Conflict Theory And Merton 's Anomie Theory

1) Based on your readings, in class lectures, notes and discussions, in one to two

In her argumentative essay "Enough Already, It's Time to Decriminalize Prostitution," Patty Kelly asserts that decriminalizing the practice of prostitution is in America's best interests. Her essay begins with several statistics to prove her claim that prostitution is a long-standing "part of our culture," will likely remain as such, and should, therefore, be legalized, as warrantable (Kelly 436). Following this, she draws upon her personal experience as an anthropologist closely studying regulated commercial sex in Mexico and reports that prostitution is an often conscientious and profitable decision for the women involved. She also argues that while prostitution

Prostitutes solicit their bodies and sex to ‘johns,’ the common name for men who take pleasure in the company of prostitutes. Johns are textually defined as men not only willing, but wanting to engage in sexual activities with prostitutes in exchange for money. The johns are willing to pay various amounts of money in order to receive sexual pleasure and entertainment in different forms. They often engage in these activities with them without regard to their own health or

This article by Cheryl Butler applies Critical Race Feminism to the issues of prostitution and sex trafficking in the United States. In doing so, Butler explores the debate on prostitution and sex trafficking through an intersectional lens, and thus acknowledges the role that race and class play in prostitution in America. She fully considers prostitution from a critical race perspective, i.e., one that considers how race and gender intersect with other systems of oppression together to marginalize people of color in America. She proposes policy changes that may help address prostitution from a position of intersectionality.

Another major consequence of legalizing prostitution becomes apparent when the legitimization of sex markets strengthen the criminal-enterprise of organized pimping (Poulin par. 19). Such bolstering, accompanied by a significant increase in sexual solicitation activities and human trafficking, brings with it the deterioration of these enslaved women (Poulin par. 19). Decriminalizing prostitution presents one of the root causes of sex-trafficking, to the extent that human trafficking promotes the delivery of people into slavery—a crime equally as old as civilization (Raymond par. 9). “Around the world, for those in desperate poverty, the false promise of a better life often draws victims into the control of criminals who then traffic and enslave them” (Bales par. 1). “Many victims of trafficking of persons begin their journey by consenting to be smuggled from one country to another. Because of this, the crimes ‘smuggling’ and ‘trafficking’ are often confused. Smuggling and trafficking both involve moving

Prostitution: arguably the world’s oldest professions, with roots to ancient and modern times, it has been a means for people to trade goods for adult services. Up until the last 100 years, prostitution was widely occurring legally in the United States until White Slave Traffic Act put a stop on its legality and further prevented adultery and polygamy due to immoral reasons. If consenting adults wish to involve themselves in an un-violent act, what is causing the criminalization? To most, a prostitute is seen as a un-educated, and often times drug-addicted person who believes the only way to survive is through selling sex whereas, others see the industry to be taken advantage of. In order to make the industry safer and

Prostitution is a subject whom many people today have vocal opinions about if it should be legalized and is it moral? Can you imagine how people felt about prostitutes in the 19th century? Today people think the worst possible things of a woman who prostitutes herself and a less rigid view of women’s sexuality exists now almost two centuries later than there was then. In 2011 men and women can have a different view of prostitution and distinctive ways to correct the problem. Men today as they did almost 200 years ago would like to see prostitution legalized and regulated. Women still see prostitution as they did a moral issue that needs reformed. The data suggests that few things have changed when it comes to the punishment and

Prostitution and illicit drug use are contentious topics, not only in North America but around the world. The issues of how to police, as well as whether or not to decriminalize prostitution and drug use are multifaceted and encompass sociological, economic, and health factors. Although there is a general understanding amongst the public concerning the definitions of prostitution and drug use, arriving at precise definitions of both is actually quite challenging, largely due to the varied manifestations of each. Additionally, determining whether or not prostitution and drug use are victimless crimes is challenging and necessitates a precise definition of "victimless." For the purposes of this paper, I invoke Meieer and Geis's definition of victimless as referring to whether or not harm is inflicted, either toward oneself or toward others (Meier and Geis 1997). This paper begins with an examination of the extent to which prostitution and drug use are in fact associated with sociological variables, and culminates with a discussion of whether they are victimless and should be decriminalized.

