Why the approach of Radical Feminism to prostitution is most superior - Essay Example

?Why the approach of Radical Feminism to prostitution is most superior? “Prostitution” is a highly insightful and thought-provoking article ed by Alison Jaggar. There are many hidden aspects of this issue which need to be explored properly to solve certain complex riddles which have been the source of discomfort for quite long now. While some see no problem with prostitution and defend it, others strongly call for the force of law to dispel this horrendous activity which has grave social repercussions. Many approaches have been identified by scholars over the years to understand and analyze the issue of prostitution. The three key approaches identified by Jaggar in her paper are related to liberalism, radical feminism, and classical Marxism. Each one of these approaches is comprehensively explicated and related to prostitution to analyze the merits offered by all three. My argument is this essay is that of all three approaches, radical feminism is the most preferable approach to prostitution because I believe that the women who engage in this practice do not engage out of free will, but are forced to do so being victims of oppression. To clarify this argument, I will start by briefly discussing the theme of both the liberal and Marxist approaches first and then I will scrutinize my preferred approach at length to prove why it is better. I will also include one objection to my position on this subject. According to the liberal approach as discussed by Jaggar, considering the practice of prostitution illegal or offensive is both a conservative and objectionable ideology. Proponents of this approach argue that prostitution should be decriminalized because taking legal measures against it would be a clear violation of thousands of women’s rights who engage in this practice by full consent. They also claim that any psychological or emotional disadvantages brought by offering sexual services are dwarfed by many benefits in the form of financial assistance ensured by this activity to women. Such liberals consider the defenders of radical feminism arrogant and manipulative who in the name of defending women’s rights actually work to make them more disadvantaged. The liberal approach disapproves equating prostitution to sexual abuse of women. This thought is based on the belief that prostitution is not public but private immorality due to which it cannot be considered a concern of criminal law enforcement agencies. Criminal law should only be concerned with the sources of public immorality like pornography which is a far cry from prostitution. This approach stresses that opponents should realize the staggering difference between prostitution which is harmless and pornography which can be harmful and not attempt to mingle them. Willingly or consciously selling sexual services is not the kind of activity which infringes on public order and decency, so there should be no penalties for people who are involved in this practice on any level (Jaggar, 1980, pp. 349-50). The Marxist approach is not as simplistic as the liberal approach and has more depth to it. This approach draws conclusions about prostitution after analyzing myriad effects produced by it on the society as the social context of any activity is considered critically important here. Marxists agree that prostitution translates into selling sexual services, but they also argue that this activity resembles marriage a lot in which a woman exchanges same services which are exchange in prostitution in return for financial support ensured by her husband. In the marriage, a man is willing to provide for the woman on the condition that she acknowledges and fulfills his sexual needs. Same is the case in prostitution in which a woman consents to offer sexual services in exchange for money from the men she attends. However, the difference is that a marriage is a legalized relationship approved by the social norms, while prostitution is not legalized and the women who are a part of this are called many derogatory names by the society. It is claimed by Marxists that before condemning prostitution, it should be realized how often even a sacred bond like marriage degenerates into prostitution too whenever property is involved (Jaggar, 1980, p. 354). So, is marriage considered offensive too? The answer is no which highlights the hypocrisy of the view which condemns prostitution and calls for the force of law to abolish this practice. It is quite common for a woman in marriage to enter into slavery once and for all but what makes her different from the established prostitutes is that she is unaware of her degradation or degeneration into prostitution, while professional prostitutes openly sell their bodies. In contrast to the liberal approach, the Marxist approach suggests that prostitution is a kind of labor which promises profit to the prostitutes. This is a positive way of looking at this activity, while the truth as promoted by radical feminism is that there is nothing positive about prostitution. This is because it considerably degrades the status of women and any activity which objectifies women and insults them cannot be viewed in a positive light. These poor women are considered superior to one another on grounds of their market price which is deplorable. Marriage is never an option for them, so there is a compulsion to participate in prostitution to fight the economic pressure. This view stands in contrast to liberalism which suggests that women sell themselves out of free will disregarding the presence of compulsion which according to radical feminism, is always there playing a strong role. While the radical feminist approach makes any attempts to advance welfare of women, it also attracts a fair amount of criticism from liberals due to promoting a dehumanized image of prostitution. Radical feminists and proponents of prostitution differ on many levels regarding if this activity should be allowed or not. I believe this particular approach is most suited to studying prostitution because it provides many reasons for equating prostitution to female exploitation which is the reality. The liberal approach to prostitution may appear to be uncomplicated, but a closer look suggests it to be absolutely flawed and deceptive (Jaggar, 1980, p. 352). This is because this assumption underlying liberalism that prostitution should be perceived as a regular contract like any other business contract is very objectionable. A business contract does not result in dehumanization of the parties involved, while prostitution results in dehumanization of both the prostitute and her client. Equating the act of selling sexual services as a wage laborer to