Monthly Theme - The Legality and Morality of Prostitution

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

There is a debate among feminists of today surrounding the legalities and morality of the sex trade. Many believe it should be a legitimate profession that women can choose, out of their own free will, to engage in. Sex itself is not immoral so why should the trade of it be so? It is my belief that it should be legalized, as taking away the underground aspect of the industry will remove a great deal of the risks, dangers and coercion involved. Many countries around the world have legalized prostitution. Some, including Canada, have decriminalized the act of solicitation, while operating a bawdy house, public solicitation and living off the avails of prostitution (pimping) remain illegal. There are some, including many South American countries who have seemed to have struck the best balance, with prostitution and brothels being legal for women over 18 with pimping remaining illegal.

In my opinion, the criminalization of the act is what leads to exploitation of women and to the dangers and abuse that many face. Giving women the option of choosing it as a profession while keeping pimping illegal reduces the coercion aspect. Take away the dark alley scenarios and lack of accountability and it becomes much more safe and controlled. Legalization may also reduce the stigma surrounding prostitution. Men rape and murder prostitutes as they are seen as worthless. Once it is a legitimate job it may raise the value of these women in the eyes of society and especially police. Rapes and abuse of sex workers will be reported to the police once the threat of arrest is removed. The health risks involved in prostitution for both the woman and her clients can also be reduced through legalization. Mandatory health checks can be instituted by the government to stop the spread of HIV and STDs.

Unfortunately, not enough research has been done in these areas to support the belief that legalized prostitution will lead to these positive benefits, and the information out there is conflicting, depending on who has commissioned the study. All we can go on at this point is common sense and the word of the sex workers themselves who have been working for legislation. More attention must be paid to the matter until we find a model that provides the best protection and options for the women involved.

It is my belief that prostitution should be a viable career choice for any woman who chooses to engage in it. However, I recognize that many of those who do so are doing it out of a lack of any other choice, due to socio-economic factors and addiction. A vital part of any countries prostitution standards should be exit strategies and resources available to those who wish to no longer engage in the practice. Efforts should be focused not on punishing the prostitutes, but in determining their needs and choices and giving assistance where desired.

Removing the criminal act, and allowing women greater choices will also remove some of the moral issues many women have with prostitution. Under illegal prostitution, men are seen as dominating and exploiting women. To take away that power and put it back in the hands of women should be seen as a victory by feminist groups. As well, normalizing the sex trade should help to remove the stigma of sex workers as degenerates.

Two areas that must remain illegal and fought against are child prostitution (which should, IMO, be considered anyone under the age of 18) and sex trafficking. It is estimated that 600,000-800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders every year. Globalization and advanced communication devices and the internet have made the practice much easier. Traffickers prey on the vulnerable, mostly those in undeveloped or poor countries. The victims, often teenage girls, are lured from their homes with promises of a better life, removed from their countries and kept in situations where they have no control, no security and no protection from local law enforcement. These are the areas women's groups and law enforcement should be focusing their attention and resources on stopping, these are the true victims of illegal prostitution.

Prostitution is often referred to as the oldest profession in the world. This may not be completely accurate but records exist back to 2400 B.C. where it was recorded on a Sumerian list of professions (along with, interestingly, lady doctor.) and continues through historical records right up to present time. It is safe to say it is not going away. It is time for all countries to recognize this fact and provide the safest laws possible to protect these women.

Comments

[southwest]

Sex itself is not immoral, but sex trade is.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Why?

[southwest]

Because it conflicts with general and traditional moral principles of the majority.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

So something is immoral not because it conflicts with a certain doctrine or belief, but rather because a majority says so?

[southwest]

That's basically the definition of morality.

If we look at the poll conducted by the Social Science Research Center, we will see that among the general population of the U.S.A. 81% are against, adn 19% are in favor of legalized prostitution.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

That's basically the definition of morality.

I'm not sure a majority of Christians are against birth control, but it's still moral doctrine.

If we look at the poll conducted by the Social Science Research Center, we will see that among the general population of the U.S.A. 81% are against, adn 19% are in favor of legalized prostitution.

Polling appears to be inconsistent at best (http://prostitution.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000121), but one also assumes information about the benefits of legal prostitution is hard to come by.

[rasilio.livejournal.com]

Wait, are you seriously arguing that majority opinion defines morality?

What if the majority decided that it was ok to rape or murder, would that all of a sudden make them moral? How about slavery, theft, pederasty?

Just magically they all suddenly become moral of 50% + 1 of the population decides they are.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

At one point, so did abolishing slavery.

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

So sex is not immoral, and the trade of goods and services for money is not immoral, as we do it every day, but trading sex for money is immoral? Interesting.

[southwest]

That is exactly true.

Why? - Because the overwhelming majority of the american population thinks so.

An opinion of one or a narrow group makes no difference.

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

Actually no. A majority opinion on something does not make it moral or immoral. And could you cite your sources as to your statistics please, because the only thing I could find was a small poll specifically focusing on Las Vegas. Other polls I found, done on websites, show a much larger group in favour. Not that it matters, again, it is not the opinion of the majority that makes something moral or not.

[southwest]

I disagree. What is moral is defined by the opinion that dominates the society. In the case of democracy, it is the opinion of the voting majority. End of story.

Here is my source:
http://prostitution.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000121#G

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

That's from 1995. Got anything more recent?

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

That's funny. The GOP owes its legitimacy to these four guys:









So, I take it as a result that as the USA had some of its most progressive policies in its history adopted during a civil war when the Army assumed increasing influence in society that military dictatorship is more moral than democracy, eh?

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Nit pick: slavery used to be considered OK by the majority in most ancient, medieval and even 19 century societies. Does it make it moral?

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Not to mention that in almost every single country in the world, its abolition was (more or less) peaceful. In the USA it was carried at the bayonets of Sherman, Sheridan, Thomas, and Grant. Following that premise seems to lead to the conclusion that military dictatorship is the most moral of all governments, which leads me to think that Pakistan disproves that assertion, and that morality is a lot more complicated than the discussion here makes it out to be.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Speaking of which, banning women from driving cars is considered OK by the majority in Saudi Arabia. Somehow I doubt that's got anything to do with moral.

[pastorlenny.livejournal.com]

Just curious. Are you OK with people selling their organs?

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

If it's their choice to do so, sure.

[pastorlenny.livejournal.com]

MIght be a good topic for another post -- since that's also illegal as things stand now. :)

[peamasii.livejournal.com]

False analogy, having sex is just like selling a kidney?

[pastorlenny.livejournal.com]

It's the syllogism that is fully analogous. A is moral. Transactions are moral. Therefore a transaction involving A is moral.

[peamasii.livejournal.com]

Transactions are not moral or immoral in themselves, it depends on the agents. What is A?

[mikeyxw.livejournal.com]

There is an aspect of selling sex that makes it very different from other occupations. For example, in several places, refusing a legitimate job offer is grounds for ending unemployment benefits. If a woman is unemployed and a counselor finds her work as a prostitute, should she be obligated to take it or lose her benefits? If prostitution was legal, should job counselors be steering men and women towards it?

Of course, because I think prostitution is immoral doesn't mean it should be illegal. For many of the reasons you listed, I would fully support legalizing it in some way as damage control. Besides, fining a person whose source of income is prostitution isn't a smart deterent and putting them in jail is a lousy use of resources.