legalizing prostitution

[sandra]

should prostitution be legalized? why or why not?

and if not, do you think that hostess bars and such should also be outlawed?

do any of you know any prostitutes? any stories to share?


here's an article for your consideration:

10 Reasons for Not Legalizing Prostitution
Pulication date: 7 Apr 03
Author(s): Janice G. Raymond
10 Reasons for Not Legalizing Prostitution
by Janice G. Raymond
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women International (CATW)
(March 25, 2003)

SUMMARY
The following arguments apply to all state-sponsored forms of prostitution, including but not limited to full-scale legalization of brothels and pimping, decriminalization of the sex industry, regulating prostitution by laws such as registering or mandating health checks for women in prostitution, or any system in which prostitution is recognized as sex work or advocated as an employment choice.

As countries are considering legalizing and decriminalizing the sex industry, we urge you to consider the ways in which legitimating prostitution as work does not empower the women in prostitution but does everything to strengthen the sex industry.

1. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution is a gift to pimps, traffickers and the sex industry.

2. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution and the sex industry promotes sex trafficking.

3. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution does not control the sex industry. It expands it.

4. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution increases clandestine, hidden, illegal and street prostitution.

5. Legalization of prostitution and decriminalization of the sex industry increases child prostitution.

6. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution does not protect the women in prostitution.

7. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution increases the demand for prostitution. It boosts the motivation of men to buy women for sex in a much wider and more permissible range of socially acceptable settings.

8. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution does not promote women's health.

9. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution does not enhance women's choice.

10. Women in systems of prostitution do not want the sex industry legalized or decriminalized.

[tapestrybabe]

i think it should be legalized...
cuz in the end...
the act is between consenting adults...
at least thats the way every act should be...
whether if its done out of recreation., prostituting yourself...
or for whatever reason...

do i find it kinda dehumanizing...
that some women do it...
cuz they feel they have no other option...
kinda... but i dont think thats a basis...
for making it illegal...

rather than focusing on making the whole act forbidden...
why not focus on giving the women who do it...
more opportunities, for those who feel limited...

[kitty]

I think it should be legalized for the purposes of regulation.... to prevent spread of STD's and people in the industry being forced into inhumane conditions, against their control.

[tapestrybabe]

maybe i'm naive in my way of thinking...
but i think prostitutes... when it comes to the nature of their job...
they would already make it a point to be careful when it comes to protecting themselves from contacting any std's... aids, and such... cuz such diseases...they would be out of a job...

anyways...
i would never prostitute myself...
but i've been in a position where i could have...
where i was offered money for my services...
and that experience...
and i dunno why...
but it just felt like it was unbeneath me...

[younggiftedandblack]

I say it should be legalize for the exact same reasons as metioned before.

I have known and became friends with some prostitutes in the past. They were all nice people just doing what they do to make it in this world. Like everyone else.

[Craig]

There's a typo in the title ...

legalizing prostition

[tapestrybabe]

and yeah, why should ppl put their judgement to those who do it... just cuz it maybe seen as something dirty... and not a respectable 'profession'... its not like a regular 9 to 5 desk job and what have you...

if anything, there should be better treatment towards prostitutes... but than again, its not a profession... that i exactly look up to in high regards sometimes... like i feel sad to those who do it... cuz they see it as the only way to make a living... and to those who actually want more options... like i said before... especially if i was friends with one... i would like to focus on giving more opportunities, choices to them instead...

[John0101]

I have to agree, that prositution should be legalized but regulated.

[kitty]

incidentally, have you guys seen the HBO specials on prostitution? Do you think these documentaries truthfully portray prostitutes?

For me, watching the interviews made me understand how dangerous prostituion can be, and how it can be empowering from some perspectives (and obviously not empowering in others). I definitely think regulation is the best thing for the industry.

[tapestrybabe]

Originally Posted by kittygirl

incidentally, have you guys seen the HBO specials on prostitution? Do you think these documentaries truthfully portray prostitutes?

