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.

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