Feminist Philosophy Reading Group (Week 6)

Reading: Anderson, Scott A. "Prostitution and Sexual Autonomy: Making Sense of the Prohibition of Prostitution." Ethics 112.4 (2002): 748-780.

Summary: This article outlines the radical feminist critique of prostitution and then describes how liberals have responded to this critique, in particular, the suggestion that prostitution, including our attitudes toward it, can and should be reformed. To make progress in resolving this dispute, I first step back from a narrow focus on prostitution and examine the broader role that certain social regulations of sexual behavior play in protecting individual sexual autonomy throughout our society. These regulations serve as a barrier between sexual activity and the activities of production and commerce. After showing how sexual autonomy is protected by these sorts of barriers, I return to the radical feminists’ critique and argue that a prohibition on prostitution can be justified because of the role it plays in defending the sexual autonomy of the poorest, least-powerful members of our society. This is important for those people most vulnerable to becoming prostitutes, but it is also necessary in order to pursue justice between rich and poor, as well as equality between women and men.

Link: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/339672?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

If you have any questions, or difficulty accessing the reading, please do not hesitate to contact me at: charlotte.figueroa@philosophy.ox.ac.uk