In 2013, the National Film Board released a documentary entitled Buying Sex that looks at the state of prostitution laws in Canada. The film also examines the sex industry and laws in Sweden and New Zealand and attempts to “challenge us to think for ourselves” while offering “a gripping and invaluable account of just what is at stake for all of us” (NFB). Although this documentary does present the differing perspectives surrounding sex work and sex work laws, including those of sex workers, lawyers, policy-makers, and male buyers, the film does not communicate an unbiased message to its audience. Rather, it appears as if the film is suggesting that Canada should adopt the Swedish legislation model and that partial criminalization is necessary …show more content…
The Swedish model, or partial criminalization, is a prohibitionist approach to sex work. This model seeks to end prostitution by criminalizing clients, managers, and any other third parties that work with or for sex workers because of a belief that prostitution is a form of violence against women. This law is premised on the desire to ‘save’ and support sex workers as they depart from the sex industry and it does not directly criminalize sex workers (Bruckert, 2012:11). Decriminalization, on the other hand, removes the criminal law aspect. It is the only policy approach that “transcends stigmatic assumptions, prioritizes sex workers’ health and safety over moralistic concerns and creates conditions that conducive to protecting the human and civic rights of sex workers” (Bruckert, …show more content…
Armstrong found that the New Zealand model of decriminalization aids in addressing the power imbalance that exists between sex workers and police in two particular ways. Primarily, it reduces the power that police hold over sex workers by removing the threat of arrest, and second, it empowers sex workers through the provision of rights. She found that this law change enabled police to take a proactive interest in sex worker safety, which was also beneficial to police because this new relationship dynamic allowed for more information sharing between the two groups, which assisted in resolving crime. The author noted that while decriminalization of sex work in New Zealand has not completely eradicated violence against sex workers, she argued that acts such as assault, murder, and rape are “against the law regardless of the legal framework surrounding sex work and, as such, no legal framework can be expected to prevent violence” (Armstrong, 2016:212). What the law does influence, however, is the likelihood of perpetrators being held accountable. Armstrong provides the example of the murder of three street-based sex workers in Christchurch that were all thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators received lengthy sentences. The police in these cases emphasized the importance of being able to
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.
A significant proportion of Canadians may be unaware of the actual nature of prostitution laws in
Human trafficking is “Modern Day Slavery,” in Canada today. From April 2007 to December 2013, there were 50 cases where human traffickers were found guilty, and from those cases, 97 people were convicted of human trafficking offenses. The Ontario Women’s Justice Network (OWJN) defines human trafficking as the recruitment and control of individuals that are exploited and taken advantage of against their will, (OWJN, p. 1- 2). There are various forms of human trafficking in Canada and the victims are vulnerable in all classes, genders, ages, and industries, but research needs to improve to validate concrete statistics. However, there are many Canadian sex workers that do object to the regulation of their chosen profession of prostitution
In 2007, three prostitutes, Terri-Jean Bedford, Amy Lebovitch, and Valerie Scott came to the Canadian government to challenge the current prostitution laws after pending charges were laid against them for illegal acts prostitution (Chez Stella, 2013). The Bedford Case has opened up a debate on whether prostitution should be decriminalized in Canada. Through my research, I offer a comparative analysis of four approaches to prostitution, which aid in illustrating the effects that decriminalization would have on prostitutes, and women as a whole. The four states that I have compared are Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Australia. These countries each hold different views and policies on prostitution. Canada is currently criminalized, the Netherlands is a state in which prostitution is legalized, Sweden advocates abolitionism, and in Australia, prostitution is decriminalized. Through careful analysis I have determined the effectiveness of each of the policies, and which system I believe would be best for Canada’s future. Based on this investigation, I advocate that Canada ought to adapt a similar approach to Australia, decriminalizing prostitution as a means for social, economic, and legal stability for women. It is through decriminalization that prostitutes will have the opportunity to be actively involved in the community, and no longer marginalized members of society.
