Arguments Against Legalization Of Prostitution

What makes prostitution the controversial topic that it is? Though the arguments for legalizing it have been debated for centuries across most societies, the answer has become no less certain. Society’s ideas of moral right and wrong veil the core basis for legalization. This has turned an economic and public health issue into a debate on religion, God’s Law, and moral superiority.

Prostitution is often referred to as the oldest profession in the world. In the early civilizations of Rome and Greece, one can find histories of prostitutes that are unexpected. Some prostitutes in ancient times were exalted, influential people; in other cultures, prostitutes were forced to wear separate attire and ordered to pay taxes. (Liberator.net, 2011)

Arguments against legalizing prostitution is that it exploits women, promotes promiscuity, increases the risk of STD’s, promotes human trafficking, and demoralizes the value of marriage. (Procon.org, 2011) One finds very little statistical information available to support most of these arguments. Not that these aren’t valid points to support the argument against the legalization of prostitution, but these arguments mostly play on fear .Then many, out of this fear, take these arguments on faith. Ultimately, research study statistics would do very little to placate the fear. So, this becomes a very personal diatribe about one’s own core beliefs. After all, even if one logically supported the legalization of prostitution, would one then support their wife, mother, daughter or sister becoming card carrying members of the oldest

The act of two consensual adults having sex, whether for love or money, will occur illegal or not… period. (McElroy, 1999) The branches of the pro argument include both economic, as well as, health and safety benefits. The pro argument, when boiled down to its most basic component, is regulation. Through legalization we can then regulate, tax, and create specific laws to protect the prostitute and the john. With taxation, the country can then earn revenue that can be utilized elsewhere. We can use this increased revenue to help regulate the sex industry, ensure sex workers are getting proper medical care, and protect against child abuse, human trafficking, and sex trafficking. (Procon.org,