Sex Sells, so Why Not Be Sold? Essay

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.

Prostitution flourishes in territories that have a high crime rate, along these lines, cops and courts are overburdened with these cases, having next to zero effect on prostitution. The sex workers and their clients pay their fines and are back to the boulevards right away in a rotating door process. Law enforcement is occupied with adding prostitution to the rundown of things to shield us from, the genuine violations go unchecked and unchallenged. Not with standing if prostitution were legitimate, police would have less work attempting to dispose of prostitution and additional time shielding people from far more heinous crimes. "It is estimated that if prostitution were legalized in the United States, the rape rate would decrease by roughly 25% for a decrease of approximately 25,000 rapes per year. The analysis seems to support that the rape rate could be lowered if prostitution was more readily available. This would be accomplished in most countries by its legalization (Sexual Violence Such as Rape)."

Prostitution is an issue that has been debated in many countries. 22 countries have legalized prostitution. In the United States, prostitution is only legal in 11 rural counties in Nevada. It used to be legal in Rhode Island due to a loophole, but since 2009, it has been illegal 1. Women are not the only ones who are prostitutes, about 20 to 30% of prostitutes are male 2, which means both genders are affected by laws against prostitution. Men and women should be allowed to choose how they want to use their bodies how they wish, and that includes prostitution.

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

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

The sex industry is highly divided between those who call themselves “sex workers”, and former prostitutes who call themselves “survivors” (Glazer 340). Women should have the right to choose what they do for a living, including prostitution. 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.

While proponents of prostitution legalization claim it promotes women’s independence and autonomy, opponents argue that it exploits and objectifies women. In terms of putting ideology into practice, criminalization fails. The neoconservative ideology behind criminalization implies that women are unfit to make their own decisions about their sexuality. Under criminalization in the United States, females are arrested at much higher rates than males, despite the fact that when including johns, pimps, and brothel owners, there are probably more men involved in the practice (McKim 1). Additionally, every state (except some parts of Nevada) in the U.S. criminalizes women who sell sex, but only half of those states also have laws criminalizing men who buy sex (Mathieson 374). This discriminatory enforcement of prostitution laws undermines the gender equality this country is trying to achieve. The legalization and regulation of prostitution argues that the best way to promote women’s autonomy is by allowing them to take control of their own bodies and choose their own profession. Due to the imbalance between men and women within the sex trade, legalization advocates support allowing the exchange of sexual services for money between consenting adults. It is a “victimless crime;” however the question remains whether it perpetuates a culture of objectification of women.

Abstract: There has been a long drawn out debate on if the United States should decriminalize or criminalize prostitution. On one end of the spectrum, citizens believe that prostitution is harmful and should be considered a crime, while others believe that incriminating commercial sex workers are a violation of human rights. The pro- human rights side argues that prostitution is defined as adults exchanging time and services for money, as any other day to day employment agreements. Half of the prostitutes in the United States are criminalized, ignored, and abused; which been impacted by the way American has put sex work in a negative category. This is the main reason as to why women who are in the profession, are mistreated and violated

Everyone close your eyes. Imagine you are the son or daughter of a single mother. Your mom has no job, money, food or shelter. It is below freezing and you are all cold, sick, and crying. You can’t sleep because you’re terrified from hearing gunshots all night long. You and your siblings are hungry, thin, and sick but your family has no money for doctors. Your mom is forced to become a prostitute. Every day she is beaten and humiliated. Recently she contracted a sexually transmitted disease that bleeds constantly. She was beaten so brutally one day that left her in the hospital with no insurance or healthcare. She was denied services and she is left in pain and dying. You and your siblings have been placed in a shelter terrified, screaming for your mother who will never return. How will you continue without your mother? You can open your eyes now. Prostitution is one of those legal issues that is an intense debate and will likely remain an issue in America for years to come. On one hand, many people feel that prostitution is a victimless crime, only made dangerous because of its unregulated status. Others feel that prostitutes themselves are often the victims, and turn to point to slavery, violence, and human trafficking to prove that point. Regardless of what side you stand

Sure, in theory, there are pros to legalizing prostitution. Seeing as how it was done before in the Netherlands, we can also see how those “pros” don’t always add up. There is no solution to the problems associated with prostitution and sex trafficking. Legalizing prostitution only increases the growing problems in the sex industry. In conclusion, I can see the theoretical pros of legalization, but I cannot overlook the negative outcome it produces. I will stand firm in my belief that any form of sex for money is wrong, and that we need to work towards a future where it is

For centuries, prostitution has been apart of our society. Through the ages prostitution has become normalized and almost accepted. Indeed, concerns about prostitution and its consequences have undergone scrutiny, preventing many countries from following the trend of legalizing the practice. Further, prostitution has generated intense controversy: some feel strongly that prostitution is morally wrong, while others firmly advocate the rights of women to choose in the regard. Certainly, prostitution should remain illegal because the risk of contracted sexually transmitted diseases is greater; women are exposed to violence and danger; and prostitution promotes human trafficking.

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.

Regarding the mortality rate of sex workers, “One study found that workplace murder risk is 51 times greater [for prostitutes] than for the next most dangerous profession which is operating a liquor store” (Dir. J. K. Wasson and J. Wells). Because prostitution is ultimately seen as a consensual profession, some may interpret this information with indifference, believing that the sex workers were willing participants. More often than not, however, sex workers are being coerced into the industry by some form of force; leading them to be exploited for physical and economic gain. In order to convince someone that the prostitution industry influences the victimization of women, I would need to counteract the notions endowed onto us by society that lead people to believe that prostitution is a fair system. Ethnomethodology, Symbolic interaction, and conflict theory have contributed to the the false impression of sex workers endorsed by the mainstream.

It’s a dispute since the beginning of humankind, weather making prostitution legal will reduce violence and give sex workers some safety or it will be just another gift to pimps. Recent interview with Brenda Myers-Powell, who was a prostitute for 25 years, published in BBC News, where she describes all hardships of her profession, reminded people that the issue never went away and something needs to be done (Myers-Powell). According to International Organization of Migration, decriminalizing prostitution will promote sex trafficking and won’t help to end exploration of desperate immigrants. Human Rights Network also states that actual sex workers do not want the industry be legalized (Raymond). Although those organizations have a point and

are assaulted. "The majority of violence is perpetuated by the clients and domestic partners of prostitutes, with up to 80% reporting having been physically assaulted. Moreover, prostitutes report being raped 8 to 10 times on average per year" (Montgomery 4). As a result of the client paying the prostitute, they expect the prostitute to follow their demands.Therefore, in some cases where the prostitute does not oblige, it results in rape or some other type of assault. Violence surrounds a prostitute as a result of fearing the police; the client also knows that he or she can get away with hurting the prostitute with few repercussions. Another result of legalizing prostitution would be the equalization of the prostitute-client relationship. The prostitute would have an assurance of his or her safety, because he or she would be able to rely on law enforcement just like any other member of society.