Should Prostitution Be Legalized?
Prostitution is one of the oldest professions that existed from time immemorial and is referred to as having sex in exchange for money. History has it that prostitution began in the ancient Samaria (present-day Iraq). At present, prostitution takes place either in the streets or in brothels. For a long time, the perception of prostitution has differed amongst societies. The topic of prostitution legalization is one, surrounded by unending controversy (Watson, P.180). Some countries have legalized prostitution while others continue criminalizing it—some of the countries where prostitution is legal include Taiwan, Netherlands, and New Zealand. Other countries like Norway and Canada stand their ground that prostitution is an illegal business. There are many reasons against and for the legalization of prostitution. It is often argued that making prostitution legal enhances the wellbeing and the working conditions of the sex workers and has economic advantages to countries through taxation. However, it should never be forgotten that prostitution legalization increases discrimination and violence against women, harming both their mental and physical wellbeing. Also, prostitution legalization encourages human trafficking. Despite being a contentious issue, people should understand that prostitution is morally wrong and that criminalizing it is the only way to root out abuse and create a safer society.
One of the major reasons that make prostitution legalization the terrible idea is that it plays a significant role in transmitting sexually transmitted diseases such as Chlamydia, HIV/AIDS, and herpes, just to name a few (Eledo, Sylvester, Izah, & Onuoha, P.3). As such, legalization of prostitution is putting at risk the health of the commercial sex workers and that of their families. Although not all sex workers are careless, they are often coerced by their clients to have unprotected sex, which increases their likelihood of contracting STDs. Similarly, commercial sex workers often exchange partners, and rarely can they tell their clients’ health status. Besides, an infected sex worker can easily infect thousands of his or her clients with sexually transmitted diseases. The majority of prostitutes have money as their primary objective, and as such, can be careless in their business as long as they earn. In most instances, prostitutes are never sober while dealing with their clients. Many of them are usually under the influence of alcohol, and all that their minds can think of is money and not their health or welfare.
At times, people argue out that prostitution has no connection with increased STDs prevalence. It is often argued that STDs prevalence should be blamed on anti-prostitution laws that do not govern and protect commercial sex workers in their business. While bashing the contribution of prostitution on disease contraction, some people say that sexually transmitted diseases are all over and, in some cases, are prevalent in countries where prostitution is illegal; hence, the argument that prostitution increases STDs prevalence cannot hold. Some people often have it that nothing can stop determined prostitutes from doing their business. If anything, criminalizing prostitution makes it challenging to monitor and track prostitutes and hinder the provision of STDs prevention programs (Radačić, P.46). Some of the recent studies that reveal that STDs prevalence amongst legal prostitutes is eighty percent lower than that of the illegal prostitutes influence people to perceive prostitution as a normal business that can thrive on regulation. According to the studies, the prevalence disparity occurs because; the legal prostitutes often get a frequent screening in their brothels, and using protection is obligatory. Therefore, based on such studies, some people believe that the legalization of prostitution can help in minimizing STD prevalence amongst the prostitutes. Nonetheless, the truth stands that most studies lack facts as most of them are a reflection of the authors’ perception of prostitution. It is undeniable that the presence of numerous sexual partners increases the likelihood of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
Moreover, people should never underestimate the fact prostitution is a type of business highly associated with violence and sexual harassment (Truong, P.289). Due to the illegality of the industry in most countries, many brothels are usually controlled by pimps, hostile customers, and traffickers. Therefore, many of the prostitutes are vulnerable to beatings and rape. Unfortunately, they fail to report cases of abuse and violence against them, in fear of getting arrested due to the illegality of their business. Apart from fearing police arrests, some prostitutes fear to get punishment from their pimps or to lose them altogether, if they report them.
Additionally, due to the horrific encounters that many prostitutes have with their clients, more so rape, countless of them suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Research proves that a significant number of women who participate in prostitution have severally contemplated suicide. Due to the nature of their work, many commercial sex workers are vulnerable to harassment and abuse. Usually, prostitution has one of the job descriptions in which the prostitutes are expected to tolerate any form of disrespect and violence from the clients. Due to the desperation of some commercial sex workers, some clients pay them a few pennies on the condition of not using protection, and if they refuse the offer, they are mercilessly raped and beaten. It should never be forgotten that brothels owners have complete control over everything that the prostitutes do. They the ones who bargain the amount on behalf of the prostitutes, and they decide who the prostitutes should sleep with, when, and how many times. In other words, in the brothels, the prostitutes are treated as slaves who have no choice as long as they want money.