...Boris B. Gorzalka. "Attitudes, Beliefs, And Knowledge Of Prostitution And The Law In Canada." Canadian Journal Of Criminology & Criminal Justice 54.2 (2012): 229-244.
Caroline Stevermer, an American novelist, once wrote, “How dreadful… to be caught up in a game and have no idea of the rules.” Indeed, the quest for eternal prosperity bares an ancient path that allures pursuers into a deep state of oblivion. As one follows this trail, their vision of reality soon becomes blurred by their dreams of triumph. Ultimately, this enduring road guides an innocent pursuer onto the board of another’s game to become their lifeless pawn. Prostitution is this game. This immoral act involves the exchange of sexual services for financial gain. In Canada, the act of prostitution has never been a crime, but the government has combated this atrocity through criminalizing all activities surrounding the transaction. However,
Sweden says to decriminalize the selling of sex, but to criminalize the buying of sex. This will help protect the human rights of people in prostitution while reducing the demands for paid sex. Sweden states that decriminalizing the buying of sex would protect people and make prostitution “safer.” There will be a decrease in human trafficking. There has been a study of prostitution in different countries where the buying of sex has been decriminalized. The studies show that sex trafficking is more common. It is more common because buyers can buy sex without having any problem. Traffickers do not have any business if buyers cannot
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.
During the twentieth century, repression and toleration continued, but today in urban areas the trend seems to be toward toleration, and prostitution is becoming increasingly...
“There is no difference in work in which a women sells her hands, such as a typist, and a work in which a women sells her vagina, as in sex work.” Claims author Lacy Sloan. In today’s society, many people believe that prostitution is an immoral act. It is the world’s oldest profession and because it has been long condemned, sex workers are stigmatized from mainstream society (ProQuest Staff). However, the act of purchasing sex between consenting adults should not be prohibited by the government, but regulated for society's overall best interests. Prostitution is illegal and as a consequence prostitutes are often victims of violence and sexual assault; therefore, prostitution should be legalized and regulated to ensure the safety of sex workers.
Receiving money to perform sexual actions has become either a lifestyle choice or a hostile option for the female prostitutes in the Netherlands, particularly in the city of Amsterdam. The participants involved in the legalized policy of prostitution are subjected to ambiguous impacts which involve social, political, health, and economic divisions. Since prostitution was legalized as of the year 2000, Amsterdam has seen a decline in criminal activity, allowing workers an increase in autonomy, and provides better labor conditions. (Cruz, & Iterson, 2013). ). The legalization of prostitution may have aided some of these women from escaping entrapment from pimps or has helped them into becoming independent women. An estimated 20,000 prostitutes are located in the Netherlands, 40% of the prostitutes that work in the city of Amsterdam occupy the 370 available windows, if not more, and clubs surrounding the red light district. (Cruz, & Iterson, 2013). The red light district in Amsterdam is a representation of the freedom that the city has to offer for the natives and tourists that explore their curiosity with experimental and recreational activities. However, while the surface may project a false sense of peacefulness, there is still a black market that condones itself to the trafficking of women and illicit revenues. (Vanderstok, 2010). Nonetheless there is an extensive possibility on the areas of research for issues of female prostitution in the Netherlands. The forefront for this research will be based on the types of female sex workers and the concern on the level of protection the sex workers are entitled to since the legalization of prostitution.
Crowhurst, I., Outshoorn, J., & Skilbrei, M. (2012). Introduction: Prostitution Policies in Europe. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 9(3), 187-191. Retrieved February 21, 2014, from http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/307/art%253A10.1007%252Fs13178-012-0100-7.pdf?auth66=1393548913_753f910350c7bb95ffab6b5eaa422617&ext=.pdf
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...
Sanders, Teela, Maggie O’Neil, and Jane Pitcher. Prostitution: Sex Work, Policy, and Politics. London: SAGE, 2009. eBook Collection. Web. 17 Oct. 2015.
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....