Decriminalization of Prostitution

Pat Kelly's, "Enough Already, It's Time We Decriminalize Prostitution," discusses the scandal that occurred when a New York Senator, Eliot Spitzer, was revealed to have spent thousands of dollars on prostitutes. Pat Kelly's, who studied sex for profit, essay provides arguments for why prostitution needs to be decriminalized. This essay provides important points about the safety and health of sex workers, but fails to provide arguments that are compelling reasons for decriminalization while passing off legalization as a bad choice without any argument as to why. Pat Kelly reports that 1 in 10 Americans have paid for sex in their lifetime and that it is not an uncommon practice. She writes that Spitzer's resignation will convince voters that

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

Lydia’s Open Door by American Anthropologist Patty Kelly is an intriguing case study about both the hidden and not so hidden aspects of sex work in Chiapas, Mexico. Her book proves the usefulness of ethnographic works where she engages with unconventional ways of knowing in order to determine the complex relationships that help to reproduce gender inequality. Lydia’s Open Door contextualizes prostitution within a political and economic framework revealing how it is impossible to diagnose one without the others. She uses both macro and micro-analysis to deconstruct the variability in how prostitution is practiced, regulated and perceived through space and time. Throughout her ethnography she discusses how globalization and

There are obvious cons and pros to the topic, but in this case the positive outcomes seem to outweigh the negative elements. In order to present my position on the issue I will provide three main positive outcomes that result from legalizing prostitution. The first being that legalizing this activity can benefit the economy as it can become a great source of revenue for the state considering it would be a popular business in Las Vegas. The topic which will be discussed secondly is in defense to the people involved in this profession, whether it be the workers or those who seek the services. I will discuss how in the 21st century this activity is not

The legalization of prostitution has been a compelling two sided argument for many years. When morals and reasoning combine, it is often hard to come to one solution. Prostitution is considered to be a serious issue in countries around the world. The amount of prostitution has been increasing tremendously every year and it seems to be getting more serious than the past centuries. The government has legalized prostitution in a few countries and people are wondering if this will become an all over the world thing. There are two very different views to legalizing prostitution that I would like to explore.

Although within legalizing prostitution, sexually transmitted would decrease dramatically, which also stated in the Legalizing Prostitution Would Protect Sex Workers from HIV article from NPR.org: the transmission of HIV among female sex workers would go down by at least a third, according to a paper presented at the International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia (Brink). The main reason there is so much spread of such diseases is the fear of evidence; with the current laws people would rather not use protection and have a lower chance of evidence against them if caught for soliciting sex, hence the wide spread of HIV and STDs. With the legalizion of sex work and prostitution there would be a higher use of protection and a halting in the spread of sexually transmitted diseases as well stated in the same article Legalizing Prostitution Would Protect Sex Workers from HIV from NPR.org: By decriminalizing prostitution and having safer environments, indoor environments, we could avert 33 percent to 46 percent of new HIV cases among sex workers over the next decade (Brink). In addition, the legalization of prostitution and sex work has been proven to decrease crime rates such as rape and physical abuse such as displayed in Mexico City and the Netherlands. It is logical that instead of

Prostitution does not directly harm anybody in the society. This is because the people at higher risk of the consequences of prostitution are the prostitutes themselves. Since they are the victims, it makes little sense to arrest the “victim” for their own violation. In fact, legalizing prostitution will boost sex workers’ confidence in their duties hence ensure that they protect their clients in the best way possible. For example, sex workers would take the fact of using condoms and also get tested for sexually transmitted diseases on a routine basis. Such efforts would make both women and the society

The issue of legalized prostitution and decriminalization is plenty controversial with those against it fighting to keep current laws in place. While proponents of decriminalization say it is about improved protection for those in the industry particularly marginalized people, its opponents say that it will only embolden pimps and validate the abuse of women (Shugerman, White, 2017). A former sex worker in Germany’s legal sex industry, Rachel Lloyd; points out that the presence of an adult sex industry increases child sexual exploitation and trafficking. She also states that it is the “only industry that is dependent on the regular supply of victims of trauma and

