The Idea of Prostitution

by Sheila Jeffreys

This work explores the idea of men's entitlement to abuse and profit from the abuse of women in prostitution. It aims to show how this idea is central to male supremacist ideology, and has been bolstered by masculine systems of thought such as sexology, sociology, historiography and queer theory. It asserts that the feminist challenge to this idea has become more difficult in recent times because sexual liberalism, economic individualism and free "choice" ideas have persuaded even some feminists that prostitution should be seen as "just a job like any other". The book argues that it is important to recognise men's abuse of women in prostitution as a variety of male sexual violence and a violation of women's human rights.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Politics, Sexuality, Sociology, Sex Work, History

394 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Sheila Jeffreys writes and teaches in the areas of sexual politics, international gender politics, and lesbian and gay politics. She has written six books on the history and politics of sexuality. Originally from the UK, Sheila moved to Melbourne in 1991 to take up a position at the University of Melbourne. She has been actively involved in feminist and lesbian feminist politics, particularly around the issue of sexual violence, since 1973. She is involved with the international non-government organization, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, in international organising.

She is the author of The Spinster and Her Enemies: Feminism and Sexuality, 1880-1930 (1985/1997) Anticlimax: A Feminist Perspective on the Sexual Revolution (1990), The Lesbian Heresy: A Feminist Perspective on the Lesbian Sexual Revolution (1993), The Idea of Prostitution (1997), Unpacking Queer Politics: a lesbian feminist perspective (2003) and Beauty and Misogyny: Harmful Cultural Practices in the West (2005).

Reviews

[Jaclynn (JackieReadsAlot)]

Very well-researched and thorough, but very academic. I recommend a background in feminist theory and philosophy before reading.

[raina]

sheila jeffreys is a genius

[Elena]

DNF

[Clara!]

An important commentary on a difficult, tragic issue.

[C.]

Incredible.

[Heathyr]

Sheila Jeffreys is a no-nonsense writer.