There now exists a mountain of empirical research, not only from feminist social scientists, but also from psychologists, clinicians, nurses, anthropologists and economists, of the harms of prostitution for women. These harms include post-traumatic stress disorder, genital and other physical injuries, pregnancy, depression and anxiety, and social isolation.
It has been known since the late 1970s that a major precursor of women’s entry into prostitution is childhood sexual abuse. There is also empirical evidence of the damage to women’s social status, and the negative impact on women’s connection to local community, of the sex industry.
Overwhelmingly, the social science and health literature condemns prostitution as a source of harm to women, as well as children.
For liberals to successfully frame prostitution as ”work”, rather than commercially mediated sexual abuse, they must close their eyes to this evidence.
this is simply hate-speak against sex workers. you can dress it up all you like but this is an incredible put down of women who choose this lifestyle. Why not rant against Muslim women who are made to wear veils? Oh no….that’s a religious choice….sorry. We can’t have a religious choice being confused with a work choice. And what garbage to suggest that most women entering sex work have been sexually abused. Apart from the fact that a large number of women working in all jobs have been sexually abused this is purely discriminatory. The mountain of evidence that the author cites about the harm done to women in sex work is not cited. Finally the author does not declare his religious affiliations. Organised religion, not traditional feminism, is the basis of most complaint about sex work. If the author wants to be honest and transparent he will declare this. Otherwise he risks being seen as just another person pushing their religious beliefs in the name of psychology or feminism.