Legal Prostitution And Its Effect On Society

It’s called the oldest profession in the world, but despite its longevity in almost every society and culture, sex work is illegal in most places. Research suggests that the decriminalization of prostitution would be beneficial because it would reduce the danger posed to sex workers, stop imposing a civil law on a morally wrong activity when sex is consensual, and provide the government a tax income instead of a legal expense.

Prostitution, also referred to as “the oldest profession,” has always been a controversial and challenging social issue. It is practiced in many different forms including: call girls, convention prostitutes, apartment prostitutes, hotel prostitutes, house prostitutes, bar girls, streetwalkers, and parking lot lizards (). Civilizations such as the Samarians, and countries including Morocco and parts of India engaged in a form of prostitution known as temple prostitution. Temple prostitution is based on the belief that “generative activity of human beings possessed a mysterious and sacred influence in promoting the fertility of nature” (Clarkson). In other civilizations, such as the Roman and Byzantine Empires, prostitution was looked upon as less of a religious ceremony, and more of a sin practiced by “women of evil life” (ProCon.org). Today those differentiating view are still present in modern society, but there are also new ideologies surrounding the everlasting presence of prostitution. This Essay will use the Symbolic Interactionism Theory to identify those new ideologies, and evaluate the meaning of prostitution within three relationship: the husband and wife, the Call girl and client, and the Pimp and the sex trafficking victim.

For a free society to keep violent crime to a minimum with little disturbance on individual liberty, government should, alongside prosecuting ‘victimless’ crimes, minimize the opportunity for the corrupt to create victims. Prostitution has been practiced in all ancient and modern cultures. In the United States, prostitution was originally widely legal. Prostitution was made illegal in almost all states between 1910 and 1915 due to the influence of the Woman 's Christian Temperance Union which was influential in the banning of drug use and was a major force in the prohibition of alcohol. In 1917 the legally defined prostitution district Storyville in New Orleans was closed down by the Federal government over local objections. In Deadwood, South Dakota, prostitution, while technically illegal, was “tolerated by local residents and officials for decades until the last madam was brought down by state and federal authorities for tax evasion in 1980” (Weitzer). Prostitution remained legal in Alaska until 1953, and is still legal in some rural counties of Nevada, including areas outside of Las Vegas.

Prostitution is said to be “the world’s oldest profession” (Ramchandran par. 1). The Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines prostitution as “the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relations especially for money” (“Prostitution” par. 1). Many people argue that prostitution should be legalized, but it hurts people more than it helps. Legalization of prostitution condones sexual behavior for profit. Not to mention, the increased risk of illness or infection via sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), or death. It also does not “enhance women’s choices” (Raymond par. 45). This means that whether

It is rather odd to think that prostitution, which is considered to be the world’s oldest profession, would be illegal and harmful in nature. The issue of legalizing prostitution has entered public conversation around the world, which is severely divided. Many, like myself, consider prostitution to be a victimless crime. Despite such opposition to legalizing prostitution, many argue that legalizing it would result in decreased morality issues, increase the economic activity in the United States, and help decrease the number of sexually transmitted diseases among both prostitutes and those who patronize them,

According to Stephanie Chen, former Writer-Producer for CNN, "experts estimate 1 million to 2 million prostitutes work in the US and about 78,000 arrests are made for prostitution and commercialized vice." she writes in her CNN.com article. Prostitution itself goes back to 2400 B.C and like any other service or profession prostitutes are paid, so why not legalize it as an official job? The US has stamped the name of prostitution as a crime when not only it could benefit the workers but if it was legal it could benefit the economy of the United States tremendously.

Continuing looking at prostitution in Australia, as legalization became a possibility, feminists believed they would have control over their clients, their working conditions, and would have a healthy and safe environment if working for an employer. They believed legalization would empower

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.

Last week our class discussed the multiple thought provoking questions and statements put up on the board. While discussing, I realized that my beliefs are based upon my upbringing. This includes my familial structure, my religion, my parent’s political affiliation, and more. Being that my parents are liberal, I have grown up watching CNN and learning to accept all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and more. I learned through my Judaism and schooling, as well as my peers. My mother also works in the Pennsylvania State Health Department in Sexual Transmitted Diseases and Tuberculosis. With that comes an understanding of the need for public health care and assistance. As I have matured into a young adult, I have continued along the same path.

