A Vindication of the Rights of Whores

Seal Press
Company type	Imprint
Industry	Publishing
Founded	1976
Headquarters	Seattle, United States
Parent	Hachette Book Group

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article A Vindication of the Rights of Whores, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 10 August 2025

A Vindication of The Rights of Whores is an anthology published in 1989, edited by , featuring a preface written by Margo St. James.

This collection presents perspectives from a wide range of prostitutes, advocates for sex worker rights, and feminist academics from around the globe, sharing their personal experiences and addressing key issues within the field.

Included within the volume are the complete text of the World Charter for Prostitutes' Rights; verbatim transcripts of thematic workshops held at both the First World Whores' Congress in Amsterdam (1985) and the Second World Whores' Congress at the European Parliament in Brussels (1986); alongside position statements and interviews with those involved.

Referenced in more than 75 publications and incorporated into numerous scholarly syllabi, the anthology’s title pays homage to Mary Wollstonecraft's seminal 18th-century feminist work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.

Background and the Second World Whores' Congress

Before the inaugural World Whores' Congress convened, organizations such as COYOTE and the Netherlands-based Red Thread (De Rode Draad) had been actively engaged in efforts to remove stigma from sex work and establish it as a recognized profession. Their central goal was to transform societal views that often portrayed prostitutes as victims into an understanding that many choose sex work by their own volition.

First World Whores' Congress

The concept for the first World Whores' Congress was developed by feminist psychologist Gail Pheterson and former sex worker Margo St. James, with financial backing from the Dutch feminist organization Mama Cash. This initial Congress took place in Amsterdam in February 1985, attracting roughly 100 participants primarily from Western Europe, the United States, and Canada. Due to budget constraints, attendance by sex workers from regions outside the West was limited. The Congress led to founding the International Committee for Prostitutes' Rights (ICPR) and adopting the World Charter for Prostitutes' Rights.

Second World Whores' Congress

Held in October 1986 in Brussels, the Second World Whores' Congress was organized by the Green Alternative European Link (GRAEL) and took place within European Parliament premises. Support was provided by EP member Annemiek Onstenk along with feminist organizations such as Women's Organization for Equality (WOE) and Association 29 Rue Blanche, which offered accommodation. Approximately 125 sex workers participated among nearly 200 attendees overall.

The event encountered opposition from conservative members of the European Parliament concerning the allocation of EP funds. Additionally, the English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) criticized both the Congress and ICPR for failing to denounce police brutality and racial discrimination against sex workers, as well as for insufficient emphasis on economic factors shaping sex work. Attendance was restricted to trusted journalists only, with strict prohibitions on photography during sessions.

Over three days, separate sessions addressed key topics: "Prostitution and Human Rights," focusing on violations of rights; "Prostitution and Health," with particular attention to the AIDS epidemic; and "Prostitution and Feminism," which was open exclusively to registered women participants. The Congress concluded by outlining plans for regional gatherings and launching a newsletter ahead of future meetings.

Contributors

The Vindication of the Rights of Whores compiles essays, interviews, and transcripts contributed by nearly 60 sex workers and activists from regions including Europe, South America, North America, Asia, and Africa. Edited by Gail Pheterson with a foreword by Margo St. James, the collection provides contributor biographies while safeguarding identities through pseudonyms where prostitution remains illegal.

Notable contributors include:

Alex
Annemeik Onstenk
Annie Sprinkle (Ellen Steinberg)
Ans van der Drift
Bianca
Brigitte Pavkovic
Carla Corso
Christine
Danny Cockerline
Dolly De Luca
Dolores French
Don Des Jarlais
Doris Stoeri
Esther Eillam
Eva Rosta
Frau EVA
Flori Lille
Gabriela Silva Leite
Gail Pheterson
Gill Gem
Gloria Lockett
Grisélidis Réal
Hans-Guenter Meyer-Thomsen
Helen Buckingham
Inge
Jean D'Cunha
Laurel Meredith Hall
Licia Brussa
Lin Lap
Mae
Maggie
Margo St. James
Margot Alvarez
Marjo Meijer
Maud Marin
Nel van Dijk
Nena
Norma Jean Almodovar
Odile
Paola Tabet
Pauline
Peggie Miller
Pia Covre
Pieke Biermann
Priscilla Alexander
Roberta Tatafiore
Sai
Saraswati Sunindyo
Sonia
Susanna
Syarifah Sabaroedin
Tatiana Cordero
Terry van der Zijden
Thruong Thanh-Dam
Veronica Vera
Violet
Zippy

Content

The volume is organized into four distinct sections: transcripts from the Second World Whores' Congress, original essays, and interviews addressing international sex work concerns.

The opening part, titled "Not Repeating History," features a single essay authored by Gail Pheterson. The second segment, "The Congresses," documents the background and proceedings of the Second World Whores' Congress, including transcripts from significant presentations such as "Simple Human Respect," "Our First Concern," and "Crunch Point." The third section, "Migration and Prostitution," gathers interviews with sex workers globally that illuminate challenges specific to various regions.

Concluding the anthology, "Reports and New Voices" details the growth of ICPR’s network of sex worker activists and highlights recent involvement in an Asian congress with delegates from the Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.

Publishing and reception

Originally published in 1989 by Seal Press, an imprint of Hachette Book Group located in Seattle, A Vindication of the Rights of Whores emerged from a feminist publishing house established in 1976 during the women’s press movement of the 1970s.

The book received positive acclaim among sex radical feminists such as Carole Vance and Ann Snitow, who actively promoted it through events in New York City. A promotional tour featuring Gail Pheterson and Margo St. James culminated at the 1989 World Whores' Summit conference held in San Francisco.

A revised edition was issued in 2019 and is accessible as a print-on-demand publication via Biblio Services.

External links