Recently, a controversial American website, Backpage.com, which is the second largest classified advertising listing service on the Internet in the United States, comes to public attention because of a lawsuit that is filed on several brave girls. The girls allege that they were pimped on Backpage.com and the website sells underage boys and girls for sex. Being known as the “oldest profession in the world”, prostitution is defined as a criminal act in most of the U.S. with many legal problems, for instance, human trafficking, violence, sexual slavery and the use of children, also moral issues. Different from the U.S., prostitution practices a legitimate business in some countries, such as Brazil and Canada.
Although the sex trade is illegal
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The International Labor Organization’s recognition of prostitution as a legal form of work could protect rights of sex workers, if the prostitution is legal. In addition, sex workers may be less hesitant to use laws to protect themselves, when clients or pimps victimize them. Legalized the sex trade not only effectively protects sex workers’ rights of labor from being infringed, but also is a way to show respect to them and to the human rights. In a study of Canada’s criminal prostitution laws, the author states that, people think prostitutes’ behavior is criminalized, and they are socially stigmatized, which is often prevented them from obtaining other work and therefore perpetuates prostitution (Art Hanger 72). The reality shows it is true that sex workers are often punished much more harshly and are prosecuted more frequently than customers. The legalization of the sex trade could probably change this situation by facing sex workers with less prejudge and more understanding and it might help sex workers into mainstream …show more content…
In Nevada, where is the only U.S. state to allow any form of legal prostitution, women who test positive for AIDS are literally not allowed to work at all. If they do, there will be harsh legal implications. Legalization provides cleaner and better working condition for sex workers; it also means having better sexually transmitted disease (STD) tests for them, even for consumers. They could get tested regularly and practice safer sex. It reduces prostitutes’ possible physically harm and risk of having diseases, for instance, AIDS and gonorrhea, so that consumers could get the care they need from health workers in a safer and guarantee condition. Research shows that there is a 39 to 45 percent decline in case of female gonorrhea in Rhode Island when the prostitution is legal there (Cunningham, Shah 3). While the implication of legalization of the sex trade decreases workers’ and consumers’ risks of having sexually transmitted diseases, for the consumers’ families, it also indirectly lowers the possibility of having
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.
Many argue that prostitution is along the same line as any other business transaction considering similar actions taken to go through the process. I will argue that performing a consensual or nonconsensual sexual act including a transfer of money cannot be considered as one. In this essay, I will be focusing on women in the Canadian sex trade and how the service they provide is not a legitimate purchase.There are several factors to assist this argument that include the facts and terminology behind businesses, transactions, employment, legality, and the act being performed. The process for an individual to acquire a prostitute contains a transaction through an exchange of money, but is it a business transaction, no.
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.
Prostitution in Canada has had a long history. Prostitution is the exchange of money in return for sexual favors. The most commonly thought of form of prostitution is street-based but this makes up a portion of the trade. Other forms include escort services and brothels, to name a few. Prostitution has been legal in Canada for hundreds of years, as Canada inherited their laws from England, but there have been several laws aimed at preventing it. These laws include prohibitions on brothels, communication in public for the purpose of prostitution, and making a living off of prostitution. Therefore, while prostitution itself is not illegal, it is very difficult to engage in it without breaking the law. This leads to a lot of misunderstanding, as many men are not aware that these various laws exist, only knowing that prostitution itself is legal. In support of this, Wortley, Fischer, and Webster (2002) found that 17% of Ontario men who had been arrested under the communication or solicitation law in Ontario were apparently unaware that it was illegal to talk to a prostitute about buying sex (Morton 2012).
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,
Young men, women, and young girls are all at risk of contracting this disease. In 2000, 25% of people who were involved in the sex trade had some form of a venereal disease, traders did not care if their sex slaves got medical attention or not. Not only does contracting these diseases effect various individuals, it also effects a countries economy. As the number of people who contract venereal disease increase, so does the costs of medical needs. These diseases are also spread to young children, which takes away future lawyers, doctors, and teachers away from third world countries. As a result, these countries are left without future professionals that could help improve their countries (Shelley, 2010). Another long term effect that can be a result of being a victim to the sex trade, is long term drug use. Victims are often given drugs so they can perform, which eventually turns them into drug addicts. Even though victims get out of the sex trade, they are often still haunted by past arrest
Sometimes, the term “sex work” is used, as well as “prostitution”. But whichever term we choose to say, it does not eliminate the stigma attached to it. Cases such as the Bedford V. Canada Case (144) indulges into the conspiracy of sex work and challenges certain sections of the Criminal Code that make business in relation to prostitution illegal. Ideally, a sex worker has a career just as a teacher or lawyer. For this reason, their human rights and dignity should be protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as are other professions. However, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as the Criminal Code do not seek to protect sex workers, yet, they seek to do otherwise using certain sections of the Criminal Code to criminalize sex work. Therefore, sex workers demand a permanent change in the law, their rights and freedoms in order to feel less threatened about their choice of work. This paper attempts to illustrate the legal terms of sex work, the main arguments made in the Bedford Case as well as an understanding of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Criminal Code, what sex workers face and are diligently demanding.
The new laws that have to be made for prostitution have to “respect the fact that sex workers are human beings too”. Critics think that decriminalizing prostitution is going to get worse and increase human trafficking. The authors of the article came up with an idea that meets in the middle of decriminalizing prostitution. The idea is to decriminalize the selling of sex but criminalize the buying of sex. This will help protect the human rights of people in prostitution while reducing the demands for paid sex.
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.
The opposing side of prostitution involves extensive negativity. It may be the oldest profession in the world but numerous people feel that this line of work is wrong and refuse to change their opinion of the subject. In addition, many feel that this job is deemed too dangerous to be legalized. Women will experience more violence by choosing this profession. Also, by engaging in sex with a complete stranger it is considered selling a person’s body making prostitution unethical and inhumane (Wurth, Schleifer, McLemore, Todrys, & Amon, 2013). The rates for sexually transmitted diseases tend to have higher statistics in the prostitution ...
“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.
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...
There has also been support of legalizing sex work from both The World Health Organization and editors of the top medical journal, The Lancet. The WHO recommends that countries decriminalize sex work because “violence against sex workers is associated with inconsistent condom use or lack of condom use, and with increased risk of STI and HIV infection. Violence also prevents sex workers from accessing HIV information and services” (World Health Organization, 2013). Editors at The Lancet wrote that there is “no alternative” to decriminalizing sex work in order to protect sex workers from STI’s, such as HIV (Cooper, 2014). Rhode Island also effectively legalized prostitution on accident when they removed the section defining the act itself as a crime while attempting to revise it, and they discovered they couldn’t prevent prostitutes and their customers from engaging in commercial exchange in a court case that took place in 2003. Over the next six years following 2003, new cases of gonorrhea among women statewide declined by 39% and rapes declined by 31% (Ehrenfreund,
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.
I think that prostitution should be legalized because it is no different than any other service that we pay to receive. Besides, there are far more serious crimes that require the full attention of our police force than prostitution; therefore, policing it is a costly waste of time and police resources. Furthermore, prostitution is already legal in Singapore, Denmark, and a part of the United States as well. In this Essay, I will discuss these ideas; thereby, proving why prostitution should be legalized.