal prostitution and the ability to own women. If our views disagree so strongly with the views of Firefly and Parable of the Sower, how are we able to enjoy the TV show and novel?

In Firefly, we are introduced to a lovely woman named Inara. Inara is a companion, otherwise known as a prostitute by our current standards. However, companions are highly esteemed and respected by everyone. They occupy a very high status in society, allowing them many advantages. The society in Firefly accepts the idea of companionship and does not think it immorally wrong. However, there are a few exceptions. Mal, the captain of Serenity, does not approve of Inara's occupation, and often insults her by calling her a whore. His disapproval is also shared by Shepherd Book, a pastor. The concept of religion seems to be the cause of their criticism. In the pilot episode, Mal had signs of being religious. Although he distrusts religion after losing the war, his religious values still exist, which is the main cause of his disapproval of Inara's occupation. As a religious figure, Book's reasons for his disapprobation is religion-based as well. With the exceptions of Mal and Book however, the rest of society accepts if not encourages companionship.

Similar to the acceptance of high-standard legal prostitution in Firefly, in Parable of the Sower, the act of buying and owning women is also widely accepted. As described in the novel, "[some men] can afford to pick up beautiful, young homeless women and live with them in polygamous relationships, [as well as] pick up twenty women like that if he could afford to" (Butler 36-37). "Zahra told how Richard Moss had bought her from her homeless mother when she was only fifteen" (Butler 169). It is inferred that it is legal for men, or men with enough money, to buy women and keep them as possessions. The society in

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