Sex Work and Feminism

There's been lots of discussion of prostitution lately given the Spitzer scandal in New York. I highly recommend reading Feministe's interview with the Sex Workers Project. It highlights the philosophical struggle in feminism regarding sex work. Leaving human trafficking and forced prostitution out of the issue, it may be true that women would not choose to be sex workers if they had access to better education and job opportunities. Then again, if there are fewer sex workers wouldn't the law of supply and demand state that johns would pay more to obtain sex thus making sex work more attractive? Men have been paying for sex for thousands of years. Are we kidding ourselves to think eliminating the supply will eliminate the demand? Is all sex work dehumanizing? If the worker sets the price, establishes the boundaries, and controls the situation, is having sex for money still somehow inherently different from other kinds of labor? If you are unable to obtain sex through more "traditional" methods is it so wrong that there is someone out there willing to fulfill your need for a price? Many feminists deny that prostitution is ever a victim-less crime and deny that any woman would freely choose to be a prostitute. The Sex Workers Project at least listens to actual sex workers to get their input.