Should Prostitution Be Legalized?

Some say prostitution is the world 's oldest profession. Yet, only a small percentage of the world’s government allows it. The legalization of prostitution is a very controversial topic due to many people’s moral beliefs. Prostitutes all over the world are treated as outcasts. A reason for people to be against prostitution could be due to their religious beliefs, moral standpoints, or lack of knowledge over the subject. Many religions state that sex outside of marriage is a sin and those who do it should be looked down upon. Due to these beliefs people tend to be against the legalization of prostitution. Though there are many facts that show that prostitution should be legalized. Prostitution should be legalized in the United States because then it can be regulated, would help the economy, and would lower the prison population and crimes against prostitutes.

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

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.

Within our society laws are created to limit and deter individuals from harming others or themselves. However, crimes such as recreational drug use and prostitution do not harm individuals but in the eyes of the law they are looked down upon due to consequences associated with drug use and promiscuous sex. Additionally, individuals arrested for marijuana usage and even prostitution make up a fair amount of the prison population. As a result of this, there have been several protests calling for the decriminalization and or legalization of these crimes. Though it has been a long battle calling for decriminalization, some countries or even states in the U.S. have worked on fully decriminalizing marijuana and prostitution for important reasons

“Prostitution is one of the worlds oldest professions” (Kipling 1) and still has quiet a relevance in today’s society. However, unlike this primitive profession, a not-so-old debate is whether or not the United States should legalize prostitution. Prostitution is seen from many different viewpoints and although there is clear evidence of the damage that it puts on society, along with tarnishing the morals of Americans. Concerning America and its people, prostitution should not be legalized in any way.

Prostitution would be much safer in the United States if it were legalized. A study was done in the 1980’s that found that around 124 sex workers were murdered every year in the United States (“Atlantic City Prostitutes Taking Precautions as Death Toll Rises”). If the states would legalize prostitution within brothels only, measures could be taken to keep the prostitutes

Women who can legally prostitute themselves will not need government assistance; therefore there will be a decrease of the number of women who need a form of government assistance to survive their everyday lives. As a result of the United States government declaring prostitution illegal, many women get arrested and serve long sentences for their conviction. The United States government spends approximately $45,000 to house an inmate in any state correctional facility or federal penitentiary per year (Hirby, 2013, p.1). The same $45,000 that the government is spending to send a woman that has been convicted of prostitution to prison, could be spent to send that exact female to any private college in any state to further her education. Education is knowledge; knowledge leads to innovation, and innovation leads to a bigger, brighter future.

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.

Known globally as “The world’s oldest profession”, a prostitute can give you quite the bang for your buck! Prostitution should be legalized within the United States of America for numerous reasons, some of which including decrease in rape and diseases, adding a nice little boost to our economy, and generally reducing violence against women of the night. Even though prostitution can be very dangerous, many women choose that path.

Prostitution has been around for a very long time. There has been great debates over the last few decades about prostitution law reform. It is accepted by some, denied by others, or just forbidden. Prostitution is that one thing that people do and does not get brought up for discussion after the fact. It is what some people call dirty and distasteful. But prostitution whether legalized or not will continue to happen. I will argue that prostitution should be legalized because it would bring more benefit than negative consequences in terms of rights, safety, health and well-being.

The laws regarding prostitution, often called “the oldest profession in the world”, have been facing changes for many years. They are multiple attitudes regarding prostitution and opinions on the connotation this word should have but the idea people have of sex worker is usually negative. On a legal matter sex work has been discussed many time and laws regarding this act varies around the world. Some countries found this act immoral and think that it should not be accepted on some ethical and legal concepts while other countries accepts it not only on a legal manner but also as a way of making a living for those who decided for themselves that this is what they want to do. A lot of questions regarding the decision we should make about the legal aspect of this work are in relation to the impact it can have on the society and on the workers itself. Four different views approach this subject; the criminalization of the act, the abolition of the act, the decriminalization of the act or the legalization of it. (p.44 why is prostitution criminalized?) Criminalization is the one presently established in the US. It means that all parties involved in the act are open to criminal punishment. The abolitionist approach is not to punish the sex worker but punishing only third parties. Decriminalization means that the act is not longer subject to legal consequences and their work is consider an independent business. For the legalization the

Prostitution, which is the act of engaging in sexual intercourse for money, has been part of human society since Biblical times. It had become a common part of our society because the women that choose to take part in prostitution are often on the brink of bankruptcy or already are and need a way to provide for themselves and/or their families. They have few to no laws in place to protect them. This leads to the question of whether prostitution should be legalized or whether it should be kept as a common, but illegal occurrence. There are many reasons it is better for prostitution to be legalized.

Governments in many western countries have tried to change their approach to prostitution management. The governments have attempted to amend laws to deal with the prostitution, but the process has met fierce controversy. In Canada, a role of criminal code in regulating or prohibiting prostitution has been the area of long-standing debate ( Lowman & John, 16). The controversial opinions over the prostitution issues have been evident in parliamentary reviews and court challenges launched in this country over the last three decades (Backhouse & Constance, 400). In 2013, restrictions had done on; publically speaking about prostitution and paying for the prostitutes. It resulted from the Supreme Court culminated decision to strike down some acts terming them as unconstitutional. The federal government had up to one year to come up with some amendment on prostitution law (Lowman, & John.17). Parliament worked on the bill by doing the international consultation to get a solution to the prostitution. The Canadian government is still wrestling the issue to strike a balance by preventing exploitation of the sex workers and health and safety concerns while eliminating the increase in criminal activities associated with communities where the prostitution is common (Backhouse& Constance, 420).

Prostitution is defined as the act of “providing or receiving sexual acts, between a prostitute and a client, in exchange for money or some other form of remuneration” (Hock 557). The idea of exchanging sex for valuables has been around since the beginning of human society. The first reported data about prostitution was reported around 3000 B.C.E in one of the first known civilizations, Mesopotamia (Caraboi and Fierbinteanu 362). It is often referred to as “the world’s oldest profession.” Today, even though prostitution is illegal in most parts of the world, it is still prevalent worldwide with different ways to exchange sexual services for payment and many different types of prostitutes. One of these types of prostitutes are brothel workers; brothel workers work in “a house of prostitution,” a brothel, which are normally in areas where prostitution is not criminalized or is legalized (Hock 560). Like prostitution, human trafficking has been around for thousands of years and is still present today.

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?