Trading sexual favors for a commodity has been a common practice for many, many years. In the year of 1973, it was declared by a U.S. organization that sex work should be labeled at a legitimate form of service work (Farley, 2004). In the years since, scholars and politicians alike have attempted to argue for or against this, with arguments often taking the form of abolishment, decriminalization, or legalization of sex work. In many countries and specific U.S. states, sex work has become decriminalized or legalized. Many argue that decriminalization is the correct path as it would alleviate the stigma surrounding sex work and in turn would hopefully decrease the violence and psychological harm that often come to individuals working in the sex …show more content…
Although many argue that sex work should be abolished as it objectifies women, other feminist theorists argue that men oppress women by controlling their sexuality, thus decriminalizing sex work would increase women’s agency in regards to their sexuality. Due to the expression of sexual agency through sex work, women are stigmatized and labeled as ‘whores’ and ‘sluts’. Comte (2013) labeled the theorists in favor of sex work as “sex-positive feminists” (p. 197). The sex-positive feminists argue that there are very few female clients compared to male sex work clients, and this is due to the oppression of women’s sexuality. Sex-positive feminists believe that sex work ought to be decriminalized as well as destigmatized as it makes sex, both inside and outside of sex work, more acceptable and enjoyable for women, by decreasing the shame around women’s sexuality. Furthermore, there are feminist theorists who are in favor of decriminalization that do not take the same position of the sex-positive feminists (Comte, 2013). These feminists believe that the decriminalization of sex work would reduce the position of vulnerability that sex workers are in. It would grant sex workers more power in their interactions, such as negotiating the use of condoms. Decriminalization would also enable access to police protection, legal services, and health care services. …show more content…
Farley’s (2004) article was based on the decriminalization of prostitution in New Zealand. Through the decriminalization of sex work, the johns and pimps are untouched, thus, failing to decrease violence and other forms of harm to sex workers. It is also argued that there is no avoiding sexual harassment and coercion through decriminalization. Though decriminalized sex work will aid in decreasing the stigma surrounding sex work, law enforcement and health care workers are still likely to hold the same prejudice that they have always held. If decriminalizing sex work does not help sex workers, but helps the johns and pimps, decriminalizing or legalizing sex work would not have the positive effect that people in favor of it would hope for.
My Position on the Decriminalization of Sex Work in Canada
When considering decriminalization of sex work in Canada, policy makers must take into account the damage that criminalization has caused. Criminalization over hundreds of years has caused sex work to become heavily stigmatized; causing sex workers to experience a great deal of physical and emotional abuse. I believe that sex work should be decriminalized in Canada on the basis that it has caused harm to many individuals. Decriminalizing sex work also increases the agency and safety of sex
Kelly’s article has raised valid points regarding safety to the prostitute within a brothel, but there is so much evidence that proves the ill effects of this experiment in other countries that the evidence cannot be ignored. Although, parts of the sex trade industry may initially see positive results for some of the workers, the majority would end up worse off than before. Due to the illegal nature of this industry and the control exuded by the pimp, the physical and psychological risk to the prostitute, the highly addictive nature of sex, and the organized crime behind the scenes orchestrating and controlling ever aspect of the industry, it is clear that decriminalizing prostitution would result in significant negative affects on society, prostitutes and those with sexual addictions.
International human rights lawyer Dianne Post has described the institution of prostitution as founded on the principle of “structural inequality by gender, class and race”, in essence painting sex work as the exploitation women of low economic standing merely because they are desperate enough to perform it (Datta & Post 3). Admittedly, sex work is a primarily female profession, though the Internet has lead to growing populations of transgender and male sex workers from the most liberal areas, such as California, to the most restrictive, like South Africa (Minichiello, Victor, Scott, and Callander), but there is simply to little data discussing these population groups to draw any definite conclusions. Where Post loses sight of her larger argument, that women should be treated as equals, is when she decidedly paints women as the victims of prostitution. This argument has blatant hypocrisy in that it ignores the fact that the majority of women participating in sex work are not trafficked sex slaves, but women willingly exchanging money for sexual acts, who are capable of facing the consequences of these actions. In fact, it is an extension of this argument that assumes that women cannot be held responsible for their actions that constitutes one of the primary failings of the Nordic
Throughout Sex Work and the Law: A Critical Analysis of Four Policy Approaches to Adult Prostitution Frances Shaver discusses the need for change for women working as prostitutes. Shaver explains the ongoing problem surrounding prostitution in Canada and provides four possible ways to resolve the issue in her work. Three well thought out points Shaver writes about are the health benefits as well as personal safety for the women in the sex industry. She also touches base on the decriminalization of prostitution and the impacts it will have on nearby neighborhoods and the residents as well as a few other topics. Although Shaver discusses important areas, she does leave out some particular parts for concern such as the issues surrounding minors involved in the sex industry as well as the men and women who are involuntarily put into prostitution also known as human trafficking. While Shaver touches base on extremely well thought out points and provides a solution for dealing with Canada’s prostitution problem, she fails to elaborate on a few major issues that should be discussed as well when discussing the decriminalization of prostitution.
