Overview Of Legalizing Prostitution

Prostitution has been a part of our world's culture since the beginning of time, and is the world's oldest profession. Prostitution is defined by the Webster dictionary as “the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relations especially for money.” If prostitution were legalized, there would a reduction in sex crimes, American citizens would have the freedom to choose any profession within the sex industry and it would provide economic benefits for the local and federal governments, as well as the population.

In the United States, with the exception of Nevada, prostitution and sex work is illegal. If taxed and regulated, it can bring more benefits not only to the economy but to smaller aspects as well, such as health care and crime rates as opposed to keeping it illegal and penalizing it. Therefore, prostitution and sex work should be legalized in the United States. Prostitution is viewed as bad thing within society, morally; yet the many benefits are often not spoken of, which are that prostitution would lower sexually transmitted diseases and crime rate all while improving health care and the economy. Prostitution is legal within 61 countries, 22 out of the 25 safest countries to live in prostitution is legal according to Procon.org and worldatlas.com.

Whether or not the United States should legalize prostitution is a highly debated social, political, ethical, and cultural issue. Prostitution by definition is to engage in sexual activity with someone for payment. Although many countries and even some rural counties in the U.S. have legalized prostitution, it still has dire effects on the women involved and is an immoral and exploitative act. Prostitution is an unethical and immoral act of exploitative, degrading, and abusive work that the United States should not tolerate. The abolition of prostitution is a legal approach with proven positive results that could dramatically reduce the amount of illegal prostitution and human trafficking taking place in the United States.

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

Prostitution has been considered a criminal act for centuries throughout the world and it is also considered by some to be the world’s oldest profession, dating back to biblical time. The dictionary defines the term, “The act of having sex in exchange for money: the use of a skill or ability in a way that is not appropriate or respectable” (Merriam-Webster). This act became illegal in America in the early 20th century. Decriminalizing prostitution has its positives and negatives. If prostitution was to be made legal in America the positives would be tax revenue, less human trafficking, a work choice and fewer diseases. Negative outcomes to decriminalizing prostitution would be the issue that it is still morally wrong, abuses women, and human trafficking. In this paper I will first review the positives that decriminalizing prostitution could have in America and then the negatives effects from legalizing this crime in America. If American society were to get passed viewing prostitution in a negative light and legalize it, it could present some benefits for America

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

Some people in society deem prostitution and gambling as a burden on the nation. In the 19th century prostitution was suppressed by the rise of feminism and religious-based moralism in Protestant as an illegal and immoral act being perpetrated by immoral men and women. The passing of the federal Mann Act (1910) made it illegal to transportation women from state to state for immoral purposes and in 1915 all states outlawed brothels and regulated any profits being gained from prostitution. Gambling has been regulates since 1955 and was strengthen by the illegal gambling business act.

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.

The view in favor of legalized prostitution is uninformed. A prostitute's terms are often violated by the customer, or by the prostitute's employer. Sixty-two percent of prostitutes report being raped at their job, usually by their employers. Seventy-five percent have been violently attacked by an employer or customer. These are all actions that were not agreed to by the prostitute, causing the prostitute to become a victim. Other negative effects on the prostitute can result from the practice. Seventy-five percent of prostitutes have attempted suicide, which may be related to the sixty-five percent who have clinical post-traumatic stress disorder. Ninety-two percent of prostitutes say that they want to escape from the world of prostitution. There is also another potential victim: the family of the prostitute or of the customer. A prostitute's family may feel shame for the actions of their relative, leading to stress and depression. People who visit prostitutes often find that their families break up over their infidelity. This can cause massive stress and depression for the spouse and children. It is safe to say that prostitution is not the harmless service so many people claim it is. Prostitution is not a victimless crime.

What is prostitution? Prostitution is the exchange of sexual activities for money. Prostitution is very unsafe for any one involve in this kind of life. For instance, prostitutes are more likely to get an STI and/or HIV, or severely hurt by stranger.

Another country famous for adopting the approach of decriminalizing prostitution is Sweden. However, the implemented prostitution statute is not the average decriminalization law. It is recognized that such was established when Sweden passed a law in 1999, as part of a violence against women bill, that criminalized buyers of sex while keeping the person who sold sex or was sold for sex decriminalized.It gave birth to the partial decriminalization approach.

The legal status of prostitution varies from country to country, from being legal and considered a profession to being punishable by death; in some jurisdictions, prostitution is illegal. In other places, prostitution itself (exchanging sex for money) is legal, but most surrounding activities such as soliciting in a public place, operating a brothel and other forms of pimping are illegal, often making it very difficult to engage in prostitution without breaking any law. In a few jurisdictions, prostitution is legal and regulated. (ChartsBin)

The job of prostitution is just that: a job. Men and women all over the world choose to engage in sexual activities for money. Although people often confuse prostitution with sex trafficking, these are not the same thing. Legalizing prostitution could lower the spread of STDs and undocumented rapes in the communities; whereas, legalizing prostitution would not legalize trafficking. The criminalization of sex work should be abolished.

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

For my legal brief on the legality of prostitution in the United States I will be attempting to use empirical data as well various relevant laws and case precedents. The majority of the cases will revolve around the government’s interest in supporting legal prostitution in order to protect the prostitutes from the horrible conditions of their current working environment. I will be using cases pertaining to the 14th amendment to back up the legality and constitutionality of consensual sex between two adults and the rights one has over their own body.