This work investigates the global expansion of the sex industry and argues that it functions as a form of institutionalized exploitation rather than a legitimate market sector. Sheila Jeffreys, a professor of political science and gender studies, utilizes a radical feminist framework to analyze the intersection of state policy, global economics, and the commodification of women's bodies. She presents a critical argument that the normalization of prostitution and pornography serves to maintain patriarchal power structures under the guise of personal choice.

Scholars and activists frequently cite this text as a foundational critique within radical feminist literature regarding the global sex trade. Readers often note the uncompromising tone of the prose, which challenges prevailing liberal arguments concerning sex work and bodily autonomy.