Feminisms and sexuality: Pleasure and danger / freedom and censorship From the (ongoing) feminist debates of the end of the century to those of today

Abstract

On 11/09/2019 the University of A Coruña (UDC) cancelled a debate on sex work, thus giving in to the attitudes of "strong rejection, harassment and cruelty" it had triggered.  Abolitionist activists had denounced the initiative, under the hashtag #UniversitywithoutProstitution (#UniversidadSinProstitución), as part of a strategy led by the "pimp lobby". About one month later, on 18/10/2019, 22 Spanish universities announced a series of academic events that, under the hashtag #UniversityWithoutCensorship (#UniversidadSinCensura), aimed to open a free debate on sex work nationwide, one that would shed light on it and, crucially, give voice to the protagonists themselves. This monographic issue is part of that debate. Debates on sex work are not only academic, but also social and political. Nor are they novel, or based on a single feminist standpoint. They have been part of the Spanish feminist movement during almost fifty years, from its beginnings in the 1970s to the present day. There they have tried to overcome the dichotomy pleasure/danger and recognise diversity and sexual freedom, rejecting stigmatization, censorship and the prohibition of rights. This article aims to offer a brief review of these debates, thus showing their openness and the plurality of ideas and proposals presented in them until today. It also reflects on the current challenges faced by the feminist movement in a context of increasing national and global conservatism.