Prostitution and Feminism: Towards a Politics of Feeling

ISBN-10: 0745668100
ISBN-13: 9780745668109
Category: Social Science
Pages: 240
Language: English
Published: 2013-06-25
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Author: Maggie O'Neill

Description

Feminists have long differed in their view of prostitution. While some regard it as a classic form of exploitation and degradation, others offer a more sympathetic interpretation of women's involvement in the sex industry. In this important new book, Maggie O'Neill seeks to explore the theoretical debates on prostitution and the relevance of these to the everyday lived experiences of women working on the streets. Based upon her own ethnographic research - defined as ethno-mimesis - the author seeks to undermine and demystify stereotypical images of prostitutes. She explores the narratives offered by prostitutes themselves, as well as other forms of their representation in film, art and photography, and shows how these various mediums may be used to shed light on the socio-economic processes and structures which lead women into prostitution. These personal accounts produce what O'Neill refers to as 'a politics of feeling', which, she argues, may be used to transform attitudes, policy and practice in relation to female prostitution. By relating these individual experiences to critical feminist theory, the book deepens our understanding of the phenomenon of prostitution in contemporary society. The book will be of particular interest to students and scholars in gender studies, feminist theory and sociology.

Get the book

Similar books

Feminism, Prostitution and the State: The Politics of Neo-Abolitionism
By Eilis Ward, Gillian Wylie
This edited volume focuses on charting the rise of neo-abolitionism and offering a critique of the idea, its logics and consequences.
Re-thinking Prostitution: Feminism, Sex, and the Self
By Belinda J. Carpenter
Prostitution is a difficult issue, particularly for feminists. Are prostitutes victims of exploitation or the most honest of women? Are clients perverts or just acting instinctively? Should prostitution be eliminated...
Prostitution Policy: Revolutionizing Practice Through a Gendered Perspective
By Lenore Kuo
Through the lens of feminist theory, Kuo examines the milieu of prostitutes and the role of prostitution in contemporary society, and how the interplay of those two works itself out in practice.
Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers' Rights
By Molly Smith, Juno Mac
Should clients be criminalized, and can the police deliver justice? In Revolting Prostitutes, sex workers Juno Mac and Molly Smith bring a fresh perspective to questions that have long been contentious.
Whores and Other Feminists
By Jill Nagle
Comprising a range of voices from both within and outside the academy, this collection draws from traditional feminisms, postmodern feminism, queer theory, and sex radicalism.
Sex Work and Sex Workers
By Roberto Refinetti, Barry M. Dank
This volume will be of interest to sociologists, psychologists, legal analysts, and policymakers.
The Prostitution of Sexuality
By Kathleen Barry
Barry (sociology, Pennsylvania State U.) considers sexual exploitation a political condition and thus the foundation of women's subordination and the base from which discrimination against women is constructed.
Sex-Work, Prostitution and Policy: A Feminist Discourse Analysis
By Rebecca MF Hewer
Shorthand date Government 2008 Labour Together We Can End VAWG Brief description The first comprehensive Westminster ... was subject to oversight by a steering group of stakeholders from various statutory and third sector organisations, ...
Not for Sale: Feminists Resisting Prostitution and Pornography
By Rebecca Whisnant, Christine Stark
Bringing together research, testimony and theory by more than 30 writers and activists from different countries and generations, including a number of courageous industry survivors, 'Not for Sale' is a vital contribution to ongoing debates ...
The Pimping of Prostitution: Abolishing the Sex Work Myth
By Julie Bindel
This book examines one of the most contested issues facing feminists, human rights activists and governments around the globe – the international sex trade.