As prostitution is criminalized, this profession is driven underground which undermines the safety of prostitutes. Legalizing prostitution would provide sex workers with regulatory protection and allow this form of work to be recognized as legitimate. As the author of “Think Again: Prostitution” states, “evidence shows, that criminalization of sale or purchase (or both) makes sex workers-many of whom come from marginalized social groups like women, minorities, and the poor-more vulnerable to violence and discrimination committed by law enforcement. Also, criminalization can dissuade sex workers from seeking help from authorities if they are raped, trafficked, or otherwise abused.” Therefore, sex workers are subjected to unfair treatment that could be prevented if this work was legalized and safe conditions were enforced. The author of "Counterpoint: Prostitution Should Be Legalized” states, “prostitution is legalized and regulated in a variety of developed nations throughout ...
I chose this research project because it appealed to me. I wanted to know how criminalization’s of sex work or prostitutions were causing structural violence in society. This presentation itself proved to be interesting in the sense that it goes against what my friends and I were thinking. I always thought that criminalizing sex work was a beneficiary for the society because that would stop the flow of HIV as well as other STI’s between sex worker populations. I never realized that it had the opposite the effect, and instead of being a beneficiary, it caused high-risk environments as well as even more ease to find a sex worker. At first, I thought that this research project was going to be about how the “Criminalization of Sex Work” was going to be about how Sex workers stopped working due to the criminalization, however as I came across it, it was the complete opposite and that grabbed my attention and made me curious, and now I completely understand why it was viewed as structural violence. The focus of this research project was to demonstrate to us that the policing of sex work do...
Barry, Kathleen. The Prostitution of Sexuality: The Global Exploitation of Women. New York: New York University Press, 1996. Print.
Sanders, Teela, Maggie O’Neil, and Jane Pitcher. Prostitution: Sex Work, Policy, and Politics. London: SAGE, 2009. eBook Collection. Web. 17 Oct. 2015.
Sex is a topic that is rarely openly discussed in America. Some would say that is an example of moral decency, others might argue that this is just a prudish mindset we inherited from early puritan settlers. Sex for pay or prostitution, is one concept so at odds with this taboo that it has been declared immoral and illegal. Forty-eight out of fifty states have decided that prostitution should be illegal. On the surface, this widespread ban on prostitution may appear to combat the spread disease and sex slavery, but, upon further inspection, this assertion might not be supported by facts. The creation of a legal and highly-regulated form of prostitution in the United States could help slow the rate at which sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are spread, lower the demand for sex slaves, and improve the quality of life for the prostitutes that already operate in the United States, and should be implemented despite any moral or ethical objections some individuals may have.
In the Journal of Trauma Practice, Raymond’s work “Ten Reasons for Not Legalizing Prostitution And a Legal Response to the Demand for Prostitution” was published. One of her biggest refutes is that legalizing prostitution will not have any effect on the safety of women. ****According to John Haltiwanger, from the Elite Daily, “We have seen evidence to suggest that the criminalization of sex work leads to social marginalization and an increased risk of human rights abuses against sex workers. […] [D]ecriminalization could be the best means to protect the rights of sex workers and ensure that these individuals receive adequate medical care, legal assistance and police
Rights and protections for sex workers includes a variety of goals being pursued by individuals and organizations surrounding the human and labor rights of sex workers. The goals of these policies generally aim to allow sex work and ensure decent treatment from legal and cultural forces on a local and international level for everyone involved in sex work. Sex workers refers to prostitutes, adult video performers, dancers in strip clubs, and others who provide sexually-related services. The back and forth argument over sex work is characterized as an women’s rights issue, especially by those who argue that prostitution is naturally unjust, but there are also males and gender non-binary individuals involved in offering sexual services. The
Apparently, there are some ways within which sex work is helpful to girls. there's no logical basis for the argument against sex work or the criminalization of the sector. I actually have evidenced that sex work isn't essentially consumptive of girls. Sex employees face a danger of exploitation these days solely attributable to the criminalization and branding of sex add our society. Laws that criminalize harlotry and alternative types of sex work are superannuated, impractical, and harmful.
