Legalizing Prostitution

1740 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: A strong argumentative essay about prostitution being legal

Prostitution has been a part of our world's culture since the beginning of time, and is the world's oldest profession. Prostitution is defined by the Webster dictionary as “the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relations especially for money.” If prostitution were legalized, there would a reduction in sex crimes, American citizens would have the freedom to choose any profession within the sex industry and it would provide economic benefits for the local and federal governments, as well as the population.

According to Jacqueline Barnhart in her book, “The Fair but Frail,” there is an increase of sex crimes in locations where prostitution was made legal. She also argues legalized prostitution promotes and contributes to sex trafficking. Barnhart argues that even though countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands, have gone through great extents to make prostitution legal and sex trafficking a high crime, in the end, it does not work (Barnhart, 53). In countries where prostitution is legal, there would be an expected higher rate of sex and human trafficking, due to the demand of prostitution and the local men and women not being able to fulfill that demand. There is no evidence to substantiate this claim that Barnhart makes. In 1999, Sweden implemented legislation that increased measures taken against prostitution, pimps and brothel owners. The law also decriminalized prostitution, to protect women or men that were possibly being forced into the industry. The law also included an education program throughout the country warning sex industry customers that degrading prostitutes was illegal. Again, this helped decriminalize prostitution and made the consumer the criminal. After Sweden passed the law, there was no ...

... middle of paper ...

...ese states and instead of laying off teachers and closing schools, these states could be offering more programs at school to better the education of the student.

If prostitution were made legal, there would be certain laws to prevent the abuse of prostitutes while on the job. The basic rights of any American citizen are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. By keeping the profession illegal, prostitutes are not able to pursue happiness and live their lives freely. The government is infringing on the basic rights of a human being. Legalizing prostitution has benefits not only for the prostitute, but also for the population. There would be a reduction in sex crimes, American citizens would have the freedom to choose any profession within the sex industry and it would provide economic benefits for the local and federal governments, as well as the population.

Show More
Related

  • Decriminalization of Prostitution

    1139 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Buying Sex Case Study

    1066 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sweden still supplies prostitutes with medical support. Their legislation does not seek to prey on the poor prostitutes, but they target the buyers. The documentaries interviewed some Swedish people. Some sex workers said that they were taking away their customers. One guy that they interviewed said, “What kind of society are we?” He spoke of a society where we just say that prostitution is openly accepted. That when a boy becomes a man he is brought to a brothel. If we raise men in that society how can we tell them that women are of equal value? Even if it is not part of “becoming a man” how can we say that buying a women’s body for the use of sex is

    Read More

  • Prostitution Persuasive Essay

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    Decriminalizing prostitution tolerates an industry that destroys and abuses people, particularly women. Keeping prostitution illegal in America has created an environment in which sex workers are subjected to violence, illness, mockery, and discrimination. Prostitutes are people and they have lives too. Banning prostitution will continue the allowance of hard-working citizens to be cheated out of their money his/her money through taxes. Just because some people are uncomfortable with prostitution does not mean that they have to partake in it. Today it’s illegal to prostitute, tomorrow it may be illegal to sell your own ideas and inventions. It’s time to stand up and stop letting the government control us

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Legalizing Prostitution

    1697 Words  | 4 Pages

    There are many reasons why prostitution is illegal some do make sense on why it is illegal. That still doesn’t mean that the government can tell us what to do with our life choices. A reason why it is illegal is because of homicide. How this works is by the customer promising a big load of cash. Then when they are done he or she does not pay and then kills the prostitute. Unfortunately, sometimes it could be the customer that gets killed just like what Aileen Wuornos did. Aileen Wuornos was a former prostitute that found a way to make easy money without having sex. Instead of having sex with the customer she would kill them and take their money. From her crime that she committed I can understand why it is illegal. The only problem with that not everyone wants to have sexual intercourse with a prostitute. It is basically like doing drugs or drinking underage or not there are people who want to do it then there are people who chose not to do it. I am not saying doing drugs and drinking is not a proud thing to do, but it is a human right

    Read More

  • Should Prostitution Be Legalized Essay

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    Prostitution, generally defined as the selling of sexual acts, is a controversial and ever-present topic of debate. In recent times, places such as the state of Nevada legalized prostitution. Other countries such as New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, Australia, Bangladesh, and much more decriminalized or fully legalized prostitution. The legalization of prostitution, or sex work, would mean the full legalization of buy and sell sexual acts between consensual and of age people. Prostitution should be legalized because it increases tax revenue, it improves the safety of Prostitutes, and improves the safety of the general population, while many people claim it will increase sex trafficking and.

