ON THE MARGINS OF ANTI-DISCRIMINATORY LAW: PROSTITUTION AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Abstract

This article arises from the question of the possibility of considering legislation on prostitution as a working activity within anti-discriminatory law, albeit from a rather heterodox idea of such a law. To answer that question, this study analyses the commonplace notions in the debates on prostitution: the reification of women, the validity of consent to carry out this activity and the relevance of the idea of autonomy, as well as the commercialization of sex and the dignity of women. From that analysis the article concludes that there are no definitive reasons to deny the recognition of prostitution as a work activity with certain specific characteristics, although the legal regulation resulting from that recognition would have to be made in such a way that women have control over their working conditions.