The Pros And Cons Of Sex Labor

Prostitution is, and has always been a topic of debate and great controversy in society. The definition and practice of prostitution has changed over time, as a result of social, moral and political influences. Sociologist Ronald Weitzer defines prostitution as, “The exchange of sexual services for material compensations” (Weitzer 2012, P: 3). Generally sex work takes place in many different places, which can include streets, parks, washrooms, brothels, hotels or private homes (Frontline Consulting, 2009 P: 5). That being said it is currently too difficult for the government to control or totally abolish prostitution. The topic of prostitution has always created room for controversy due to ethical, religious and traditional beliefs. As a result, women have become constant victims of public criticism and attack.

All in all, just because someone is a prostitute does not mean they need to be put down in that manner, most people turn to prostitution as a last resort, a way to get out of a bad situation thinking that this will somehow be better. Some probably didn’t have a choice and were forced into it. You never know what someone has gone through to get to where they're at. “Whores” are viewed as people who are lesser, while in fact the majority of the time they’re just people trying to get by with the skills they have. Maybe in the case of this majority, they were never able to find something else they were able to do effectively. But how do “whores” actually view themselves? To assume that one views themselves as lesser, for what they may have no choice in doing, is foolhardy. For all the average person may know prostitutes may have taken the word whore and adapted it to be viewed in a more positive

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

For the purpose of this study, male prostitutes and sexual acts such as pornography, stripping and erotic massages are excluded from the definition of prostitution. The terms ‘sex worker’ and ‘prostitute’ will be used interchangeably throughout the paper. The term ‘sex work’ was coined to circumvent the stigma that accompanies prostitution and to acknowledge that it generates income, like any other profession in our society (Sondhi, 2011).

For the purpose of this study, male prostitutes and sexual acts such pornography, stripping and erotic massage are excluded from the definition of prostitution. The terms ‘sex worker’ and ‘prostitute’ will be used interchangeably throughout the paper. The term ‘sex work’ was coined to circumvent the stigma that accompanies prostitution and to acknowledge that it generates income, like any other profession in our society.

(Jacobin, 2013). Prostitution is then commonly labelled amongst the low-lifes of society, such as alcoholics and thieves. It is ironic that prostitution, an act of consent from both parties involved, are categorized with those who actually harm and steal from others. Criminalizing sex workers in the United States was implemented at the same time there was the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920’s (Grant, 2013). Both industries faced legal battles and underground operations to continue to boom today, but unlike alcohol, prostitution was never legalized. The laws for prostitution has hardly changed since then, and these outdated laws reflect an impermeable pattern of controlling what a woman can do with her body, despite changing times that are supposed to promote acceptance of liberal sexuality. How people view prostitution as a crime (but not

Because proponents of anti-prostitution rhetoric try to misconstrue what is meant by the term prostitution, it is important to clearly specify the definition of the word, when discussing whether it should be decriminalized. The term prostitution refers to the voluntary act of engaging in sexual activities for the purpose of material gain. Often times, prostitution is falsely characterized as sex trafficking; however, these are tremendously different

Prostitution is known to many as “the oldest occupation”, but when examined, the harsh reality of the sex industry is exposed and it is visible that prostitution is more of a form of oppression than it is a profession. The oldest occupation has many names: prostitute, streetwalker, hooker, escort. These types of terms are just examples of how the women who participate in this industry are reduced to labels and objectified. This social oppression is met with physical violence among sex workers, making it the most dangerous profession in human history. If it is so violent and horrible to participate in though, then why has it existed for all of these centuries? The answer is that the entire

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.

Sexual favours in return for money, just the thought of this has people cringing, although laws have deemed to move forward with the idea of prostitution it seems although socially there has not been much progress. The idea of prostitution still scares, or one could even go as far to say it disgusts people. The lack of knowledge and awareness of the details of sex work create this ongoing hate towards sex work, which continues to stigmatize sex workers. Regardless of changing laws, regardless of changing policies, why is it that sex workers are still afraid to proudly announce that their job is in fact the job of a sex worker? Unfortunately, it seems as though the idea of sex work that seems to be such a terrible one is not what bothers sex workers the most, it is the social misconception of what sex work is like that leads these individuals to feel highly stigmatized (Van der Meulen and Redwood, 2013). The primary harm for of prostitution seems to be the stigma against prostitution, women involved in prostitution are considered socially invisible as full human beings (Farley, 2004). Why is it that our changing and progressing laws are still unable to remove this stigma from the lives of sex workers? This paper will argue that prostitution laws continue to produce stigma around sex work. It will argue this through revisiting the historical laws, examining present laws and ongoing laws at this time.

Prostitution is describing the selling of sex that does not need consent or coercion. Trafficking covers coercion and forced labor as well as slavery. (P. 502) The main difference is that same women choose to go into prostitution on economic grounds and tracking is done through force. When someone wants to participate in something, even if its concerned bad, unhealthy or unsafe its harder to protect them for the dangers. Millions of women have made the discussion to sell sex bassed on economic grounds. Some women making UK100 a night selling sex isn’t going to want to sweep floors or kit sweaters for half the price and more hard labor. (p. 502) Women can make much better money and better their economic status by being a prostitute. Here in the US we see selling sex as a moral issue that needs to stop. This brings up another issue, that women here are battling between moral ideology and the reality of the situation. Women in other counties don’t have the same values, beliefs or rights that we have here. For most of us its seems unreal that women and young girls would sell there body like that but to them it’s a way to better there situation and their life. Women also have a different mind set about what they are doing. They see themselves as sex workers, its job and that’s all it is. (p. 502)

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 is ambiguous to define. The Macquarie dictionary defines prostitution as 1. the act or practice of engaging in sexual intercourse 2. any base or unworthy use of talent, ability, etc. But the act of prostitution involves many other associated facets that are included under this extensive act. There’s the act itself, soliciting, advertising, pimping, house brothels, street prostitution, phone sex and even computer sex.

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

After the Escorts comes the Bar girls/boys who are hustlers, strippers and table dancers that work in night clubs, bars and strip joints primarily. Then comes the house girls that work in brothels which would run by a madam (female recruiter) or a pimp (male recruiter); they have very little to no freedom in selecting their client and cannot turn down a customer. After that come the bottom two classes – street-walkers and drug-addicts. The street-walkers are prostitute work at a specific location and in open street and dress very provocatively to entice their customers. The bottom tier, drug-addicts are man or woman who would have sex with others just to have drugs or money to buy drugs. These five ranks also determines how much freedom and options you have and the entry and exit in the sex industry; the higher the rank the hard to enter and easy to quit while it remains the opposite in the lower rank. The higher rank prostitutes also have more protection and security than the lower rank ones and there are more violent events (rape, death etc) in the lower rank than the higher rank that have an established business with higher and exclusive clientele. Despite it’s danger and the cultural taboo condemning it, in the documentary Prostitution: the oldest trade, where several prostitutes were interviewed on how they feel about