Should Prostitution Be Legalized?

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

Policies and laws fail to stop prostitution, and it will not stop. It is more costly to keep prostitution illegal. Prostitutes will be more vulnerable to getting criminal records, which then makes it harder for them in society, to obtain legal jobs. Also, with prostitution being illegal the workers may not be able to protect themselves from crimes against them. As prostitution is not legal, then they have to find discreet places to work, which usually is not in a safe environment. If some kind of crime against them did happen, they may feel that, they aren’t able to go to the police for help, as their work is illegal. It actually makes it harder on the worker, in turn making it harder for the client. There are all sorts of people who turn to prostitutes. From blue collar workers to high executives of companies, business owners and more. With prostitution being illegal, the clients are facing criminal charges as well. This does not only hurt the client, but communities as well. The author believes that people around the world have changed their older views and sexual norms to adapt to a more modern society. Brents, B.A., Jackson, C.A., & Hausbeck, K. (2010) concludes that prostitution is better being legalized than being criminalized (p.233). And with this change, people should reevaluate and learn from Nevada’s policies on prostitution being legal. While the author has shown many reasons why

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.

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,

“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

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.

“I originally intended to write in defense of legalizing prostitution, but hindsight has made me realize that I cannot defend a profession that dehumanizes its workers.” Tlatenchi, Fredy. "Prostitution Should Not Be Legalized." The Sundial. N.p., 27 Nov. 2012. Web. 07 Sept. 2015. The statement above would lead the author’s readers to believe that prostitution if legal would be no different than it is now, shameful, dangerous, disease ridden and exploitation filled. Prostitution has been around for some time, given it is referred to as the world’s oldest profession. Why is it then, if still illegal, do so many continue their sex work? Desperation? Empowerment? Force? Lack of a moral compass? In

“I originally intended to write in defense of legalizing prostitution, but hindsight has made me realize that I cannot defend a profession that dehumanizes its workers.” Tlatenchi, Fredy. "Prostitution Should Not Be Legalized." The Sundial. N.p., 27 Nov. 2012. Web. 07 Sept. 2015. The statement above would lead the author’s readers to believe that prostitution if legal would be no different than it is now, shameful, dangerous, disease ridden and exploitation filled. Prostitution has been around for some time, given it is referred to as the world’s oldest profession. Why is it then, if still illegal, do so many continue their sex work? Desperation? Empowerment? Force? Lack of a moral

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.

In society today, a negative connotation surrounds prostitution. Illegal in most places in the United States, it did not used to be that way. During this time, prostitution was a vibrant and successful industry. Nevada currently allows prostitution in a limited capacity. Those who wish to operate a brothel in Nevada must secure a license, and the ordinance must have less than four hundred thousand people. This case study is starting the trend towards decriminalization of prostitution. The biggest argument against legalization stands on religious and moral grounds. However, society has transcended past these obstacles. Internationally, numerous countries currently have legalized prostitution. Ultimately, prostitution is conducted on behalf of private citizens. It does not harm a third party. The government needs to delegate the legality to the people, rather than governmental intervention.

Prostitution has been and may always be one of the most controversial topics in the United States. While there are some who argue that prostitution should be legalized, others do not agree with this theory. Some advocates argue that prostitution is a victimless crime and that it should be a decision that one chooses on his or her own. They also believe that the legalization of prostitution will minimize crime, increase tax revenue, and potentially improve public health. However, I refute such arguments. Prostitution should be not be legalized because it would not only encourage but increase human trafficking, increase the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and advertise a false perception of an immoral activity upon children.

Prostitution, in most cases, is defined as engaging in sexual type behaviors in exchange for money and or some form of payment. Prostitution is said to be one of the oldest professions. The debate to legalize prostitution in America, is almost as old as the profession itself. The issues surrounding legalizing prostitution have not lacked interest or input from government officials, leaders, politicians, or human rights activists, to name a few. Some of the concerns constantly mentioned, range from an increase of human trafficking cases, to prostitution being exploitative, unethical, and harmful. The idea that prostitution is harmful, or unethical, may have originated from the premise that it involves selling sex, something deeply personal and emotional (Moen, 2014). This idea however, is unsubstantiated, whereby, not every woman holds sex, or the act of having sex, as something sacred or revered.

When it comes to the topic of legalizing prostitution, some of us will readily agree that it is the oldest profession that involves money rather than the historic hunter and gather. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of the safety of the man or woman selling their body for financial gain. Though I concede that prostitution can be dangerous, I still insist that legalizing prostitution would not only benefit the men and women involved, it would also be a financial gain to the government.

Have you ever wondered how it feels to be a prostitute? Prostitution, also known as sex work, is the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relations especially for money. Usually women are prostitutes and men are customers. Prostitution is one of the sectors of the sex industry alongside pornography, stripping and erotic dancing, but is the only sector that is criminalized within the United States, except for certain counties within Nevada. Sustaining prostitution laws is mainly for the safety of the sex worker and the community to which the worker belongs. The law is meant to deter women from becoming sex workers so that the women do not run into health problems, become victims of rape or get abused by a pimp. However, prostitution laws create unfairness by condemning sex workers and restraining them from using their bodies as a source of income. Some women that are poor or enjoy the feeling of sex willingly choose to become prostitutes in a means to gain some money, but the criminalization against prostitution causes more problems and scares sex workers away from reporting crimes that have been taken place against them. Instead of the law protecting the sex worker from health problems it creates more health problems and creates unsanitary working environments. Moreover, the law takes away the right of the person to use their body to gain an income. Furthermore, the law scares away prostitutes from reporting crimes taken place against them and allows corrupt cops to take advantage of them. On the other hand, people may think that banning prostitution will solve all of these problems and create a better community without sex workers. Although people may think that banning prostitution will solve all the issues associated with it, the law creates many health problems, takes away the person’s right to use his or her body in a way they see fit, scares away prostitutes from reporting crimes taken place against them and allows them to be exploited by corrupt cops.