Prostitution is the practice or occupation of consensually engaging in sexual activity with someone for payment. This differs from human trafficking because trafficking is individuals who did not give consent to being in the sex industry and/ or cannot leave due to force, fraud or coercion. Though they are both part of the sex industry, they are very different. This essay will deal strictly with prostitution involving consenting adults over the age of eighteen. Prostitution is currently illegal in the majority of the United States because of state laws. It is legal only in eleven counties located in Nevada. Despite the consequences, Prostitution is illegally practiced in most parts of the United States. The repeal of laws forbidding buying

Aikin, M. I. (2012). Sex and Stereotyping in Sin City: A Content Analysis of Las Vegas Magazine Advertisements.

The definition of prostitution, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is “the work of a prostitute: the act of having sex in exchange of money,” and “the use of a skill or ability in a way that is not appropriate or respectable” (Merriam-Webster). The definition alone casts a shadow of negativity onto prostitution, plainly stating that it is wrong. The history of prostitution in America can be traced back to the founding days when men first began to settle on the frontier, leaving their families back at home. Meanwhile, prostitutes were being sent to America, and caught on relatively quickly that these men would be quite willing to pay for their “company” (Grant, Melissa). There, the reader can concur that the prostitution has been around since America was established. While there may be some pros to legalizing prostitution, the cons such as the psychological effects and the crime rates surrounding this profession outweigh them to the point where they become almost invalid.

In terms of sociology, Prostitution is a way for an individual to maximize their monetary intake or in other words “benefits” by selling the thing that they have readily, their bodies. In other words, it is the act or practice of participating in promiscuous sexual activity especially for money. Prostitution has been in existence for ages, going back to the Byzantine, Roman, Greek, and Egyptian Empires. Ironically, the ancient religions of those eras dealt with the needs of the group and consequently developed protocols for dealing with sexual relations that have propagated throughout time to the modern era. As a result, prostitution is not about to disappear anytime soon, despite relatively recent local laws. Also throughout centuries,

Prostitution has frequently been touted as the world's oldest profession, for the simple fact that it has been prevalent in society for quite some time. In order to properly discuss the many social ramifications of this particular crime and possible ways for dealing with them, it is first necessary to define prostitution and to explore the reason why it is a crime. Prostitution is the exchange of money or monetary assets for sexual favors and pleasure. It is the paying for sex in all of its myriad facets, from conventional coitus to a number of lewd and arcane acts from which people derive pleasure. Prostitution is part of the sex industry, which includes legal business such as strip clubs (Weitzer 7). There are a couple of different reasons as to why exchanging money for sex is deemed illegal. One principle reason is that if it were legalized, it would be exceedingly difficult for the government to tax and to capitalize off it, which is one of the reasons in which marijuana is widely considered illegal. More importantly, however, prostitution is illegal because it promotes the objectification of women and their bodies, and inherently reduces the degree of parity between men and women in which the latter are viewed as things simply for the fulfillment of men's sexual desires. Additionally, there are a variety of noxious activities that accompany prostitution such as trafficking in which the will of another is subjected to someone else's.

Prostitution. Streetwalking. The sex trade. The sex industry. Whoring. Hooking. Et Cetera. The exchange of sexual activities for money. Prostitution is probably one of, if not the oldest taboos in our culture, and for good reason. Often times, prostitution is monitored in places called brothels, meeting places for finding prostitutes and sex in general. This scandalous practice is currently legal in many parts of the world, i.e. Germany, most of South America, Spain, Australia, Canada, France, Italy, here and there in Africa, Mexico and many more. It’s been legalized in many places, but why should a profession like this be outlawed? Well, there are many pros as to why prostitution should be abolished. A) Legalization of prostitution is an invitation to human trafficking and slavery. B) Legalization would attract more customers, promoting affairs and divorce. C) Prostitution is degrading. It turns woman into commodities, thus making them nothing but items to be used. I don’t think it would be a good thing to have more divorced couples, more human slaves and more sexism in America. Do you?