In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

2 Three Hard Choices This book focuses on three types of choices that are problematic for feminist theorists and activists.1 It focuses on women’s choices to commodify their sexuality in the marketplace; to sexually objectify themselves for men, albeit without a direct exchange of sex for goods; and to leave the paid workforce in order to become full-time homemakers. I have chosen to focus on these three choices because they are troubling and divisive not only for feminists but for the public at large. There are, of course, feminists who are not critical of these choices. Prostitution in particular has sparked sharp feminist debate with many feminists arguing that prostitution is a legitimate work option worthy of respect. Overall , however, these three choices have probably received more attention and criticism from feminists than any other choices women commonly make. This chapter analyzes the arguments offered by feminists both in support of and in opposition to these choices in order to show the narrow procedural form these arguments take. It reveals the most commonly used arguments for challenging the legitimacy and validity of these choices in order to make clear feminists’ efforts to frame their criticisms of women’s choices in neutral procedural terms and to avoid more threatening arguments based on the value and meaning of the choice itself. Feminist choice critiques can be thought of along a continuum. At one end are those feminists who claim that women’s choices to be sex workers, sex kittens, or full-time homemakers are suf¤ciently free to be worthy of social respect. At the other end are those feminists who claim that women’s choices are coerced and constrained, rendering the choices socially illegitimate and unacceptable.2 The debate is framed in terms of the conditions under which women should make their life choices in order for those choices to be deserving of social respect. The two sides disagree about both what constitutes suf¤ciently free and equal conditions and what constitutes the reality of women’s experiences. However, by focusing on the conditions under which women make their choices, feminists on both ends of this continuum share the implicit assumption that choices made under suf¤ciently free and equal conditions are worthy of respect—regardless of the nature of the choice—while those that are not made under adequate conditions are not worthy of such respect. This chapter explores how this focus on procedures and conditions along with a professed neutrality to the substance of choices frames feminists’ criticism of the three socially controversial choices at issue in this book. The next part of the book will assess the genuineness and effectiveness of these arguments. I. Women as Sex Workers The debate among feminists about whether society should legitimize women’s sexual commodi¤cation has been a heated one for many years. The debate is loudest and most clearly de¤ned with respect to women’s choices to become prostitutes, as opposed to other forms of sexual commodi¤cation like lap dancing or stripping. For example, some feminists argue for the continued and intensi¤ed prohibition of prostitution while others argue for either decriminalization of prostitution—which would eliminate laws prohibiting prostitution and allow prostitutes to work without fear of state prosecution— or legalization—which is usually understood as leading to state regulation of prostitution.3 At root, however, the debate over prostitution, as well as over other forms of sex work, is a debate over the kinds of conditions under which women must make their choices. In particular, feminists on both sides of the debate focus on whether choices are (1) freely made, and (2) made from an adequate range of options. Feminists like Priscilla Alexander and Gail Pheterson, who support women ’s choice to commodify their sexuality, argue that the choices are usually freely made.4 Their claim relies on a strict distinction between coerced and free choices and, correspondingly, between forced and voluntary prostitution. According to the National Task Force on Prostitution, “Voluntary prostitution is the mutually voluntary exchange of sexual services for money or other consideration; it is a form of work. . . . Forced prostitution is a form of aggravated assault.”5 Pro-sex-work feminists believe and respect the sentiments of sex workers like Mary Johnson, a stripper, who argues that “we [strippers and prostitutes] have chosen our profession for whatever reasons. I may not have decided when I was ¤ve years old that when I grew up,I wanted to be a...

Share