The Legalization Of Prostitution Within The United States

Prostitution in its legal sense is defined as sexual intercourse of some kind in exchange for some kind of payment, usually money (Adriaenssens and Hendrickx 665; Perer 826).As of 2013, there are an estimated 1 million to 2 million prostitutes active in the world wide sex work industry today (Adriaenssens and Hendrickx 666). Prostitution is illegal in the United States; however, many experts think that should change. Most European and Asian countries have legalized prostitution (Agustín 74). Some believe that the legalization of prostitution could increase economic stature, decrease sexual violence, and decrease the amount of sexually transmitted diseases spread (Agustin 76; Bruckert and Hannem 43). Others believe that illicit acts such as

The legalization of prostitution has been a compelling two sided argument for many years. When morals and reasoning combine, it is often hard to come to one solution. Prostitution is considered to be a serious issue in countries around the world. The amount of prostitution has been increasing tremendously every year and it seems to be getting more serious than the past centuries. The government has legalized prostitution in a few countries and people are wondering if this will become an all over the world thing. There are two very different views to legalizing prostitution that I would like to explore.

According to, “Conclusion: Learning from Nevada”, the main issue that is being discussed in this article is legalized prostitution in the U.S. It is based on a study done in Nevada, the only state in the United States, which currently has legalized prostitution. This article offers a lot of key information that the reader can learn from. My analysis will show the author’s position on legalized prostitution, misconceptions, problems and my analysis on legalizing prostitution, based on the information, learned from this study.

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.

Throughout history, prostitution has been an issue of intense debates in the US and the larger global society. Many countries legally prohibit prostitution and associated activates. Except Nevada, the United States also illegalizes prostitution. However, the benefit of legalizing prostitution in the US would not only be for the workers but also for the economy as well. It is high time that prostitution be legalized for various reasons.

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,

The first thing that someone may think about when they hear the word prostitution is that it’s illegal but also dangerous. This is a completely fair claim to make, however if America legalized prostitution, it would be a completely different story. If there was to be a standard policy implemented that would ensure safety in all aspects, prostitution would no longer be viewed as a negative thing. Likewise, nobody would be forced into anything as opposed to those currently involved in the business. Prostitution in America should be legalized because if there was a standard policy, then there would be less health risks, no more danger for the girls involved, and regulations on the market.

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.

Deep-seated opinions and radical views come and go, but one that prevails (with topics such as the legalization of marijuana) is the legalization of the profession that has been around for thousands of years—prostitution. The dispute over whether prostitution should be legalized has long troubled many American citizens as well as becoming an extremely controversial issue in America. Although many spiteful claims have been made about the act of prostitution, the truths are slowly beginning to resurface. Disregarding moral accounts, there are far more political and diplomatic facets that must be taken into account when making a national decision of this caliber. Prostitution can be used for professional purposes and can also be used as another form of tax revenue and the only people that are benefitting from this business are pimps who are making hefty profits, tax-free. I believe that prostitution should be legalized because it could help the economy and society as a whole; if the government regulated it, it would be a taxable business. Although deemed immoral, Legalizing prostitution comes with a major benefit, a positive economic impact to the country it was legalized in; this reason could help America thrive economically.

Many people view prostitution as a deplorable job held by women who have no other option. Yet just like the porn industry if regulation was implemented then most of the stigma surrounding it would dissipate. These stigmas include that the women are worthless and unnecessary as well as that there are no men who work in this industry as a sex worker. In both legal and illegal brothels both sexes participate on both sides. In Nevada which is the only state where prostitution is legal, there are a total of 8 brothels owned by Dennis Hof a billionaire trying to work in politics to legalize prostitution everywhere (Hamdan 5). Regulations include that “[t]he workers must be at least 21 years old, use condoms, and undergo weekly testing for STDs and HIV. As of date none of the workers have tested HIV positive since testing mandated in 1985.” (5) The workers also participate in the community and show

The question is easier to answer than some might think. Some types of prostitution actually are legal in some parts of the US. One can legally visit a brothel in the state of Nevada, where prostitutes are housed, and sold to the men willing to pay the price. In Nevada, the prices are higher than the street market, but that is probably just because the conditions are better right? Wrong, very wrong. Julie Bindel wrote an article about the truth of Nevada brothels, and how prostitutes are actually treated there. She tells harrowing stories of women who are mistreated for acting out of compliance, starved for being considered overweight (2007). Clinical psychologist and renowned Anti-Prostitution activist Melissa Farley concurs, “Once the people of Nevada learn of [prostitutes'] suffering and emotional distress, and their lack of human rights, they, like me, will be persuaded that legal prostitution is an institution that just can't be fixed up or made a little better. It has to be abolished” (2007). There a hundreds of prostitutes being mistreated on daily basis in Nevada. If prostitution was illegal in Nevada, the perpetrators of such heinous crimes would be able to be punished for their inhumanity rather than rewarded with

During the Progressive Era in the United States, commercial sex work became recognized as a form of sexual slavery. In the early 1900’s, many of the pimps were portrayed as foreign or African American men in cities such as Chicago, who tricked, drugged or forced young girls into prostitution (Broomfield, 2016). Present day, sex trafficking has evolved but many similarities remain. Pimps still recruit children directly using a great deal of manipulation. Focusing on young girls’ vulnerability and need for love and attention by offering compliments, gifts and promises of romance. After the victim has been seduced into the world of DMST, the false promises turn into an abusive relationship where the pimp uses the victim for their economic gain

In his book Love For Sale, Nils Johan Ringdal wrote, “If nobody wants to sell sex, it is a crime to force anyone to do so. But when men or women do want to sell their bodies, they should have that full right without encountering punishment or discrimination.” Prostitution, often described as the world’s oldest profession is a legitimate criminal offence in 109 countries of the world today (“Human Trafficking Statistics”). Laws on prostitution vary considerably from country to country: in some countries it is punishable by death penalty ("Iran - Facts on Trafficking”), in some it is a crime punishable by prison sentence, while in other jurisdictions, it is a lesser administrative offense punishable only with a fine ("The Sentencing and

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.

One of the oldest known jobs in history is Prostitution, otherwise known as the sex labor industry. It is a major part of our society as an illegitimate source of income and employment. The prohibition of Prostitution creates a larger number of issues in society. Before, prostitution was a more individual decision, where countless women picked it as a last resort in emergencies; whereas now these women are coerced into the industry and experience abuse, murder, etc. The involvement and trauma prostitutes experience results in mental disorders. Furthermore, I investigate how the prohibition of prostitution has greater drawbacks on our society and introduce three policies that may help resolve the social issue within sex workers. Some policies I believe will provide the most benefits are first, the legalization of prostitution, second, enforcing and strengthening the law enforcement for human trafficking, and third, development of availability of medical resources.