Prostitution is the occupational service where sexual acts are exchanged for payment. Opinions of prostitution have changed drastically over the course of half a century, and are being debated worldwide. Prostitution is a very controversial topic, however there are claims that legalizing prostitution could create an overall safer environment, not only for the sex workers but the rest of society. There has been many alterations in prostitution laws and enforcement practices in several countries. Many nations have created new laws or intensified existing penalties for prostitution-related offences such as soliciting sex, purchasing sex, or pimping. Some other societies are experimenting with policies that securitize prostitution.The claims proposing these regulations are important because they are directly opposed to both the conventional benefits of prostitution and the specific allegations of anti-prostitution crusaders. In Canada and the UK, the exchange of sex for money is not illegal. However, the activities that go along with prostitution are criminal offences.“In March 2012, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a ban on establishments for the purposes of prostitution, which effectively makes street prostitution illegal. In the US, most jurisdictions, prostitution, solicitation, or agreeing to engage in an act of prostitution are classified as illegal. With the exception of licensed brothels in certain areas in Nevada. In the Netherlands,prostitution was legalized in the mid-1800s but it wasn’t until recently, the 1980s sex work became a legal profession. Restrictions on brothels and pimping were lifted in October 2000 and the industry is now securitized by labour law. Prostitutes are registered as legal workers....
Prostitution is highly controversial, many claiming that the legalization would lead to more prostitution, which would therefore be a larger disgrace to society. Furthermore, an essay written by Janice G. Raymond, titled “Ten Reasons for Not Legalizing Prostitution.” This essay brings down ten legitimate reasons as to why prostitution should not be legalized, citing failed attempts in Australia and the Netherlands. The immoralities of these laws shine when, upon closer examination, the laws regard the prostitutes as mere sexual objects for profit to benefit the economy. However, as these faults are recognized, places like Amsterdam begin to alter their laws regarding prostitutions, making them more strict in an attempt to make prostitution safer. Still, organized and regulated legalized prostitution could lead to world reform in the sex trade.
Sexual objectification of women is viewing them solely as de-personalized objects of desire instead of as individuals of complex personalities, which is done by speaking or thinking of women solely by their physical attributes. Sexuality has been a controversial topic for a long time, and there have been many thinkers pondering on its effects on societies and cultures all over the world. The physical expression of sexuality is fundamental and universal. What differs is how cultures, religions and societies construe and influence both the setting in which sexual intercourse between men and women occurs and the type of relationships in which pregnancy is encouraged. The idea behind this form of controlled sexual behavior, which was enforced by culture and society, was to promote family health and welfare, and thereby create healthy societies for the survival and expansion of mankind. Prostitution, the practice of selling one’s body for the purpose of another’s sexual gratification, has existed throughout history in all parts of the world. Prostitution is considered by many a shameful, degrading, and abusive practice that fosters crime, exposes prostitutes to violence, increases sexually transmitted diseases and child prostitution, disrupts family values, and promotes sex trafficking. Legalization of prostitution has not only failed to empower the women in prostitution, but has strengthened the sex industry and the crimes associated with it.
According to ProCon.org, prostitution was a profession that dated back to 2400 B.C. Though many things since then have changed, the practice of selling sex has been more or less the same. What has changed is the way that people now view the practice. Throughout the years the debate has been whether prostitution should become legal or illegal. Organizations like Amnesty International want to push forward the idea of legalizing consensual “sex work” between two adults who are willingly participating because it would help keep those in that line of work safer than they are now. While on the other side of the issue there are