Some put one a suit and tie. Some strap on a hard at and a safety vest. Some put on revealing clothing and heavy makeup. All have bills to pay and all have real jobs. However, only two can count a safety and the protection of law enforcement in their line of work. It’s been said that prostitution is the world’s oldest profession, yet it still carries an enormous amount of stigma, and is still illegal in one of the most industrialized nations in the world. Although prostitution and sex work in general have many negative societal connotations, its legalization would not only have economical benefits, and improve working condition for those already working in the industry, but would also control the spread of STDs and HIV in the sex industry. The truth as with anything, resists simplicity. The issue of legalizing prostitution is not a simple one and would come with many restrictions and provisions. The fact remains that in this day and age sexuality is no longer taboo and if the transaction is even two consenting adults it should be a legitimate, legal profession.
Prostitution has been rejected by polite society as scandalous and grotesque, yet it continues to behind closed door and on dark street corners. Some think that the legalization of prostitution would only further to degrading society and would create a haven for human trafficking. Sex is thought to be the most intimate form of human interaction, therefore many believe it should not be undermined and traded as a commodity. Conservatives often reject prostitution on religious grounds. Christians will cite the fifth commandment, Thou shall not commit adultery, and text from the Bible such as, none of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, and none of the sons o...
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...iolence and better overall working conditions. This should be the U.S’s model for legalization as well.
Historically prostitution has been instrumental in the spread of HIV and other STDs. It was once thought the only way to catch a STD was through contact with a prostitute or promiscuous ladies. Which would lead one to believe that the legalization of prostitution would only further the spread of disease. It is true that the spread of STDs and HIV is rampant in unregulated prostitution, where unprotected sex is very common, but again this is illegal prostitution.
The truth however is quite the contrary. According to and article in the Lancet “In one Australian study carried out in 1998, the prevalence of sexually transmitted bacterial infections was 80 times greater in 63 illegal street prostitutes than in 753 of their legal brothel counterparts.”(cite this).
In the United States of America, prostitution is illegal in all of its 50 states with the exception of the state of Nevada. Nevada is the only U.S. state with allows legal prostitution in some of its rural counties. Occupational health and safety laws are applied to the brothels in these counties but the sex workers elsewhere in the country still remain exposed to the threat of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and violence from pimps and customers. Prostitution exists in various forms in the States: street prostitution, escort prostitution, and brothel prostitution (Harcourt). It has been estimated that the sum total of the revenue generated by the underground prostitution industry in the U.S. is about $14.6 billion (“Prostitution Revenue”), the fifth highest in the world (about 8% of the total annual worldwide revenue). If prostitution were made legal, it would increase the U...
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 ...
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, “prostitut...
The truth is, though, that prostitution is not as harmless or victimless as it seems. In fact, all too often the women involved in the trade are not even working out of their own free will. Aside from the brutal realities of forced prostitution, other problems lurk beneath the surface, as well; but could the harm associated with prostitution be alleviated through decriminalization? It is impossible to know for certain exactly what would happen were legal prostitution a reality, but in order to effectively evaluate the consequences of such a change, the potential dangers and benefits must be considered.
There are many different types of sex workers, for example there are brothel workers, street walkers, and call girls (Fuchs, Erin). Street workers are the ones that are the most exploited and exposed to rough and dangerous working conditions (Fuchs, Erin). They make next to nothing and the money that is made is often taken by pimps or traffickers (Sullivan, Barbara). This group of workers are also more likely to be drug addicted than the other form of sex workers. They also experience more physical violence and are more likely to be murdered. Brothel workers make more than street workers although they have to pay the brothel owners for things like rent and protect...
Prostitution should not be considered a crime. According to Catherine, it should no be illegal to charge for what can be freely dispensed. “It is estimated that if prostitution were legalized in the United Stats the rape rate would decrease by roughly 25% for a decrease approximately 25,000 rapes per year.” Stated Kirby R for many woman prostitution tends to be the best alternative available. Legalizing prostitution can protect woman and keep them safe. Allowing prostitutes to go for check ups often and take medication to prevent AIDS and HIV.
Barbara Holland defines prostitution as“…the oldest profession in the world and is the act or practice of engaging in sexual acts.” However, prostitution is not a new concept in current times; it has been around for centuries. Gerdes states that prostitution is the act of two adults entering a room, agreeing on a price, and having sex. Although this profession has grown rapidly throughout times, it is still illegal and costing the U.S. millions to fight. Prostitution creates a world full of crime and violence. It is also encouraging both young and old, typically women, to sell their bodies, which is causing severe health risks to society in the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s). Sexually transmitted diseases are various infectious diseases that are transmitted through sexual intercourse or other intimate sexual contact. Although society has a variety of viewpoints on the practice of prostitution, it an increasing trend that is detrimental to society. Prostitution has issues regarding legal standpoints on the business, the rapid spread of STD’s throughout the human environment, and the morality issues of the practice.
There are many argument that people use to dispute prostitution from religion, to prudence, and even personal experience. However, the most widely used argument against it brings up the idea of trafficking and those forced into the industry by abusive boyfriends and pimps, or simply those who feel that they have no other option; and rightly so! These issues are huge problems and ...
At first glance, legalizing prostitution may not seem like the best method for reducing STDs, and the preservation of public health might seem like a legitimate reason for continuing the ban on prostitution. However, since current prostitutes operate illegally, they may not have the motivation, education, or access to protection needed to practice safe sex, such as the use of condoms and receiving regular medical checkups for STDs. Now let us contrast this current situation with a legal alternative that requires frequent and stringent testing of prostitutes for STDs. Such a system already exists in the United States. According to the laws established by the Nevada Administration Code (NAC), an individual is allowed to engage in prostitution after being cleared me...
The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity’s website stated: “even if a prostitute is being tested every week for HIV she still runs the risk of infecting up to 630 clients” while waiting for the results. The study also assumed that the worker would stop practicing as soon as he or she became aware of their positive status, which is unlikely. The article stated that in order to “slow the global spread of HIV and AIDs we should focus our efforts on abolishing prostitution.” (ProCon) There is a clear connection to prostitution and disease. If legalization allowed for access to services would the workers take advantage of it? Would the risk of disease go down? Would the revenue generated truly be enough to benefit the economy or would it fail to cover the cost of the program and cause more budget
...itution is legal, state law insists on monthly testing of sex workers, and prohibition of employment as a sex worker should they not meet those requirements. These requirements include monthly blood tests for human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) and syphilis, as well as tests to prove the absence of gonorrhea, and weekly tests for Chlamydia. The legalization of prostitution in first world countries would protect the patrons, not only the women.
First, Prostitution shouldn’t be criminalized because it is a victimless crime. In no way is there a victim in what prostitutes do, of course you could argue that the spreading of diseases could be a victim. But the fact that it could happen during regular intercourse should completely nullify that argument in favor of legalizing. Criminalizing prostitution is a way for slowing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases; it is not a way to confront the problem of STD’s. We saw this quite clearly in the time of alcohol prohibition in this country. “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. –Unknown
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
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
Second, prostitution is a great health risk to the U.S. because of the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). A major concern about STDs is the spread of AIDS, which is currently a deadly STD because a cure has not been found for the disease. The transmission of STDs is already on the rise due to many uneducated teenagers having unprotected sex. In addition, most of theses teens are not going to a physician to be screened for STDs. Because of this, many curable STDs are going untreated and being spread throughout a community.