Premium Essay

Legalizing Prostitution

Submitted By
Words 939
Pages 4
Prostitution is often commonly referred to as the oldest profession in the world. While it is often said jokingly with a wink and a smile, the phrase is rooted in some truth. It is not clear whether it actually is the oldest profession, especially when compared to careers like farming, military, and teaching. Regardless, prostitution has been happening since the days of early civilizations. “It [prostitution] stains the earliest mythological records. It is constantly assumed as an existing fact in Biblical history. We can trace it from the earliest twilight in which history dawns to the clear daylight of to-day” (Sanger, 1897, p. 35). For most of history, the act of prostitution was legal. Today sex work is generally treated by society …show more content…
They aim to create legislation, campaigns, and resources to provide a safer environment for women who are there by choice and to end and monitor any trafficking that might occur. Countries like Amsterdam, Australia, Indonesia, and Germany legally allow prostitution. In some countries, everything related to sex work is legal from prostitution to owning brothels and even sex trade. In other countries with legal prostitution, only the act of prostitution is legal and pimping or owning brothels what will get one in trouble. Each of these countries have varied success with the legislation and policies in protecting women. So is legalizing prostitution helpful or harmful to the women involved? If prostitution was legalized it would create more harm than benefit for women.
It is common for prostitutes in poorer countries to engage in unsafe sex multiple times a day. Condoms and other sexual health products are not common due to the lack of availability and added costs that would be put upon the prostitutes themselves. Not to mention, information about the spread of sexually transmitted diseases is not common knowledge, as it is for you or I. Sex education and the widespread availability of contraceptive products in the United States is often taken for granted. One of the arguments in favor of legalizing prostitution is that it would help monitor the sexual health of

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Legalizing Prostitution

...A person how sells their body for sex to make money is prostitution. People have the choice of where they want to work and may decide prostitution is the fastest way to get rich. A lot of people thinking that prostitution should be legalized thinking it will protect people. But it will increased the danger, it will increase sex trafficking, and it will increased the demand for prostitutes while legitimizing the business. Prostitution should not be legalized because it will increased the danger to people in that type of business. According to Janice Crouse, “Prostitutes call their work ‘paid rape’ and note the friends who "didn't make it out alive” (Crouse). The prostitutes turn to drugs and alcohol in order to deal with their career. Because...

Words: 717 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Legalizing Prostitution

...comes in your mind when the word “crime” comes up? Thievery, murder or possession of illegal drugs. Would you think of prostitution? Prostitution is considered a crime in 74% of the countries in the world, Taiwan is one of them. This may not seem like news because prostitution is considered an inappropriate and immoral act nowadays. However, prostitution is a necessary job to some individuals. Prostitution is only considered inappropriate because it is dangerous and illegal. However, if prostitution was legalized, sex workers would become protected, law enforcement sources could be saved and used in other crimes such as terrorism, and minors who are enslaved by brothels would be unleashed. Legalizing prostitution...

Words: 958 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Legalizing Prostitution

...Should Contractual Sex Be Legalized? Prostitution is known as the world's oldest profession dating back to biblical times. Prostitution allows women and men the opportunity to earn a living without and acquired skills other than those of the sexual nature. The Greek viewed the naked body as a masterpiece, so why do American's legislator's for sex for monetary consumption as immoral and degrading? Perhaps they are using their personal religious beliefs to persuade others, or is it the concern for public health and safety. The Constitution grants American citizens the freedom of speech, religion, and trade. Can laws governing restricted prostitution be considered unconstitutional? A case in Florida arose when a woman, who was a prior...

Words: 971 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Legalizing Prostitution

...Presently prostitution is a non-criminal offence to the extent that soliciting sexual intercourse privately is legal in the UK, illegal in the majority of African nations, almost all Eastern-European nations and throughout 49 of the 50 states in the USA, which is frankly outrageous. It is also outlawed in approximately half of the nations in the continent of South America. While many may perceive this as morally correct, there are numerous factors which suggest quite the opposite, and display that it is certain that prostitution should be legalised globally. For an act so truly innocuous, harmless and reasonable it is horrifyingly punishable by death in nations such as Iran, North Korea and Saudi Arabia. It is clear that it should be legalised....

Words: 1024 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Legalizing Prostitution

...The topic I chose to write about is prostitution and whether it’s legalization would be beneficial. There are people who believe prostitution should be decriminalized for the increase in tax revenues and a drop in government spending that is used to investigate and arrest sex workers. Others think it should remain illegal because it is immoral and should not be promoted to society and encouraged to pursue as a career. Should prostitution be legalized? The reason this topic interests me is because I have always wondered why prostitution was deemed wrong. I know it is someone getting paid for intercourse; however, it is also one of the oldest professions. It is interesting how it still upsets so many people even though it is something everyone...

