For centuries, women have been selling their bodies, in most cases prostitution, but it is not world’s oldest profession. Nevertheless, for as long as history states, prostitution has been around for as long as the oldest professions in the world. Every aspect of history asserts even the slightest things about prostitution existing. Prostitution has been a long-term profession through out several decades, whether it varies from being an adult star, escort, prostitute, a stripper etc… As long as they pay their rights as a civilian of the country (taxes and such), they should be allowed to do whatever they want with their body. In terms of legalization and morality issues (pertaining to religious reasons), it is the woman’s choice.
Throughout great civilizations of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, through to the centuries of middle Ages, 16th century to present, Prostitution was always apart of history. Even during the 18th century BCE, the Code of Hammurabi shows provisions on the inheritance rights of prostitute. They were based on the same level of a “devoted woman” and a “sister of a god”. As written, “If a ‘devoted woman’ or a prostitute to whom her father has given a dowry and a deed…if a ‘sister of a god,’ or a prostitute, receive a gift from her father, and a deed…she may dispose of it as she pleases…then she may leave her property to whomsoever she pleases” (Code of Hammurabi). During the 6th century BCE Solon even set up government-supported brothels in urban areas, hiring inexpensive prostitutes that all men could hire. At that time there were even educated prostitute-entertainers – similar to modern-day porn stars. Throughout the Ancient Greek and Roman eras, prostitution remained legal. In the Middle Ages, year 1161...
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Patty Kelly’s article, “Enough already, it’s time we decriminalize prostitution”, takes the reader into a fascinating behind the scene look into one of Mexico’s legalized brothels. Although it is apparent that her research and investigation into this social experiment are well defined, it is too narrow a focus to gather all the required information to support her argument. Kelly begins with a half hazard analysis of Elliot Spitzer infidelity, then continues down the path that is far too laser like to see the overall effect on these women; failing to see these prostitutes as real people with hearts and souls. Instead, she produces an impression that the prostitutes are just commodity, bought and sold on the open market, lacking feeling for their plight. In Kelly’s investigation, she neglects to create an entire picture of what decriminalizing prostitution will cost humanity due to the fact that her investigation ignores society’s accepted understanding of what problems are produced by, or result from prostitution. There was absolutely no research cited that relating to sexual addiction, the effects on the prostitutes’ emotional and physical wellbeing, or even the acknowledgment of the organized criminal element behind prostitution.
Prostitution is one of the oldest professions in history. In this modern age there are several classes of prostitutes with several methods of finding work, but they still face violence in their business. Though prostitutes are frowned upon by society and treated as criminals, under the law they should not be scrutinized by the morals of the people. Prostitutes frequently feel they have no options due to their illegal work, should they be assaulted they cannot turn to the police since many officers refuse to aid them as criminals. Prostitution should be regulated to fight human trafficking, increase quality of life for the women working in the industry, and generate taxes for the government while reducing the cost of dealing with prostitution.
Critics of prostitution are concerned with the ethics of the service. They argue that, prostitutes do not have morals because they are having intercourse to make a profit. This also ties into religion; most religious people believe intercourse should be shared between a man and his wife. Prostitution is seen as a nontraditional and shameful profession. Women and men are taught to treasure their body, and some think selling your body is a sign of being worthless and having low self-esteem. Also most people think prostitution is not safe for one’s health. The stigma that prostitutes are not clean and do not use contraception make people believe sexually transmitted diseases are high amongst people involved in this service industry. Some think that a person’s body, especially a woman’s is of high value and prostitution strips it of its glory. The argument here is that a person who partakes in prostitution is immoral and does not value their body.
The Unites States of America prides itself in the freedom and liberty it allows its citizens; one of these freedoms testifying that individuals have the right to do what they want with their bodies – as such, if one wishes to participate in prostitution, an individual has that right. In fact, the 9th Amendment specifically states “the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people” (cite). The constitution attests that simply because a right is not listed within it, doesn’t mean that it can therefore be violated; so, why aren’t citizens legally able to participate in prostitution? The act of prostituting is a choice that consenting individuals make with their bodies; this decision is mutually made in the exchange of sexual services for money. These individuals may be partaking in potentially risky and unfavorable actions, but that is between both the service and client. The government has no justification in involving themselves so heavily in voluntary, private affairs among two people. It can be assumed that prostitution is disapproved of in the United States; the only place in which this action is legalized is within eight counties in Nevada (cite) – could this be because of how unfavorable and uncomfortable the behavior is for society? Regardless of how individuals view this action personally, it does not justify taking another’s rights away from doing so. If it did, then we should also be creating laws against obese people and active smokers; after all, obesity kills about 300,000 Americans each year (cite), and the mortality rate for individuals who smoke is three times higher than those who don’t (cite) . Both of those examples are also looked up...
The perception most Romans had regarding prostitution seems to be incredibly contradictory. On one hand prostitution was seen a necessary part of society that was extremely valuable to the preservation of marriage (Laurence, 71). On the other hand Roman laws and social customs put prostitution at the bottom rung of society (Flemming, 56).