For me, watching the interviews made me understand how dangerous prostituion can be, and how it can be empowering from some perspectives (and obviously not empowering in others).

really...
i've never seen the program...
so explain... empowering how??

[Tao]

i believe george carlin said it best:

"fucking is legal, selling is legal.....why isn't selling fucking legal?...it would seem like a perfectly logical conclusion.....out of all the things you can do to a person, giving them an orgasm is hardly the worst."

of course prostitutes should get health examinations every so often, and have a license saying that they are clean of std's.

[rice cracker]

1. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution is a gift to pimps, traffickers and the sex industry.

While it could be considered a "gift" to the sex industry, I think it takes away power from pimps and traffickers because it puts more options into the hands of the person who is actually selling their body. A prostitute wouldn't have to depend on an abusive pimp or be sold through a trafficker because they could conceivably open up shop, so to speak, for themselves, and the people that "facilitate" the business would be more competative and regulated.

2. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution and the sex industry promotes sex trafficking.

How would this lead to more trafficking than there already is? That is, if I'm correct in thinking that by trafficking they mean slavery/indentured servitude.

3. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution does not control the sex industry. It expands it.

This I agree with. By legalizing prostitution it becomes regulated and efficient, and the potential for growth due to being streamlined is high.

4. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution increases clandestine, hidden, illegal and street prostitution.

Legalized prostitution cannot become "illegal" and there is no need to hide it when there are no consequences to being a consenting adult prostitute. Street prostitution, however, is likely to rise since the threat of being busted is gone. But this can be regulated, i.e. one must carry a license or have a curfew in place.

5. Legalization of prostitution and decriminalization of the sex industry increases child prostitution.

Hardly. Child prostitution would still be illegal, and given the choice between a legal 18 year old and an illegal 13 year old most people would choose the former. As for illegal child prostitution, I'm not sure what the current statistics for that are, so I'll keep quiet.

6. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution does not protect the women in prostitution.

I believe legalizing prostitution actually protects the women/men more than leaving it illegal. If prostitution is legalized and regulations in place, the threat of disease, abuse and kidnapping would decrease.

7. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution increases the demand for prostitution. It boosts the motivation of men to buy women for sex in a much wider and more permissible range of socially acceptable settings.

Not only women can be prostitutes And buying someone for sex is a personal choice that people make for themselves. People don't start taking drugs because they live next door to a dealer.

8. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution does not promote women's health.

The health risks of prostitution are one of the big things that any prospective prostitute is going to have to come to terms with, no matter if prostitution is legalized or not. It doesn't promote it, but with mandatory condom use it doesn't seem like it would endanger it either.

9. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution does not enhance women's choice.

Huh? Choice for what?

10. Women in systems of prostitution do not want the sex industry legalized or decriminalized.

Quote these women, and I'll find quotes for more that do want it legalized.

[Faithless]

Originally Posted by rice cracker

While it could be considered a "gift" to the sex industry, I think it takes away power from pimps and traffickers because it puts more options into the hands of the person who is actually selling their body. A prostitute wouldn't have to depend on an abusive pimp or be sold through a trafficker because they could conceivably open up shop, so to speak, for themselves, and the people that "facilitate" the business would be more competative and regulated.

Yes and no.

The prostitute has options, but the only way they can feel safe is if their "work environment" is protected.

We might also have to consider the safety outside of work. If we are to believe how pimps work, they are masters at abuse and manipulation. A prostitute would need protection from the pimp outside of work, as well, especially if the pimp feels a need to teach his "commodity" a lesson about "going on her own".

*** *** ***

Details of the CATW arguments:

http://www.prostitutionresearch.com/ten-reasons.html

[BeTheReds]

Maybe they should only legalize brothel prostitution, and have the government tax it heavily.

[rice cracker]

Originally Posted by BeTheReds

Maybe they should only legalize brothel prostitution, and have the government tax it heavily.

If the government applies special taxes and other penalizing statutes on prostitution that would only cause more illegal activity in order to circumvent the new system and avoid paying these fees and taking the extra steps to become liscensed and keep that license.