Words: 382 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Controversy Of Legalizing Prostitution

...Prostitution: An introduction to America’s biggest folly It is a commonly held belief that prostitution, whether or not it is its current illegal state which is dominated by criminals and abused women or whether it is its legal state which is much safer alternative, is a bad thing. However for little to no reason the idea of legal prostitution has been branded to be just as bad as illegal prostitution if not worse due to its acceptance of a “morally bankrupt” occupation. With legality prostitution becomes safer due to STD tests, less damaging due to eliminating factors like controlling pimps, addictive drugs, and aggressive customers, and, perhaps most importantly, more profitable due it being a taxable service. When compared to its seedier...

Words: 1269 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Arguments Against Legalizing Prostitution

...The legalization of prostitution has been a controversial topic of discussion, with arguments ranging from morality issues to economic benefits. Those in favor of legalizing prostitution argue that doing so would allow men and women in the industry to receive higher quality healthcare and would increase protections against violence, abuse, and sexually transmitted diseases. Legalizing prostitution would also allow sex workers to receive labor rights and would uphold the U.S. Supreme Court decisions that granted specific rights to women. Those that oppose legalization argue that prostitution corrupts society’s morals, spreads diseases, increases the likelihood of human trafficking, reverses the progress of women in society, traps women who do not have a choice but to join the industry, and...

Words: 475 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Legalizing Prostitution

...Legalizing prostitution has been an ongoing debate for many years. One recent article, dated April 19, 2012, suggests that it should be legalized. The author’s view is one that is for the legalization of prostitution and she argues that “sex workers are a valuable members to the community who deserve legal rights, not punishment”, she also claims that “sex workers contribute a great deal to their families and their communities” (Leigh, 2012). I disagree with this article for many reasons. Prostitution is a violation of human rights for numerous reasons. Some of those reasons include, but are not limited to; sexual harassment, rape, battering, verbal abuse, domestic violence, a racist practice, a violation of human rights, childhood sexual abuse, a consequence of male domination of women, and a means of males holding domination over women (Farley, 2000). Leigh also states in her article that “studies show a reduction in violence when sex work is legal” (2012), but according to Farley’s fact sheet, this proves to be untrue for the following reasons; 62% reported having been raped in prostitution, 73% have reported being physically assaulted in prostitution, 83% are victims of assault with a weapon, 75% of women in escort prostitution have attempted suicide, and 67% meet diagnostic criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Farley, 2000). In my opinion, Leigh did not put up a valid argument as to why prostitution should be legalized. She used many fallacies and little...

Words: 512 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Prostitution Should Be Banned

...Against Legalizing Prostitution in Country like Indonesia There is an ongoing and intense debate surrounding decriminalizing prostitution. Some countries, such as The Netherlands, Canada and Australia have legalized Prostitution. They argue that the legalization of prostitution brings more good than harm, and so far people see that good things such as an increase in country’s gross domestic product and economic output from those country is happening. But, that’s just a glance of external view out of a lot of things that really happened inside of the country that legalize prostitution itself, such as morale issue and women trafficking. This writing will boldly show and explains the arguments against legalizing prostitution and why a country like Indonesia should not legalize prostitution. Some people, whom agree to legalize prostitution, come up with arguments that from their point of view will bring more goods than bad. First, they argue that legalizing prostitution will decrease the number of sexual harassment and rape. They believe that by the legalization of prostitution, it will reduce the number of unwanted sex since it is now woman’s choice to get in to the business of prostitution or not and it will not be called as rape if both parties are willing to have sex. Second, It will be better and safer for sex-workers if prostitution was legalized and regulated. This point argue that if prostitution was legalized then there will be less crimes against (un-legalized) prostitutes...

Words: 2277 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Prostitution

...Prostitution As a part of my research, I read two texts a chapter from Paul Metzger article “Should prostitution be legalized” and “ Would legalizing prostitution help the US economy?” written by Bruce Kennedy. The article written by Metzger, professor at Multnomah University explains Why legalizing prostitution has does more harm than good. He argues that legalizing prostitution will cause the demand for more sex will increase and the cost will decrease when it’s easy to access. In Kennedy article “Would legalizing prostitution help the US economy?” expose the business prospective behind the act. He also explains how legalization can open up jobs and would no longer need pimps for protection. Both Kennedy and Metzger understand that there are honest concerns surrounding an endorsed prostitution business, but Bruce Kennedy realized more of the latent and profits. Prostitution accumulates 30 billion dollars annually and none of that money is used to pay taxes. Kennedy believes the sex industry could indeed improve the economy by allowing the money to be taxed; the government would gain nearly 8 billion just from the sex workers and authorization fees. He also believes Legalization will produce self-employed taxpayers who no longer need pimps for protection. Which take money away form the sex trafficking because women would be independent with no middleman. In Contrast, Metzger is alarmed with the mental and physical damage sex jobs cause to the sex industry employees. Usually...

Words: 670 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Live Life to the Foolest!

