For the asking

Abstract

Sexologists, sociologists, film-makers, novelists endlessly question the prostitute. Most retain a proper distance, most remain “detached” in their questioning. But can we ever “know” a prostitute? Many claim to do so, many lay claim to “the truth.” Even prostitutes themselves, in interview, in “confesions,” in their autobiographies, are caught up in layers of fiction. The attempt here, drawing on the works of a range of theorists, academics, prostitute “voices,” popular writers, great authors, and trash literature is to question our questioning.