Introduction

Watson and Flanigan provide an overview of the structure of the book, highlighting some of the important points of agreement and disagreement contained in their respective contributions. Both Watson and Flanigan reject criminalization, the dominant approach to prostitution. Both agree that criminalizing prostitution serves to further harms and exacerbate the inequality that persons in prostitution experience. Additionally, Watson and Flanigan both reject paternalistic justifications for restricting prostitution and each are committed to principles of equality. However, they differ over how to conceptualize and define equality, and, importantly, over which approach to prostitution best embodies principles of equality.