Making Sex Work: A Failed Experiment with Legalised Prostitution

by Mary Lucille Sullivan

Backing up theory and critical literature with hard evidence, this book refutes the idea that legalization of prostitution can be anything but a harmful contributor to the commodification of women. It explores the fallacy of the "cottage industry," the role of financial institutions in supporting prostitution, the myth of exit programs, the conflation of legal and illegal sex industries, the problem of applying occupational health and safety standards to prostitution, and the specter of sex trafficking.

Genres: Feminism, Politics

235 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, it was a good book, but I'm still disatisfied with the idea that she'd take the study where it said that teen males in prostitution suffer less as word, and not as part of the same propaganda that assumes that there is some kind of woman ideal to be prostituted whether it is because she likes it or because she's inferior enough.

Upon reading this book I also realized that pro-abortion and pro-prostitution arguments are based on the same liberal "choice" arguments, and it also got me thinking how this talk about "safe sex" and "consent ethics" just continues to put women's lives at risk.

You'd never believe how many foundations and the UN included lobby for prostitution to be legal, and how linked the prostitution industry is to pornography and other exploitative activities. I also think there are parallels to be made with the "war on drugs". The illegal market will prove to be more profitable, always, so legalizing won't stop the illegal businesses either. Good to also see a reference to Raymond's critique of the RU 486 pill which I hope to read soon.

[Thubten Palmo · Rating 1 out of 5]

This woman is an idiot. "Could YOU do this job?" yeah I did, in Western Australia, and it was fine. But this is just radical feminists adding to their echo chamber. Hope you made a quick buck queen