A Critical Analysis Of Principles Over People : Abolitionist Feminism And Human Trafficking

In a decade that will be surely known as one of grand feminist success it seems worthwhile mentioning that prostitution is a new feminist issue. According to “Women Have the Rights” many sex workers and feminist activists see the decriminalization of prostitution as a human rights initiative for women to regain control over their bodies. These third wave feminists find sex an issue that should be more widely discussed. Large leaps in pornography such as female filmmakers and feminist porn stars point to an ideal that consensual sex work is just another fore front in the battle for gender equality. Legalization of prostitution leads to more government oversight requiring

Such a system would enable those willing to pay for sex to do so without the danger of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. It would also improve the health of prostitutes themselves. Some worry that legalization would give prostitution a stamp of approval that would spur a dramatic and potentially dangerous sexual revolution, but judging by the way legal strip clubs and pornography are regarded by society at large today, it is unlikely that much of the stigma attached to prostitution would disappear. (Society's view is reflected in the fact that almost every city and town restricts both the type and location of both strip clubs and pornography stores that can exist there.) What would change, though, is that prostitutes would finally have the option of going to the police after being raped by their customers or managers. In a 1998 survey of 475 prostitutes led by Dr. Melissa Farley of Prostitution Research and Education, 62% had been raped since entering the profession, and 46% had been raped more than five times. Meanwhile, 82% of the American prostitutes surveyed had been physically assaulted on the job. A socially responsible government would provide these victims of violence with a place to turn for help, but unfortunately, there is no way for them to redress the crimes committed against them. Since their business is against the law, contacting a police officer would do more them harm than good.

Feminists are concerned whether or not a prostitute controls her own sexual identity. Others believe prostitution is degrading, and sexual slavery towards woman while someone like Martha Nussbaum, believe its not threatening a woman anymore more than any other paid job. Where do you stand when it comes to prostitution? Personally I’m concerned with the moral factors and the harm it brings to women both physically and mentally. Throughout this paper I will examine the issues and questions which arise from Nussbaum’s paper, “Whether From Reason or Prejudice: Taking Money for Bodily Service” in order to help come to a conclusion on whether or not prostitution is something society should control through the use of the criminal law.

Thesis: The criminalization of prostitution does more harm than good when often women are left unprotected, both socially and legally, and therefore, the United States should make efforts to decriminalize and regulate prostitution instead.

In addition, prostitution would increase the criminal elements in society as many young girls and children will be forced into it or others will unknowingly be pushed into it through disguise such as employment, hence being smuggled and trafficked to engage in commercial prostitution. Such children would be mentally affected and would have quashed their aspiration.

In the dark, grim corners of a world that largely supports liberty and a certain amount of freedom exists the evil of human trafficking. Human trafficking is a horror consisting of people getting stolen from their ordinary lives of freedom, and then placed into the vicious hands of malicious tyrants. Governments have long struggled with fighting the battle with such oppressors, and have tried nearly everything to rid the world of this filth. Slavery does still exist, and whether people choose to believe this fact is beyond the point. The fact remains that many individuals are still tragically reduced to mere animals by certain groups of ferocious oppressors who do not value the sanctity of humanity. Harriet Jacobs provides glimpses of the terror

As many people know, most people who work in this field are women and under the law, this puts women at a higher risk of being abused (Picard 1). With prostitution being illegal, it does no justice to the women who work in the field now, because it only causes greater risk to them now, compared to when it is legal. Other countries have considered prostitution a real job, and with that came work benefits such as health care and protection. Not only does this lower the incarceration rate of the women in the field, by no longer considering them criminals, they finally get the protection they deserve. With many countries already having prostitution legal, such as new zealand, many others are considering following when they really sit down and consider the benefits of prostitution (Dill 1). Workers will finally have access to health care, and make them safer by having their STD checks and basic medical help by the government, ending with a win win with the government and the workers, the workers get protection and the government gets more tax

