The Pros And Cons Of Prostitution

It’s called the oldest profession in the world, but despite its longevity in almost every society and culture, sex work is illegal in most places. Research suggests that the decriminalization of prostitution would be beneficial because it would reduce the danger posed to sex workers, stop imposing a civil law on a morally wrong activity when sex is consensual, and provide the government a tax income instead of a legal expense.

Prostitution is the exchange of money for sex which enables the client direct access to sexual satisfaction through physical contact. In this essay, I shall argue that we should be morally opposed to prostitution. I shall analyse Laurie Shrage’s argument against prostitution. I shall then consider Igor Primoratz’s objections to these arguments and examine his account for why we should not be opposed to prostitution. I shall then explain why Shrage’s argument survives these objections and we should therefore be morally opposed to prostitution.

The legal regulation of sex work has become a key issue for many governments in an attempt to tackle the many issues and harms of the industry, many partially or fully decriminalising the industry. Sex work is an intensely complex issue, and even the concept of sex work as a ‘job’ is a contentious issue. Some feminist academics perceive sex work as inherently violent regardless of any regulations and therefore should not be legalised at all. However this in an idealistic notion as inaction and further criminalisation would only exacerbate the existing harms of the sex industry. The next issue to contend with is the partial or full legalisation of sex work, the partial legalisation of sex work, results in a two tiered system of sex work, resulting in higher levels of illegal sex work, as sex workers attempt to avoid the rigorous health testing, identity checks and bureaucratic tape. The only way to ensure all sex workers are working in a safe and autonomous capacity is the full legalisation of sex work. Further sex work should be regulated in a similar manner to other industries, with full transparency and accountability in order to prevent moral bias and social control models from taking hold. The New Zealand licensing regulations and Australia’s own state laws are good examples of advancements towards the ideal, whilst international comparisons such as Sweden or the U.S. exemplify the negative impacts of partial decriminalisation and social control. While sex work

Prostitution is often referred to as the world’s oldest profession, and yet, it is also one of the most controversial. Utilizing multiple perspectives to understand certain issues may aid in the creating strategies for equality (Levan, “Unit 1”, 10). Different feminist theories have varying opinions regarding prostitution, and this paper will attempt to address the concerns that each framework brings in order to promote justice.

Full-time or part-time, walking the streets or working within a brothel, from a state to the other, prostitution is an integral part of society. Prostitution is often referred as the world oldest profession (Forrest). For thousands and thousands years, humans have been exchanging money or material goods for sex. Throughout mankind History, set of laws has been put in place with the purpose of controlling and regulating its practice. But, it has never appeared to prevail over its illegal operations. According to the dictionary prostitution is by definition the practice or occupation of engaging in sexual activity with someone for payment (Oxford). Sex selling has traditionally been regarded as a taboo, but today the topic has come to stay

Prostitution or commercial sex has always been a topic of ice and fire for the world. The “world’s oldest profession”, prostitution has always been considered sinful by the society and has always been frowned upon (Ahmed). From the beginning of the profession of prostitution it has been considered degrading for the dignity of women and feminism. Although critics claim that legalising prostitution will result in violence against prostitutes, human trafficking etc., but data collected from countries such as Germany and New Zealand who have legalized the profession of prostitution shows an entirely opposite trend (Reisenwitz). The world today has started to look

“In the United States alone, an estimated $14 billion is generated in annualrevenue from the sex-for-sale industry. Worldwide revenue from the commercial sex trade industry is estimated at more than $100 billion each year,” says the literary criminologist R. Barri Flowers. Prostitution is described as the act of having sexual intercourse in exchange of money or basically commerce of sex. People engaged in this type of activity are called prostitutes or simply sex workers. In today’s societies man and woman can both be sex workers although woman have been predominantly and pejoratively called prostitute. However, prostitution criminalization or decriminalization has been raising debates in many societies. One may argue that outlawing sex workers takes away the liberty of adults to choose how to live their sexual lives and the right of their own body. However, if human sexuality is reduced to something temporary, material and consumable instead of precious, sacred, and wonderful then the all marriage and family structure will crumble and fall, and human being itself will be reduced to an object.

A provocatively dressed girl stands on the corner of a street waiting. Eventually, a car with tinted black windows pulls up and the girl steps into the car. This is the stereotypical image that comes to mind when people think about prostitution. Prostitution has been debated, scorned, and looked down upon for many years. With so much debate around it, it would seem like we would have a clear understanding of prostitution and society’s stance on it. However, prostitution is still a big discussion point for us because there is a clear split in opinion. Some say prostitution is a free choice individuals make while others see it as derogatory and inhumane in the way prostitutes are used. Regarding this split in opinion, the key question is what values should be considered when discussing prostitution? In this paper, I will use primarily use Farley and Peterson-Iyer to argue that important values to assessing prostitution are do no unjust harm, free consent, equality, and social justice in the context of socioeconomic class and inequality between men and women.

The prostitution debate in American culture has continued for decades without a response from the federal government. Some states have drafted initiatives legalizing prostitution to an extent, such as Nevada, where it is partially decriminalized, and most recently California. Over the course of global history, many nations have long stood with women in the fight to legalize prostitution. Yet, to distinguish itself from other nations at the time of its independence, America outlawed prostitution to preserve Judeo-Christian values. Prostitution poses no health risk to the public at large, and furthermore, prostitution without regulation often comes with crime, abuse, etc. The federal government should sponsor health care and security measures for sex workers, as it is their right as free Americans to pursue work without fear of rape or death.

