Prostitution: A Feminist Issue?

Feminism is a movement which is supposed to be committed to equal rights for all women, and yet, on certain matters related to sexuality, feminists have often been divided. Showden (2012) argues that feminist theory is still arguing about the theory of sexuality, are still bent on the idea of “sex wars,” wars in which one gender, the female gender is under attack and it needs protecting at all costs. Amber Dawn’s book, “How Poetry Saved my Life,” for example, shows a rare instance of what it means to be a sex worker and a feminist, as Dawn finds herself working as an activist many times during her life. Dawn also describes how sex workers look out for each other, have an understanding of the risks inherent to their jobs, and are performing essential and deeply feminist functions as community activists. In spite of this reality, feminists have had a hard time showing a united front in support of legalizing sex work. McGinnis (1995) notes that “feminism has a particular problem in dealing with questions of sexuality,” and has often taken sides, including siding with conservatives on issues such as prostitution and pornography.

Pro-Legalization

Many feminist scholars have argued in the recent years that “prostitution should be understood as legitimate work, and an expression of women’s choice and agency,” not considered something that’s inherently oppressive and sexist, which should be opposed (Jeffreys, 2009). Amber Dawn seems to hold a similar, pro-legalization stance, saying that legalization would make the world safer for sex workers. However, Beran (2012) cites a former Danish prostitute who says that “when the state legalized prostitution, to me, it legalized rape.” This shows that many feminists and governments don’t know how to approach prostitution, because this is a complicated issue which “implicated philosophical and moral questions of autonomy, power, gender, and oppression” (Beran, 2012). Some also argue that prostitution, as our society understands it today, is socially constructed and just as subjective as gender, as throughout history this “job” often had religious and social significance (Satz, 1996).

Against Legalization

The argument against legalization is very old, comes down from the first and second wave of feminism, and argues that prostitution, like pornography, “symbolizes the subordination of women” and leads to other societal evils, such as trafficking and labor abuses (Jeffreys, 2009). It is a clear reality that within the global economy many people make money off trafficking, and women from poor countries who become victims make little or no income (Jeffreys, 2009). Being against legalization also means understanding other causes which led to prostitution in the first place, as well as implications of prostitution. For example, most prostitutes experience a history of violence, childhood abuse, poverty, are targeted due to their race, marginalization and so on, so it is difficult to say that they really have a choice and as a society, perhaps we should make sure there are always other options for women in terms of employment. There is also the idea of “promiscuity” associated with exchanging sexual favors for money, which society seems to reject as an unstable element (Kissil & Davey, 2010).

Discussion & Further Questions

Sometimes, the same criticism works in support of both sides. For example, legalizing prostitution would make the lives of sex workers safer, but it would also support neoliberal and capitalist practices, by considering women’s bodies as simple market commodities. It would be hard for radical feminists, even abolitionists, to support a system in which women’s bodies are sold, bought and taxed by a capitalist government bent on making a profit.

Sex workers perform a vital service to society and their plight is a feminist issue. Feminists should work towards legalizing the sex professions and work on behalf of the rights for prostitutes but McGinnis (1995) shows that “feminism finds itself unable to listen to the demands of prostitutes’ rights groups and to help them get rid of the laws that make their work more difficult and dangerous.” Why can’t feminists rally behind the legalizing prostitution debate? Is it because they have an inherent morality which is closely tied to sexuality or is it because we, as a society, would prefer some people remain voiceless and invisible so they don’t offend our sensibilities? And, as long as some people remain voiceless, aren’t feminists simply supporting the hegemonic system which discriminates against the marginalized instead of fighting the patriarchal establishment?

References

Jeffreys, S. (2009). Prostitution, trafficking and feminism: An update on the debate. Women's Studies International Forum, 32(4), 316-320.

Kissil, K., & Davey, M. (2010). The prostitution debate in feminism: Current trends, policy and clinical issues facing an invisible population. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 22(1), 1-21.

McGinnis, J. D. (1995). Whores and worthies: Feminism and prostitution. Canadian Journal of Law and Society, 9(1), 105.

Satz, D. (1996). Moral dilemmas of feminism: Prostitution, adultery and abortion.laurie shrage. Ethics, 106(4), 864-866.

Showden, C. R. (2012). Theorising maybe: A feminist/queer theory convergence. Feminist Theory, 13(1), 3-25.