I will begin by saying, in New Zealand, prostitution has be decriminalized since 2003. It is legal for any citizen over the age of 18 to sell sexual favors. Also legal is the ability to run a brothel. Sex workers right are guaranteed through employment and human rights legislation. The prostitution Law review Committee found that over 90 percent of sex workers believed that the New Zealand Prostitution Reform Act (PRA) gave them employment, and legal and helth and safety rights. Asubstantial 64 percent found it easier to refuse clients. Importantly, 57 percent said police attitudes

This section includes both the criminalisation of prostitution and of buying sex. The benefits of criminalising either of these include public health consideration, reduction in trafficking, and female empowerment. The costs associated with criminalisation include the marginalisation of sex worker, greater risk of violence, less protection for sex workers, and perhaps greater oppression. If selling sex is criminalised, then victims of abuse or trafficking will not report anything to police because they would be prosecuted. Criminalisation of the sex buyers also reduces reporting because sex workers fear their place of work will be targeted by police. In terms of oppression, prostitution is often a last resort in that most are there because

People buy a dog or put in a security system when they do not feel secure; sex workers would have the same ability when prostitution is decriminalized. The workers would be able to report to the same “office” every day which will increase the safety compared to being on the streets. When the workers are on the streets, they need to find alleyways, dark places, or scuzzy hotels to make a business transaction. These isolated and remote areas are more prevalent to crime because they are less visual to law enforcement (10 Reasons to Decriminalize Sex Work p 4). This puts them in a vulnerable position and limits the security measures they are able to use. Business performed in a set location where the clients know there are other people increases the safety of these

Weitzer explains that legalization of prostitution would require some regulation such as, “vetting and licensing business owners, registering workers, zoning street prostitution, mandatory medical exams, special business taxes, or officials’ periodic site visits and inspections of legal establishments” (22). If prostitution was legalized it could create numerous jobs such as doctors, nurses, and inspectors. It could also raise money by businesses purchasing licenses and paying taxes.

The Socialist feminists’ thoughts are closely related to a Marxists viewpoint regarding prostitution. Instead of focusing on economic determinism as the key source of oppression, the socialist feminist perceives the oppression as having psychological and social origins. They all share a sincere concern for women that surpasses politics, focusing on people, not profits. The socialist feminist states that prostitutes are victims of corruption within society which accompanies class distinctions. This type of oppression in regards to class validates that materialistic society degrades people by categorizing them in a particular classis. Moreover, objectifying prostitutes so that they are simply parts of a device that can be replaced by other parts

Prostitution is often referred to as the worlds oldest profession, so clearly it is well entrenched in our society and there has always been a supply to address the demand. And it's true that decriminalizing prostitution makes it safer for the prostitute, as it often brings this underground industry into the light providing controls to protect its workers. But, I don't think that the vast majority of sex trade workers made a conscious decision to pursue this line of work, regulated or not. I think it's possible that society and government are washing their hands of many who are marginalized and trying to feed their children or addictions. But what to do about the demand?

One of the oldest legal debates comes from one of the world's oldest profession, prostitution, there is no denying that the sex industry has taken international dimensions and is recognized as an economic motor for many countries. As countries around the world debate the merits of legalizing or at least decriminalizing prostitution. The following questions should be addressed. Would legalization reduce some of the inequalities and abuse suffered by the women involved? On the other hand, by legitimizing prostitution, would society reverse decades of work to promote human rights and improve the status of women? On the surface, this looks like a rehashing of a timeless debate. However, it is not. The question is no longer about

One of the oldest known jobs in history is Prostitution, otherwise known as the sex labor industry. It is a major part of our society as an illegitimate source of income and employment. The prohibition of Prostitution creates a larger number of issues in society. Before, prostitution was a more individual decision, where countless women picked it as a last resort in emergencies; whereas now these women are coerced into the industry and experience abuse, murder, etc. The involvement and trauma prostitutes experience results in mental disorders. Furthermore, I investigate how the prohibition of prostitution has greater drawbacks on our society and introduce three policies that may help resolve the social issue within sex workers. Some policies I believe will provide the most benefits are first, the legalization of prostitution, second, enforcing and strengthening the law enforcement for human trafficking, and third, development of availability of medical resources.