Moreover, the countries that have legalized prostitution to reduce violence against female sex workers have not achieved anything by now since harassment cases to the female sex workers remain high. Besides, the legalization of prostitution increases enrollment and exploitation of underage and human trafficking. However, despite all this, some people still argue that instead of criminalizing prostitution, the government should seek to protect the persons who find themselves in the business out of coercion and leave the rest who do it out of their willingness. In this case, instead of proving their ignorance for the entire world to see, those who think that prostitution legalization is a perfect idea should instead revisit their reasoning realistically. What the entire society should push for is for the government to consider some of the external factors like extreme poverty and the absence of employment opportunities, making people engage in prostitution (Lavee & Orly, P.317). However, it is vital to mention that, although poverty may get people into prostitution, society must never forgo its morals to seek money.
As much as some members of the society try hard to show the positive side of prostitution legalization, it must never be forgotten that the prostitution industry is characterized by abuse of drugs (Salazar et al., P.869). Many street prostitutes use illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine. Due to the assaults and violence that many prostitutes face in their business, most of them use illicit drugs to escape reality and seek temporary pleasure. The majority of the sex workers have made it their lifestyle to use drugs before entering the days’ business. Many of the drug dealers identify commercial sex workers as a potential customer base. In other words, sex workers offer a ready market for trading illicit drugs. Under the influence of alcohol, prostitutes are likely to spur arguments with their clients and might even think of robbing their clients and escaping. Increased dependency on illicit drugs forces many prostitutes to keep doing their business to finance their lifestyle. Even the worst critics of the motion against prostitution legalization would agree that seeing one of their family members addicted to substance abuse is the worst thing they would like to witness. Any unbiased person would agree that there is an apparent relationship between prostitution and cases of drug abuse and addiction. It is the high time that people accepted the truth that prostitution criminalization could significantly aid in the fight against drug abuse. It does not matter the amount of money prostitutes spend on drugs; the fact that prostitutes have increased drug dependence is perfect prove that prostitution is a messed up business intended to hurt and ruin peoples’ lives. Besides, the consequences of legalizing the business affect the country as a whole. It is peoples’ ethics that shape the future of a nation. A morally sick society equals to a retrogressive nation.
People should let go of the idea that those who fight against prostitution are religionists who criminalize the business based on morals and not facts. It is wrong for people to think that the legalization of prostitution protects commercial sex workers’ rights and grants them the opportunity to use their bodies to earn an income. The truth is that every individual’s body deserves respect, which, prostitution does not provide. It does not matter whether prostitution involves an agreement between the involved parties; what matters is whether its results are pleasing. No woman, even the prostitutes, can attest to it, desires being used as a sex tool to gratify male demands no matter their level of desperation. It is such a pity to see some members of the society advocate that prostitutes be granted equal labor rights like all other workers for their obscene business. Instead of diving into prostitution, it is far better and ethical to come out clean to the public and beg for help other than compromising one’s morals and entering into a business that one wouldn’t want their child to participate. In all ways, prostitutes set a bad example to society, more so, to the young generation.
Not even the strongest terms can express the sort of ignorance held by the people who cry out loud that anti-prostitution laws enhance violence against women given that when female prostitutes get abused by their clients, they cannot report the case to the police. The undeniable truth is that anti-prostitution laws do not promote stigma against prostitutes, nor do they perceive them as lesser humans (Benitez et al., P.331). Instead, the laws promote morality in society and expand the choices of prostitutes. Through the laws, prostitutes realize that prostitution is not the only thing they can do to earn income. Besides, the anti-prostitution laws prioritize the health and emotional wellbeing of the prostitutes and, as such, bars them from participating in a business that can ruin their health and that of their families. If anything, perceived from a positive perspective, anti-prostitution laws protect the wellbeing of women. It is ironic for people to say that decriminalization of prostitution protects those involved. The truth is, it is impossible to protect people whose daily job exposes them to all sorts of risks ranging from rape to physical abuse. In proving why prostitution should be legal, some people often argue that the government spends too much money enforcing the anti-prostitution laws, finances that could be used to prevent the crimes committed against prostitutes. Although it is undeniable the government spends a considerable amount on the enforcement of laws against prostitution, the people must understand that one of the primary functions of any government is to protect its people. As such, it is never a loss for a government to spend money on the enforcement of rules that protect the welfare of its people. In any case, that is how the taxpayers’ money should be spent.