Amy, a long-term worker at the legally regulated Moonlight Bunny Ranch, was once part of the Air Force but made $500,000 a year working at a brothel (Shrager, 2016). While only 15% of prostitutes who go into sex work to survive, most women who become sex workers choose this path and are content with its financial stability and flexibility (Burgmann, 2017). Although there is potential for a sex worker to become wealthy, a prostitute’s “appearance and activities are attacked, limited, and kept in line by the threat of “sluthood” and “whoredom”” (Thorn, 2010). Without knowing Amy was a prostitute, people would thank her for her service to the country. But because there is the persistent “whore stigma” revolving around sex workers, prostitution’s continued illegality hampers the dignity and respect of the women as they are treated as outlaws by society. In the Canadian Review of Sociology, 22 prostitutes from Vancouver were interviewed on how the industry changed their lives. In one anecdote, Cheryl had been in her professional job for 5 years, but as soon as her manager knew about her promiscuous past, “he joked that a nameplate on her desk read ‘pubic relations.’ When Kayla started a new job, a police officer informed her boss she was a former “prostitute and a junkie.” Kayla lost her job and went back to sex work. (Canadian Review of Sociology). What is

Prostitution has been around as long as human beings have engaged in sexual activities, and it is even touted as the world’s oldest profession. Despite these proclamations, the subject of prostitution continues to spark controversy in the United States in moderns times as it is a hot debate topic. Off and on, throughout the years, various states around the country have proposed that the practice should be decriminalized; however, it remains illegal nationwide, except for a few counties in Nevada. The reasons for this stem from both sides of the argument, as anti-prostitution advocates claim decriminalization of prostitution is immoral and sexually exploitative, while pro-prostitution advocates want to keep the government out of the bedrooms of consenting adults. No matter the stance for or against prostitution, the current legal construction surrounding it is undeniably harmful. Regardless of the arguments against prostitutes, it is time to decriminalize the laws against this practice to protect the rights of sex workers.

To decriminalize or not to decriminalize? That is the question people in the United States and other nations have been asking themselves for decades. Many countries, including Costa Rica, Italy, Norway, and Singapore, do legally sanction certain forms of prostitution, and some find it odd that a nation like the United States, which prides itself so heavily on the principle of individual liberty, would forbid any type of activity between two consenting adults. Nonetheless, countless Americans find the prospect of legal prostitution offensive to their ideals concerning traditional moralism, sex, or womanhood. While morality debates may rage on, it does seem rather strange

It is safe to say that legalization would bring a safer environment for the prostitutes themselves. Second, to address the immorality concern, I have to argue that from a freedom perspective, why should two consenting adults be barred from engaging in copulation in the United States of America. Why should it be illegal to sell something that it is legal to give away? Instead of letting big government overreach dictate how people can do business and conduct their own private affairs, it seems to me the smarter and more moral option to improve general health and general safety by legalizing prostitution.

To combat the problems associated with prostitution: trafficking, violence, and the objectification of women, two approaches are generally promoted. While advocates of prostitution as a form of employment suggest that legalization will improve these problems, policy makers tend to recommend penalties as a means to deter prostitution.

My group is doing the topic of legalizing prostitution. Throughout the course we talked briefly about prostitution, but it was clear that prostitution is not something that our elders would like us the new era to be ok with. In class we talked discussed how the slippery slope of morality. This is when you say yes to things that are not fully ok however they aren't too bad either this is where the slope begins. Then when you face other bad decisions you also say yes this is where it all starts going downhill, you lose sight of the bad that you are agreeing to. Next thing you know you have no problem saying yes to decisions you know are bad. When applying the slippery slope to legalizing prostitution you see that it is not a good idea to do it.

Prostitution, is an old occupation, where women are employed in selling sex for money. Money, can be a key component and motivator to why women become prostitutes. Most of the prostitutes come from low-income backgrounds. Prostitution is a well-paying occupation for women. Prostitution provides increasing income for all prostitutes varying from one another. Many places in United States, except Nevada, banned prostitution. In the late 1800s, women solicited sex from men for money to earn profits, which has proceeded over the years. Lower-class prostitutes look to sell sex for money to supplement their income. Some start at a young age to come up with ways to pay for books and tuitions, without realizing the consequences or danger involved. Prostitution is illegal and most are not eager to be studied.