a business contract is a flawed ideology which makes liberalism defective. In contrast to radical feminism which suggests that prostitution should be abolished by legal prohibition, it is argued by Marxists that this end cannot be achieved by legal measures. While huge importance is attached to legal measures in radical feminism, Marxists claim that prostitution stems from inequality of wealth and it is more important to eliminate this inequality. Instead of directly lashing out on prostitution, this ideology working in the background which gives men all the control and compels women to sell their bodies should be transformed. Thus, Marxism conveys this message that a complete revolution is required for prostitution to be eliminated (Jaggar, 1980, p. 358). But, I believe it is wrong to suggest that taking legal measures against prostitution is not an important way of achieving the end of eliminating prostitution. In accordance with the approach of radical feminism, I believe that prostitution should not be legalized because legal prostitution as defended by liberalism fosters an atmosphere of violence in which women are not equal to men. This is why stressing on legal measures, in contrast to Marxism, is highly important. Marxism also equates prostitution to wage labor which is a means of earning profit. But, radical feminism differs from both this approach and liberalism. It argues against liberalism’s narrow definition of sexual services and also opposes Marxism’s idea of considering prostitution a form of wage labor. I also believe radical feminism to be superior to both Marxism and liberalism because prostitution neither ensures enjoyment nor profit to the prostitutes. I believe in the approach of radical feminism because it offers a broader explanation of prostitution promoting it as a means of reinforcing the idea of male dominance and lending stability to a patriarchal societal makeup. The educated yet ignorant people in high positions who identify themselves as liberals refuse to acknowledge the unbelievable amount of pain caused by prostitution to women. They insist on being oblivious to the pain and helplessness hidden behind the fake smiles displayed on the faces of women who have to smile to attract the male customers. They deny this absolute reality that it is not a matter of free will or consent, but a matter of compulsion which makes women engage in a broad range of degrading activities for the sexual pleasures of men who want to see women play a submissive role. Women as prostitutes are so badly humiliated by men that, in contrast to what is suggested by liberalism or Marxism, prostitution definitely forms a legal issue of infringement on civil rights of women. Regardless of such empty arguments that selling sexual services is a matter of personal choice or a labor which guarantees profit, the approach of radical feminism justifiably stresses that prostitution promotes women as worthless objects to be treated humiliatingly. This definitely calls for the force of law. In response to this, research done on laws regarding prostitution in Canada suggests that prostitutes have always been “the main focus of law enforcement” (Lowman, cited in Canada.gc.ca, 2013) considering how there many laws implemented by The Criminal Code of Canada which “make it virtually impossible to practice prostitution without running afoul of the law” (Canada.gc.ca, 2013). However despite these laws, it is claimed that throughout Canada, “sexual services are just a click, a phone call or a short stroll away” (Makin, 2012). Wendy McElroy identifies herself as a liberal who supports the idea of abolishing all legal measures which discourage or prohibit prostitution calling it feminist hypocrisy. She believes that laws against prostitution do not guarantee any benefit to women and only decriminalizing prostitution is the way to lend prostitutes the same protection as is enjoyed by any other woman (McElroy, 2006). In contrast to radical feminists who strongly disapprove of this activity, McElroy as a liberal maintains that legalization of prostitution and eliminating all laws which restrict selling of sex can make prostitutes equal to other women who are not prostitutes. She suggests that feminists are wrong to assume that selling sex makes women victims and reduces them to objects. In contrast, she claims that prostitution is a victimless crime. It is an activity which is almost like a business contract because all parties entering this contract too are consenting and conscious adults who are not forced to make a commitment. There is no compulsion for a female prostitute to sell herself, rather it is a potential opportunity for her to make a living. It is considered a crime only because it inadvertently infringes on the moral code of uninvolved parties (McElroy, 2006), which does not in reality make prostitution a crime. The authoress of “Prostitution Should Be Decriminalized” also maintains that unnecessarily attacking this activity of willingly selling and purchasing sex and taking legal measures to crush it would essentially deprive many women of their natural right to make a living. However, I believe it is laughable to suggest that there should be no stress laid on taking legal measures against prostitution considering it is actually an institution defended and supervised by those who in the name of tolerance only want male dominance to continue uninterrupted. In conclusion, I totally relate with the approach of radical feminism because it is explicitly clear how prostitution is only meant to satisfy the pathetic desires of men to control women and treat them degradingly. This is an evil practice which in contrast to what is suggested by liberalism and Marxism does not ensure either enjoyment or autonomy to women. This is just an institution meant to objectify women and force them to depend on men for survival. Countless women in prostitution are judged as objects which can be achieved or enjoyed for a set time period in exchange for money by men. This activity dehumanizes both prostitutes and their clients. References: Canada.gc.ca. (2013, Apr 30). Youth Involvement in Prostitution: A Focus on Intrafamilial Violence - A Literature Review. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/yj-jj/tr99_3-rt99_3/p2.html Jaggar, A.M. (1980). Prostitution. In A. Soble (Ed.), The Philosophy of Sex (1st ed.). (pp. 348-68). USA: Rowman & Littlefield. Makin, K. (2012, Aug 24). Why the courts must decriminalize prostitution. THE GLOBE AND MAIL. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/why-the-courts-must-decriminalize-prostitution/article598683/?page=all Wendy, M. (2006). Prostitution Should Be Decriminalized. 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