Furthermore, Sex workers have a right to their own body. America is supposed to be the land of the free. Are we truly free if they can tell us what we can and cannot do with our bodies? According to the Human declaration of human rights, article one, all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. If other employees have a right to do a job of his/her choice, then why can’t a prostitute? Prostitutes have a right to work also, considering that they too are human beings.
In some form or other, prostitution has been recognized throughout history and all over the world. There has been alternating phases of repression and toleration of prostitution. Official Christian morality has always opposed prostitution, but in big cities prostitution has been rather open and tolerated in Christian societies until the sixteenth century when venereal disease became a major public problem. At that time public authorities began denouncing prostitution and took severe measures to eliminate it. By the nineteenth century, official enforcement of rules against prostitution had become lax in the U.S. and England; while in nations such as France had rather wide open houses of prostitution in major cities. The U.S. launched a campaign to suppress prostitution. Industrialization and mass communication seem to have been associated with increased repression of deviance in general and sexual deviance in particular.
Although throughout much of the beginnings of our country the act of adultery was rampant, prostitution has always been viewed in a negative light in the United States. The mass adultery even went so far as to quell the act of prostitution due to the fact that they were simply were not needed (Esselstyn 1968). Throughout most of the ninetieth and twentieth centuries prostitution was associated with other socially immoral objects and act, such as the use of drugs, alcohol, and also the act of gambling. While society viewed these as the true threats to society, they view prostitution a...
...nd 1860, with its main factors being Industrialization and Urbanization. Yet these causes also brought about additional reasons as to why so many women turned to prostitution. With a huge increase in population, urban poverty, and desperation increased the demand for prostitutes and the amount of women willing to degrade themselves for money. The continuing problem was that prostitution was still legal throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth century and not suppressed but permitted as a tolerated profession due to a double standards in society. Also the on-going theme throughout is that women would turn to prostitution when in dire need of money. The economy throughout Europe was unstable at times and poverty among the lower classes was common. Extreme poverty generated survival crimes such as prostitution to enable women to earn money in order to keep them alive.
Little do most know, but on “[a]verage [prostitution] arrest[s], court and incarceration costs amount to nearly $2,000 per arrest. Cities spend an average of 7.5 million dollars on prostitution control every year, ranging from 1 million dollars to 23 million dollars.” Prostitution is the oldest known profession. Currently in 49 countries and counting prostitution is legal. Here in America there is a stigma following the label prostitute. We would rather resort to underground markets of sex labor. Endangering health, rights, and economics. Legalizing prostitution can reduce health hazards by giving heath care, also by giving rights to those that choose prostitution as their profession. In the long term this
Prostitution dates back to as early as 2400 BC and has formed an interesting chapter in the history of civilization. Prostitution is known to be one of the oldest professions and roughly started all the way back to the 18th century in Mesopotamia. In Ancient Babylon and Sumer, one of the first ever forms of prostitution was sacred prostitution. This was where every woman, rich or poor, had to reach once in their lives the sanctuary of Mylitta (Aphrodite) and there submit themselves into the embraces of a foreigner as a symbolic sign of hospitality and respect towards the goddess. In the Ancient near east, sacred prostitution was a common thing for women to show their dedication to the deities. However, it all ended when Emperor Constantine abolished the custom, destroyed the goddess temples and replaced them for a church to teach Christianity. In Ancient Greece, Prostitution was something both women and men engaged in. The Greek word for prostitute is porne (Gr: πόρνη), derived from the verb pernemi (to sell). It was looked at more as a job rather than a sign of respect. Prostitution was something mostly women turned to when they were in dire financial need. Their activities would occur in places called a Lumpinar or Lumpinarium, which was a vaulted space or cellar. These brothels were described to be very dirty and due to the poor ventilated spaces, the smoke from the burning candles caused the smell to be very potent. Male prostitution was also very common in Ancient Greece, usually practiced in young boys. In Ancient Rome, prostitution was legal, public, and widespread. It played a role in several roman religious observances, usually in the month of April, where the love and fertility goddess presided. At the same...
Prostitution is one of the most controversial subjects in the United States. There are many pros and cons to this subject. Should prostitution be legalized? Or should it stay illegal with no chance of becoming decriminalized? Some researchers confirm that prostitution is indeed the most ancient profession, while others argue with it; however, everybody agrees that trading sex for money has existed for quite a while. Prostitution is still a part of modern society. The fact speaks for itself, as there will always be a demand for the services that it provides, prostitution will exist in some form no matter what.
The oldest occupation in history, prostitution is one of the only occupations in which those who practice it are not protected by law in many first world countries. That however, sets the stage for disaster; women can get beaten and raped but will not report it out of fear of getting arrested themselves. To protect prostitutes and their patrons, voluntary prostitution of those over the age of eighteen in inevitable and must be legalized.
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
“The exchange of sexual favors between partners within a relationship for money is just one of the various ways of expressing and carrying out human sexuality”. Prostitution is the oldest profession in the world and it has helped several women to earn a living for themselves and their families from times immemorial. Prostitution typically refers to a wide variety of sex-for-payment arrangements. There are several countries having long and descriptive histories of this activity. India is one of those countries. From the Rigveda, it is found that there were women who were common to several men and were known as courtesans or prostitutes. Back in the era of kingdoms, the concubines were also granted regal status. However, scenario