Ontologising Prostitution in India: At the Intersection of Policy, Activism and Advocacy

In their advocacy efforts, both the abolitionist and pro-legalisation lobbies have used case studies of women in prostitution that are very similar. Yet, there is a fundamental difference in interpretation which has been captured in the prostitution versus sex work debate. This article dwells on the difference between these terms while trying to address why and how they carry different meanings, how they relate to social realities in India, affect the language of prostitution policies and how contemporary Indian feminists have decolonised the prostitute. It primarily draws from abolitionists’ texts—and, through this, addresses the influence of activism and advocacy upon prostitution laws in India. Further, it highlights an important point: How the activist interprets an understanding of the prostitute and her lifeworld is intricately linked to the activist’s life journey.