Legalizing Prostitution

Brenda Myers of Chicago was nine years old when she first learned that prostitution existed. Surprisingly, despite her young age, the idea was not foreign. Myers had been molested for years by a family member. “...well, they’re already taking my panties off…” Myers said. “So, I’ll make them pay for it” (Lydersen). Now picture yourself in fourth grade. Nikki Williams, a case worker from a Portland, Oregon based organization met a jailed twenty year old woman, who at the age of ten, at the end of her fourth grade year, was a drug-addicted prostitute (Lydersen). Both of these stories highlight two prevalent causes of prostitution: sexual abuse and drugs. Prostitution should not be legalized in America because it is built on the very foundation

There are many causes of prostitution, but one of the most prominent causes is childhood sexual abuse. According to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault “...57 percent of women working as prostitutes in the state reported they were sexually abused as children” (Lydersen). Not only that, but as stated by a 1995 study performed by the National Criminal Justice Reference Center “...people who were sexually abused as children are... 27.7 times more likely than others to be arrested for prostitution” (Lydersen) In hearing these facts, one might argue that it is just a correlation; however, 70 percent of these Illinois women believe that “...being sexually abused as children influenced their decision to become prostitutes” (Lydersen). These women share the same mindset as Brenda Myers, that because sexual abuse is already happening to them they might as well make a career out of it. The abuse doesn’t end in childhood,

Austria is another country where prostitution is legal. As shown by these statistics, the legalization of prostitution only encourages sex trafficking. Although, sex trafficking does not just affect foreigners trying to start a life in a new country. “Many politicians and activists argue that advertising venues that allow advertising of sexual services can create markets for sex trafficking” (“Preface to ‘How Does Legal Policy Toward Sex Work Affect Sex Trafficking?’”). This is especially concerning for male prostitutes because due to the social stigma surrounding homosexuality, they turn to the internet for a more anonymous way to sell themselves. According to the Humanity in Action program “Men who occasionally engage in male prostitution, and those who are coerced to work in illegal brothels find their clients on the internet” (Cheng). This is worrying because not only are these men endangering themselves by engaging in prostitution, but traffickers are using online prostitution services as tools in their vile crimes. As demonstrated by the three symptoms and effects of prostitution outlined, sexual abuse, drug use, and trafficking, prostitution is clearly an undesirable