The Pros And Cons Of Prostitution

In 2009, the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit of the United States Department of Justice reported charging 114 people with human trafficking offenses. Out of the 114 people, there were only 43 human trafficking prosecutions. Of those 43, only 22 were for sex trafficking. In 2008, more than 50 people were charged when Phoenix, Arizona police took down a prostitution organization (Arizona Republic). Obviously, the rate of prostitution and the rate of prostitution do not correlate with each other. There are more prostitutes operating in the United States versus the number of people being brought to the United States by way of human trafficking, strictly for the purposes of working in the sex industry.

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.

“Why should it be illegal to sell something that it’s legal to give away?” is a question posed by Judge Carlos Bea in California’s 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to the state’s Attorney General. A lawyer representing the San Francisco-based Erotic Service Provider Legal, Educational, and Research Project filed a lawsuit in 2015 to change the 145-year old California law criminalizing sex work (Patch, 2017). The court is now allowing the legal challenge after a lower court threw out the case last year (Shugerman, White, 2017). In Washington D.C., there is a bill that also seeks to decriminalize prostitution as a way to help sex workers report violent crimes without fear of arrest (Mehlan-Orozco, 2017). There are those in California and throughout the country fighting the current laws with plenty of opposition.

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

According to Seidenberg, “the selling and/or buying sex has been alternately illegal, regulated and forbidden, such as; the U.S federal law against prostitution was the Page Act of 1975” (Seidenberg). As well, prostitutes are ever seen for the ability to give good times by providing sexual services for money or gifts. To recap, prostitutes used to be women selling their bodies for money, but today there are men prostitutes selling their bodies too for many reasons. Not only money, but also drugs are a common currency for prostitutes. In addition, this service industry brings bad consequences to society in the United States, such as, economic, health and social issues.

Prostitution is supposedly the oldest profession in the world. It is legal in some countries, such as the United Kingdom and Germany. However, in the majority of the world, prostitution is illegal. The legalization of prostitution has become a popular dispute between what is morally right and wrong. There would be economic benefits in the amount of revenue that governments generate if prostitution were to become a legal line of work. However, many people are against legalizing a profession that is considered immoral. It is a profession that is going to take place, whether or not it is legalized. Legalizing prostitution is needed to ensure those who provide and those who pay for this service, a safer and healthier environment. This essay will provide supporting evidence for this claim.

Prostitution is an age-old profession, and has been referred to as the oldest profession known to man. According to alternet.org, there was a time when prostitution was fine and legal. In fact, prostitutes help settle early American settlements. Where ever you had men that were settling the West, you had prostitutes. The practice had become so big in the United States that women would often migrate from other countries to be a part of the profession (AlterNet). But now many people often look at prostitution as a degrading practice for women. Most opinions formed about prostitution are due to religious beliefs and personal opinions from incorrect information. Despite the act being illegal, it is still practiced all over the United States, resulting in multiple issues, such as STDs, arrests, and rape/sexual abuse. Due to the fact that prostitutes are faced to deal with the following issues: STDs, arrest, and rape/sexual abuse, therefore, the government should study the prostitution laws practiced in other

Prostitution lowers the value of a human being and makes the person no better than an inanimate object.  My opinion matches many cultural, political, and religious beliefs all of which are used to judge right and wrong.  Regardless of whether or not the act is consensual, or the desperation of woman to make quick money to support her kids, a sexual act with a stranger all in the name of money is simply wrong.  Prostitution often leads to adultery, pornography, drug abuse, HIV/Aids, and sexual violence. None of these fall in line with societies idea of ethics or morality.  They are not harmless consequences.  According to one study, "The act of prostitution is morally wrong and according to the Kantain Principle of Humanity and Categorical Imperative, the act of prostitution degrades the natural use of a woman's body and allowing men to use a woman's body as a means to an end thus violates the

Criminalizing prostitution takes away people’s right to decide for themselves what they consent to. It is very similar to the legalization of weed, the selling of weed is comparable to any other service. Since the legalization of weed, it has allowed people to consent to what they want. Veronica Monet, a former prostitute and author says she “chose sex work for money, independence, and freedom.” She explained the importance behind the feeling of independence and freedom. She was able to choose her future and gave consent to the service she was providing (Monet). She argues that “sex work can be dignified, honest and honorable” because she was able to make the choice to engage and supply the service. Prostitution can be a victimless crime (Monet). If both parties give consent, there is no victim therefore there is no crime.

When individuals hear the word prostitute they think of a women who gets pleasure in partaking in sexual activity for money, they believe that prostitution should be terminated from the United States because of the problems surrounding it. What most fail to realize is that legalizing prostitution can benefit the United States economically and reduce the crime rate surrounded by prostitution.

Prostitution is defined as the practice or occupation of engaging in sexual activity with someone for payment. "There is no downside to legalizing prostitution. The government would benefit by collecting taxes on the industry. And regulation would clean up a lot of crime and help to protect women" ( Procon.org “taxes from prostitution”

The decriminalization of prostitution would be beneficial to society and would soften negative stereotypes and deviance. If prostitution is decriminalized more power would be granted to the sex workers, there would be health regulations, and tax benefits. However, there are also negatives to decriminalizing prostitution, like if regulations are set in place the workers will continue to do the acts that are banned. Prostitution should be decriminalized and regulated because workers won’t be coerced into work they don't want, and they will have control over their bodies. This will protect men and women from vicious pimps. Also, decriminalization would prevent sex workers from being dehumanized.

When many people hear the term prostitution they automatically have a negative thought in their heads. They see the violence, the drugs, and the manipulative things that are said and done to these people, all due to their pimps. What people fail to realize is there is a fine line between human trafficking and prostitution, many people get these two confused. Human trafficking is a different level of prostitution defined as the action of illegally transporting people from one area to another for sexual exploitation. Technically the definition of prostitution is the act or practice of engaging in sexual intercourse for money. Nowhere in this definition did it involve it being forced by another

Prostitution is a profession that has been around for thousands of years despite being a controversial topic in many parts of the world. In the modern world, the ethics of prostitution have been debated with many people viewing the profession as immoral. Prostitution is an exploitative and harmful profession for the sex workers. Since women account for a majority of those who engage in prostitution, these negative impacts affect women more. Also, prostitution is a gendered institution that strengthens and