Prostitution: Feminist Perspective
There is a very strange and complex relationship between feminism and sex work. For many feminists, the question remains if sex work is the result of a patriarchal society, or an empowering choice? From there, the question goes to the legal status of sex work.
Some feminists believe that prostitution isn’t morally wrong, but in the context of the current social and economic situation of women, it perpetuates women’s subordinate status. Other feminist reasons against prostitution stem from the issue of the heavy consequences of sex work, such as risk of violence and sexually transmitted diseases. Those in favor of legalizing sex work say that it can help women build careers for themselves, which can be empowering. Pro-sex workers believe that saying that prostitution is an issue for women, detracts from the myriad of other social structures that lead to the oppression of women.
On one end of the spectrum there are feminists completely against prostitution. Laurie Shrage makes a case for this feminist perspective, saying “female prostitution oppresses women, not because some women who participate in it ‘suffer in the eyes of society’ but because its organized practice testifies to and perpetuates socially hegemonic beliefs which oppress all women in many domains of their lives.” That is just intelligent language saying that prostitution oppresses women. Sex work contributes to a patriarchal society in the sense that although there are some women who run brothels and pimp out girls, a majority of the business owners, pimps, and clients are males. In this way, prostitution leads to women in a constant state of servitude, and a cycle of misogyny.
Other feminists believe that sex work can be turned into a very safe and profitable venture for women. Some women may enjoy work that allows them to take charge of their own bodies and express their sexuality; it can be liberating. In their eyes, prostitution is not exploitative of women and under the proper conditions, can actually serve as a benefit. These conditions include training on STDs and self-defense, the right to refuse engaging in dangerous situations, the right to unionize, limits on the proportion of their income that managers can take, benefits like health insurance and sick day, etc. Basically if sex work is legalized and sex workers are offered the same protections offered to people in other industries, it would be recognized and treated as legitimate work. The sex industry represents billions of dollars, but very little of that is actually given into the hands of women. Women who do work in the sex industry are stigmatized and shunned, but there is a very large sense of hypocrisy in that.
The issue of what to do with prostitution is not a simple one to solve. All I have to say is that prostitution has been here for thousands of years and will continue to exist. Be it empowering or demeaning, moral or immoral, women deserve safer conditions and equality in the sex industry.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
5 Responses to “Prostitution: Feminist Perspective”
I’m glad you looked at both sides of the argument with this issue because I am sort of in between with prostitution. On the one hand, I don’t like that society drives women into doing something dangerous and that won’t help them in the long run financially. But I also feel like it is a woman’s choice and if prostitution were legalized, it could provide better and safer environments for these women. I know in some places in Nevada, it is legal and the women are treated fairly with income and have secure places for their work. In an ideal world, I wouldn’t want prostitution to exist but that’s never going to happen so I think the best way to deal with the issue is make it safe as possible. If that means making it legal and addressing it as a legit business, then so be it.
I definitely do not believe in prostitution, but i can see the point that it is going to continue its existence, and with legalization it would offer important protections for the women involved. Additionally, it may give them more freedom because they would not have to hide any abuses that may occur by their pimps for fear of getting caught. I agree that its legalization is ultimately the best solution because then women will at least give women more power and protection in the industry.
I don’t agree with prostitution, but if it has to exist, I believe it should be legalized. Legalizing prostitution would make it safer. It would be less of an underground operation and could be regulated. My views on prostitution are similar to those on abortion. I wouldn’t ever do it myself, but if legalizing makes it safer, then I think it should be done.
As a developing feminist, I would have to side with the groups of feminists that deem prostitution wrong. By no means does prostitution perpetuates women’s subordinate status. If anything, it demeans a woman’s status and leaves us right at the feet of a man. Prostitution is way that men take advantage of women because of their sexuality. Women need to learn to stop pleasing men. Isn’t that what the whole feminist movement is about?
As sad as this may be, prostitution will always be a successful “get rich quick” or “something that pays the bills” type job because, well, people will always want to “do it.” Many a single, struggling mother or woman in general find hope in the field of adult entertainment, stripping, or prostitution because it will always be in demand. We got into a sort of argument in my class last semester regarding whether or not prostitution was anti feminist or feminist. Does the woman do it for herself because she’s confident in her sexuality, or is she merely conforming to the patriarchal ideal? I think this is a debate we will never settle.