Around the world, many countries have made prostitution illegal, however, 22 countries defy this norm by legalizing the activity in some form (“Prostitution Statistics”). Many people oppose prostitution for the abuse and mistreatment of prostitutes, as many prostitutes are subject to physical and sexual assault and many sex workers often end up being trafficked, which is when someone is forced into labor in slavelike conditions in order to engage in prostitution. Although there are legitimate and valid arguments against the practice of prostitution with concerns about the safety of those involved, there are many arguments in favor of allowing the practice by means of regulation and decriminalizing it as a means to combat human trafficking. It is sensible to compare the condition of the prostitution industry and amount of reported cases of human trafficking in areas where prostitution is illegal to areas where it is permitted in order to see if it is beneficial to legalize prostitution on a larger scale. The argument over the legalization of prostitution is a controversial subject, so it is important to define what is considered prostitution first, explain the arguments against the act before presenting potential solutions to the issues, which can be exemplified by case studies in areas where it is legal. Having an understanding of the process of prostitution helps to understand ultimately whether or not its legalization would improve the condition of prostitutes,

There has been several types of “works” — otherwise known as jobs — that has influenced feminism over the years; some that impacted it for the better, and some that create inadequate views surrounding feminists. Sex work has been highly controversial and have been frowned upon by certain individuals throughout history, whereas the notion of care work is on the opposite end of the spectrum, because it is utterly respected. The reason for the contrasting reactions is because what their jobs demand. Sex work has created a bad reputation for itself, especially by abolitionists, because it is the sexual exchange of services for money such as street prostitutions, for example.

When it comes to sexual activity, some may say it should only occur in a romantic relationship. While others, believe sexual intercourse can be more than an intimate connection with a significant other. Specifically, prostitutes are the activists that pursue sex work only for financial purposes. Currently in Canada, the law states individuals may pursue sexual activity for money. However as of 2014, the laws state that those who purchase sexual services are committing a criminal act. There is only so much the government can legislate in order to avoid criminal activities within the community without increasing acts in the black-market. Obtaining rules and regulations in an association can only go so far when being obeyed. Just because there are rules to follow does not always mean they are being respected. Meaning, if the government constitutes criminal codes against prostitution, the sex workers will not intend to stop. Instead, the activist will pursue underground. In regard to the criminalization, the media has actively manipulated their own representation of prostitutes and the consequences that follow.

Prostitution has been called the world’s oldest profession, yet it is still criminalized. In the United States, Prostitution is illegal except for the state of Nevada, where only certain counties have legalized prostitution. Prostitution has been criminalized in our society and we associate prostitution with something illegal and immoral because we are taught that it is detrimental to our society. Stigmatization of prostitution is as conventional as any other form of social constructions we are taught to follow. “Stigma increases violence. Various studies have noted a correlation between anti-sex work rhetoric that sees street-based workers as a nuisance or a threat to public order and an increase in violence against workers” (Koster). Fifty-eight percent of American prostitutes reported a violent assault at the hands of clients and as a society, it is our duty to minimize the struggles they face. In legalizing prostitution in registered brothels and for independent sex workers, we create a safe option for people who are trying to earn an honest living for themselves. Legalizing prostitution would result in an increased tax revenue, safer public health, decrease in criminal activities, and less violence against women. Some would argue that legalizing prostitution would be immoral because it degrades the society’s values and goes against the norms. However, we as a society we need to realize that prostitution has been in our society since the

What is sex work? An official definition does not exist, however American Jewish World Service refers to sex work as the act of providing sexual services in exchange for money, goods, or favors. There are many different forms of sex work, some are legal and some are illegal. Some are legal in certain geographic locations, but illegal in others. In this industry, certain labor is more stigmatized than others. Criminalized sex work, such as prostitution, is very stigmatized. Exotic dancing does not hold quite the same stigma because it is legal in the United States.

The Sex Labor industry, also called Prostitution, is known as one of the oldest jobs in history, which has assumed a major part of our society as an illegitimate source of income and employment. The persistent illegalization of Prostitution has created a larger number of issues in society, with little to no benefit. Before, prostitution was a more individual decision, where countless women picked it as a last resort for cash in stressful circumstances. Whereas now these women that are forced or enter the industry, experienced the horrors of prostitution, for example, murder, torture, rape, and abuse. Muftic and Fin(2013:1861) emphasize the developing business has made it so that the majority of women are forced into prostitution versus the small percentage who chooses to engage in it, which has led to an increase in mental disorders such as PTSD, and mood, drug-related disorder. In this paper, I will examine the effects of experiences sex workers have and how they have affected these women in their futures. Furthermore, I will investigate how the illegalization of prostitution has significantly greater drawbacks on our society in order to offer policies that may help resolve the social issue present within sex workers. Furthermore, I will examine what effects the experiences sex workers receive such as some policies I believe will provide the most benefits are to either make prostitution legal to allow equality for sex workers, second is to enforce and strengthen the law