...Prostitution Chapter I The Problem and its Background Introduction Prostitution is said to be one of the oldest profession in the world. It is the giving or receiving of the body for sexual activity for hire but excludes sexual activity between spouses. It is the performance for hire where there is an exchange of value, any of the following acts: Sexual intercourse; sodomy, or; manual or other bodily contact stimulation of the genitals of any person with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desires of the offender or another. Background of the Study Prostitution is the performance of sexual acts solely for the purpose of material gain. Persons prostitute themselves when they grant sexual favors to others in exchange for money, gifts, or other payment and in so doing use their bodies as commodities. In legal terms, the word prostitute refers only to those who engage overtly in such sexual-economic transactions, usually for a specified sum of money. Prostitutes may be of either sex, but throughout history the majorities have been women, reflecting both the traditional socioeconomic dependence of women and the tendency to exploit female sexuality. Although prostitution has often been characterized as the “world’s oldest profession,” the concept of women as property, which prevailed in most cultures until the end of the 19th century, meant that the profits of the profession most often accrued to the men who controlled it. Men have traditionally been characterized as procurers...

Words: 583 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Prostitution

...common consent; out of all these questions prostitution is the darkest, the knottiest, and saddest” (Gilfoyle:0). The geography of prostitution is based on the area of social trends and acceptance. The most visible evidence of this is the rapid rise in the number of brothels and “bawdy houses” in New York during the 1820’s. Prostitution became increasingly more involved in urban life even though being criminalized by law. Yet the people who decide the legislation on prostitution were some of its most loyal and profitable customers. Prostitution is an un-harmful act and should be legalized, regardless of society’s uneducated opinion on the matter. Prostitution should be legalized for the facts that it would generate a substantial amount of income for the federal government as a means of taxation; legalization would suppress the spread of venereal and it would also reduce the amount of crime along with physical violence which occurs in the commercial sex trade. In the majority of states, prostitution is suppressed to illegal activity and many believe it to be a form of immoral actions. But in Nevada, the state became famous by grasping and promoting the un-popular commercial sex trade, which was banned elsewhere in other states. Prostitution has become a legitimate cash crop. Nevada began legalizing prostitution during the early 1970s; since then, they have been gaining multiple benefits economically from many different prostitution-related sources. Some of these revenues were...

Words: 1106 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Prostitution: Should Legal or Illegal?

...Prostitution is often called the world's oldest profession. It's been around since the beginning of time and can be traced back to ancient civilization. Prostitution hasn't stopped after thousands of years and it's not going to stop anytime soon. Prostitution is already legal in some parts of the world, but not in Canada and the United States. Pro-prostitution think prostitution should be legalized. They state that legalizing it would solve more problems than it would create and people could be protected from diseases, the streets could be kept cleaner, and prostitutes would have a safer working environment. Anti-prostitution demands that legal prostitution will increase the sex industry and human trafficking. Prostitution will hurt peoples. This is because prostitutes can cause a disease such as HIV. Pro-prostitution opposed that statement. Pro-prostitution demands that prostitution gives benefit to the customer because the customer gets their pleasure. It fulfils both people's needs. Even though prostitution is not legal, it will continue to happen. They will find a way around the law, and continue with their business. If it is legalized, laws can be made to keep prostitutes and people safer than they are now. Some people don't think much of prostitutes. Peoples think that the prostitutes who spread the disease. This is because most of the prostitutes are drug addicts which cause HIV. For the few bad ones, they would be the ones who would most benefit from legalization...

Words: 672 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Prostitution: Right or Wrong?

...sort of manual labor. To their surprise they would find out that the world’s oldest profession is prostitution. Prostitution is defined as the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. It can be traced back before the times of Christ as women who were not married could not make a living so they had to resort to prostitution. However in today’s society, prostitution is viewed as crime more than a profession. Prostitution is illegal in forty nine out of the fifty states in the United States, with the exception of Nevada. Those who oppose prostitution believe that it is immoral, causes crime and increases sexually transmitted diseases. Most people do not realize how prostitution can benefit the United States. Legalizing prostitution will in fact reduce crime, reduce STDs, and increase revenue in the United States. With prostitution comes crime, or one would think it causes crime. However, it would reduce crime significantly. The amount of rapes in the United States would decrease as they did in Amsterdam where prostitution is legal. Kirby R. Cundiff, PhD, Associate Professor of Finance at Northeastern State University wrote, " It is estimated that if prostitution were legalized in the United States, the rape rate would decrease by roughly 25%”. In 2009, the United States had roughly ninety thousand cases of reported rapes. By simply legalizing a profession that has been around since the beginning of time, we could reduce these ninety thousand...

Words: 577 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Legalization Of Prostitution In The United States

...should be the controllers of their own bodies. Prostitution has been a long-standing profession throughout history. Governments are still working to solve the perpetual dispute of the legalization of prostitution. There are forty-two million prostitutes in the world. In the United States, there are one million in the United States, and it is only legal in Nevada (Lubin, Gus). Despite the laws against it, the industry continues to thrive. Young women resort to prostitution because they have no other choice. Human trafficking and prostitution rings import prostitutes from developing, poorer countries throughout Eastern Europe, East...

Words: 851 - Pages: 4