Feminist Perspectives on Prostitution as an Illegal Contract Essay

Feminist Perspectives on Prostitution as an Illegal Contract - Essay ExampleThis research testament begin with the rumor that bids for an outlawed purpose will not be enforced by the courts. In the UK, prostitution per se, is not illegal. However, many activities associated with prostitution such as kerb crawling, solicitation, living of earnings from prostitution, operating a house of ill repute and advertising prostitution services argon all illegal. Nevertheless, at common law, contracts purporting to support or abet a sexually immoral act will be regarded as illegal and consequently deemed illegal contracts. Prostitution is regarded as the promotion of sexual immorality and as such, any contract involving prostitution is regarded as an illegal contract. The liberal feminist or contractarian perception of prostitution argues that absent the use of force, prostitution is a legitimate economic choice for women and thus should be treated as any other contract of service or em ployment. Radical feminist theorists however, argue that prostitution involves selling ones system and is not simply the use of the human body but also the sexual use of a womans body. Radical feminist theory is consistent with the perceptions that prostitution is immoral and thus contracts involving prostitution would be illegal. Liberal feminist theory dismisses the immoral characterization of unforced prostitution and argues that prostitutes should be accorded the protection of the law via the law of contract and in particular service or employment contracts.... minism, an affirmation can be made in support of illegalizing contracts involving prostitutes in cases where the prostitute is forced into prostitution or is a minor. However, women who voluntarily turn to prostitution, may not see themselves as forced into the trade and will not likely see themselves as victims. From the perspective of radical feminists, prostitution represents the subordination, debasement and using of women by men.10 Radical feminists argue that prostitution by definition is an act of violence. In this regard, there is no such thing as voluntary prostitution, because it invariably involves some form of force, even if the thespian is unaware of it.11 Radical feminist Susan G. Cole characterizes prostitution as institutionalized male dominance and likens it to institutionalised slavery and dominance by the White race. In institutionalised slavery Blacks were hurt and via institutionalised prostitutions women are hurt.12 Radical feminist Andrea Dworkin argues that prostitution cannot be understood by reference to the exercise of individual choice. harmonise to Dworkin, prostitution together with rape negates self-determination and choice for women.13 In general, radical feminists argue that prostitution is an inherently harmful institution for women on three specific grounds. Firstly, prostitution involves purchasing a service that involves the degradation of the women offerin g the service. Secondly, prostitution itself relies on the perpetuation of inequality in terms of social and economic statuses and indicant between the prostitute and her client. Finally, prostitution contributes to the perpetuation of the inequalities underlying the practice.14 With respect to the first ground that prostitution