    Read More

  • Should We Decriminalize Prostitution Essay

    910 Words  | 2 Pages

    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. Studies show that sexual trafficking is more common. It is more common because buyers can buy sex without having any problem.

    Read More

  • Prostitution Should Be Legalized

    1421 Words  | 3 Pages

    Prostitution is the act of selling ones body for any type of sexual intercourse in exchange for money. Today, both men and women are willingly and forcefully engaged into the industry of sex and prostitution. It is most common for young teenage girls to be involved into this industry rather than a male or older woman. There are several different ways to how individuals are first brought into prostitution. One way is to be kidnapped and forcefully put on to the streets by a "Guerilla Pimp". "Guerilla Pimps" are the men who use their ability and force to kidnap young girls and throw them on to the streets to work as prostitutes (Youth Radio). Another way to be introduced to prostitution is by being persuaded by "Romeo Pimps". "Romeo Pimps" are the men who sweet talk you into situations and act like nothing is wrong with it (Youth Radio).

    Read More

  • A Case for the Legalization of Prostitution in the United States

    1568 Words  | 4 Pages

    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 ...

    Read More

  • Legalization of Prostitution in the United States of America

    1988 Words  | 4 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • Prostitution in the United States

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    Prostitution is illegal in the United States, except for some counties in Nevada. However, prostitution is in most part of the United States, despite the fact that it has been legalized. Prostitution is an act whereby, one sells his/her body for sex. In the United States, Prostitution is divided into three broad categories; street, escort, and brothel prostitution. Brothel prostitution takes place in brothel houses, which are houses where prostitutes can sell sexual services. This kind of prostitution is illegal in all parts of America, except in some counties in Nevada for example; Douglas County, Clark County, Carson City, Washoe County, and Lincoln County. Another form of prostitution is escort prostitution. This is always considered as entertainment, and massage services. It is supposed to be heavily regulated, but unfortunately, it is not because, in many counties where it is practiced, the only difference between escort and street prostitution is a phone call away. The last category of prostitution is street prostitution. This is the most unaccepted, and illegal type of prostitution in the United States. Street prostitution involves scantly dressed up women, and men roaming the streets looking for client to sell their bodies. It is the most frowned kind of prostitution because it is done openly. The question is should prostitution be legalized in the US? The answer is yes, this is because, it will help eliminate all the vices related to prostitution.

    Read More

  • Legalizing Prostitution

    2503 Words  | 6 Pages

    Catherine Smith is a single 42 year old woman with two children. Her job as a secretary is no longer sufficient enough to cover her bills. She does not have a college degree and her job will not cover any part of tuition if she does decide to attend college. One night, while coming home late from work, she noticed women walking around on the street counting their earnings for the night. That is when she acquired the idea to become a prostitute. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines prostitution as the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relations in exchange for money. These type of situations occur on a daily basis. Some women really enjoy having sex, so why wouldn’t they want payment for it as well. Prostitution should be legalized in the United States.

    Read More

  • Prostitution Argumentative Essay

    1255 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • The Benefits of Legalizing Prostitution

    1172 Words  | 3 Pages

    Most importantly, prostitution could help our economy with a new source of income. In a typical year, legal brothels generate about $50 million in total revenue and have an economic impact of about $400 million on the state. With taxes and even a price floor prostitution could prove to be one of the United States’ best source of income. If prostitution was legalized it might have made the United States enough money to get us out of the huge debt were in.

    Read More

  • Prostitution: Should It Be Legal?

    677 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion, prostitution should be legalized for the well being of all parties. Labor laws would protect prostitutes, money would be saved on pointless investigations, and the number of Sexually Transmitted Diseases could be potentially decreased. Legalized prostitution could be altered to protect women; laws have to be specific and strict. Prostitution is inevitable, and those who practice it are not criminals.

    Read More

  • Prostitution Should be Legalized

    1770 Words  | 4 Pages

    Prostitution is known as the oldest profession in the world, however, many states in the U.S. outlaw it. The textbook definition of prostitution is the "act or practice of engaging in sexual acts for money" ("Prostitution," Macmillan 805). Nevada is the first in the United States to legalize prostitution. Although the long term effects of legalized prostitution is uncertain, the short term effects have been economically beneficial. Prostitution should be legalized because not only could it financially benefit the country, but it could also reduce crime.

    Read More

More about Legalizing Prostitution

Open Document