Violence against women is an issue of concern in the United States. The truth is that prostitution can never be stopped and participants – especially

Sexual exploitation is an atrocious wrongdoing that has become widely seen in Toronto. Although females are primarily targeted, victims also include trans people and youth of any race or gender (Global Mail: 2016). Sexual traffickers often look for victims that yearn for a better life as it is an effortless way to influence a victim into the sex trade. However, if the deception of granting a better life does not lure the victims into the sex industry other forms of coercion such as intimidation, romantic manipulation, violence, threats, lies, or debt bondage is taken into consideration. Once the victim is seduced the enabler is contacted by the trafficker, and johns (a name is given to male clientele) are awaiting for their services. Since

Prostitution is considered one of the eldest and most nefarious professions throughout history. In fact Mary Magdalene, a figure of the bible who walked with Jesus, was considered a repentant prostitute. Whore, tramp, wench, jezzebel, ho, thot, are some of the nouns used to describe women who sleep with numerous men. But has anyone ever thought to describe them as victims? This paper will take a look at modern day slavery in California, as it pertains to human trafficking. I will attempt to explore who is being trafficked, how they are “groomed, and why prostitutes are victims of sex trafficking.

During the Progressive Era in the United States, commercial sex work became recognized as a form of sexual slavery. In the early 1900’s, many of the pimps were portrayed as foreign or African American men in cities such as Chicago, who tricked, drugged or forced young girls into prostitution (Broomfield, 2016). Present day, sex trafficking has evolved but many similarities remain. Pimps still recruit children directly using a great deal of manipulation. Focusing on young girls’ vulnerability and need for love and attention by offering compliments, gifts and promises of romance. After the victim has been seduced into the world of DMST, the false promises turn into an abusive relationship where the pimp uses the victim for their economic gain

“The demand is the result of a simple biological appetite. When all other sources of gratification fail, due to defects of person or circumstance, prostitution can be relied upon to furnish relief” (Davis, 753). Prostitution in a latent sense saves marriages and allows men to fulfill their sexual desires. “Prostitution embraces an economic relation, and is naturally connected with the entire system of economic forces” (Davis, 749). One societal function that prostitution fills is a release for those who desire the prostitute (latent) and a source of income for the prostitute (manifest).

These structures are lasting patterns of behavior and social organizations that uphold, inform, stipulate, and restrict other behaviors. Sex trafficking has its own subculture that has its own rules of behaviors making it easier to function while consecutively going undetected with law enforcement. Operations online and decentralization makes sex trafficking difficult to track. Human trafficking produces $32 billion in profits each year. Traffickers stop at nothing to find victims due to the high demand. Each year, approximately 17,500 people are trafficked into the United States (Freedom House, 2013). The “pimp,” “perpetrator,” or “john,” names that some of the traffickers go by, lie to potential victims to retain loyalty or maintain control over them. Pimps provide an illusion of a better life, immigration benefits, employment, and make victims believe they are in a relationship with their traffickers to convince victims to work or do what they say. Victims are forced to live in inhumane conditions, isolated from family and friends, confined in a house or hotel, and often gang raped to create submission. Victims fear deportation and arrest, and threats are made shaming them for what they have done or threatening to hurt their family. Traffickers drive victims to different locations, cities, and other trafficking networks to continue soliciting (Polaris Project, 2013).

“I don’t understand why prostitution is illegal. Selling is legal. Fucking is legal. Why isn’t selling fucking legal? You know, why should it be illegal to sell something that’s perfectly legal to give away?” (Carlin, n.d). Prostitution is the act of selling sexual services in exchange for money. Prostitution has been around for thousands of years, it is known as the oldest profession in the world. Today both, women and men are engaged into the industry of sex and prostitution. Even though it is still illegal in the United States, it is still a common crime that strongly affects the community. Some people have a negative view about prostitution, arguing that it is immoral and should remain penalized as a crime, while there are others who believe that laws prohibiting prostitution do more harm than good. Since commercial sex industry is illegal, gathering up the precise statistics on prostitution in the United States is difficult. However, according to Sex-Crimes Laws, over 80% of prostitutes say they wish to get out of prostitution. Recent statistics show that the death rate for prostitutes in the U.S. is 204 out of every 100,000 and every year in the United States about 70,000 and 80,000 people are arrested for prostitution.