Deck 38: Markets in Womens Sexual Labor Debra Satz

Question 1

The "asymmetry thesis" holds that markets in reproduction and sex

A) differ in their moral wrongness, with markets in sex being worse.
B) are both morally worse than markets in other commodities.
C) should be more heavily regulated than other markets.
D) highlight the fundamental injustice of all capitalist economies.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The essentialist objection to prostitution views the commodification of sex as

A) an assault on human dignity.
B) conducive to gender inequality.
C) incompatible with personal liberty.
D) sinful.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Satz views the effect of prostitution on social inequality between men and women as

A) important and direct.
B) direct but morally insignificant.
C) important but indirect.
D) small and difficult to precisely measure.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

By Satz's lights, prostitution is wrong because of its impact on how

A) women perceive men.
B) men perceive other men.
C) women are perceived by both men and women.
D) men and women understand the importance of intimacy and long-term commitment.

Question 5

Satz describes prostitution as a "theater of

A) cruelty."
B) inequality."
C) capitalism."
D) vice."

Question 6

For Satz, whether the sale or use of a person's capacities in a market setting is wrong depends on

A) the broader implications for selfhood.
B) the net impact on human flourishing.
C) the intentions of participants.
D) social institutions and other background conditions.

Question 7

In which of the following ways does Satz argue that criminalizing sex work makes women more vulnerable?

A) Predatory and violent pimps substitute for legal protection.
B) Mere criminalization deprives an already economically disadvantaged group from one source of livelihood.
C) Women are disproportionately punished for participating in a market in sex.
D) All of the above

Question 8

Which of the following ways of challenging existing gender norms does Satz not cite as a legitimate alternative to legal prohibition on prostitution?

A) Changes in work-related policies
B) Consciousness-raising groups
C) Civil disobedience
D) Education

Question 9

Satz argues that the current legal prohibition on prostitution in the United States

A) exacerbates the factors that make prostitution wrong in the first place.
B) has no morally significant impact.
C) helps advance gender equality as a social goal.
D) has both positive and negative effects, with the positive outweighing the negative.

Question 10

Satz reminds readers that in countries where prostitution is legally permitted, it is

A) neither more nor less dangerous for women.
B) closely regulated.
C) more dangerous for women.
D) cheaper.

Question 11

Advocates of "the asymmetry thesis" regard markets in sex as morally equivalent to other risky commercialized bodily services such as competitive boxing.

Question 12

Satz rejects the asymmetry thesis on political grounds.

Question 13

Satz believes that sex work under current social conditions is wrong because it is unjust, not because it thwarts human happiness.

Question 14

Satz characterizes the philosopher Elizabeth Anderson as a proponent of the essentialist critique of sex work.

Question 15

Satz denies that a person's dignity is violated whenever she sells the use of her capacities.

Question 16

According to Satz, prostitution is inherently destructive of women's dignity.

Question 17

For Satz, the issue of social and economic inequality between men and women is the key to understanding the morality of prostitution.

Question 18

Satz's discussion of the inequality endemic to sex work applies equally to male and female prostitution.

Question 19

Satz argues that the law is not the only or most worthwhile tool for responding to the wrongness of prostitution.

Question 20

Because Satz believes sex work to be immoral, she concludes that it ought to be legally prohibited.

Question 21

How does Satz distinguish income equality from status equality, and what role does this distinction play in her arguments? Do you accept her stance? Defend your answer.

Question 22

Explain the difference between the essentialist and the egalitarian bases for the asymmetry thesis. Be sure to explain the thesis itself. Which of these two approaches does Satz favor? Why? Explain why you take the position you do.

Question 23

What is Satz's position on the relationship between the morality and the proper legal status of prostitution? How does she think it is best to address the moral problems associated with sex work? Is her argument persuasive?