It breaks the hearts of the concerned members of society when people cling to the idea that prostitution stimulates the economy from a worldwide standpoint. Although true, that revenues paid from brothels contribute to economic success, people should stop underestimating that such revenues come at the risk of people’s lives (Elías et al., P.78). It does not matter how increased unemployment cases become, and neither does the extent of economic recession matter. The fact remains that prostitution should never be perceived as an employment opportunity for anyone. It is unreasonable for people to argue that the income acquired from prostitution increases consumer spending, which is essential, given that consumption is a significant factor in determining a nation’s GDP—an increase in consumption upsurges a nation’s GDP, which increases a country’s economic growth. It is irrefutable that any nation desires to grow economically; however, the means matter. Prostitutes must understand that there are alternative forms of businesses that they can partake in and help build their nation’s economy. Besides, it would be wrong to overlook the risks that the prostitutes go through in their business, only to focus on money and economic growth. The economic development of a nation must not compromise the welfare of the citizens. Therefore, it would be selfish to legalize prostitution for economic wellness at the expense of the physical and emotional wellbeing of the prostitutes. Regardless of its benefit to the economy, prostitution can never be a legitimate profession because it will ever be associated with mass sexual exploitation, crime, and human trafficking (Swanson, P.599). It does not matter whether it is one of the oldest professions; the truth is that it is an evil business. It promotes a culture of promiscuity and infidelity, which is dangerous for the prosperity of a society.
In the promotion of equality, freedom, and justice, selling of bodies should never be tolerated. The act of men paying women for sex reduces them to commodities that can be bought anytime to serve men’s interests. The fact that some class of women should exist for the gratification of male sexual desires is based on a structure of inequality by gender, class, and race. It violates international law (Bayefsky, P.80). Not challenging the decriminalization of prostitution undermines all human rights norms that mandate individuals’ dignity and equality for all. Saying yes to prostitution is the same as normalizing all other actions that violate human rights and would be legally punishable in another context. Prostitution entails the use of insults, rape, and physical assault acts legally punishable outside prostitution. To be blunt about it, promoting prostitution is the same as allowing people to break laws that the government fights so much to protect. There is no such thing as the consent of the prostitutes. A normal human being would never agree to be raped, abused, and insulted for whatever reason. If anything, prostitutes require proper counseling and reformation programs. If people were honest about prostitution, they would all agree that it is a colonization of women.
Neither once nor twice have people raised an argument that prostitution is a victimless crime as long as the adults or else the victims of the act are all prostitutes (Smith & Walter, P.359). Some people openly state that whether legal or illegal, prostitution is meant to stay. According to such people, there will always be lonely men who need sexual gratification, and their needs matter. Similarly, there will always be penniless women willing to offer sex to pay their bills. Regardless of what people think, it is undeniable that if people switched their minds from prostitution and stopped perceiving it as a potential business, there would be no one willing to buy or sell sex. For this to happen, society must stop perceiving prostitution as part of everyday culture. The government might have legalized morally controversial trade like alcohol, tobacco, and gambling, however, people should understand that, although tobacco adversely affects the health of the users, the cons of prostitution legalization can never match those of legalizing tobacco.
In conclusion, prostitution should never be legalized. From the previously elaborated arguments, it is apparent that the benefits of criminalizing prostitution outweigh the cons. The legalization of prostitution waters down a society. Besides, discrimination against women can never end if sexist cultures and prostitution continue to thrive. Society must set an excellent example for the young generation. If children grow up knowing that selling their bodies for money and other material things is reasonable, they will copy it and, in this case, take it a notch higher and sell their bodies for the pettiest of things like a meal in an expensive cafe. Also, society must never keep a blind eye to the number of people who die and spend numerous resources in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. Prostitution increases the risk of people contracting diseases and spreading them to the uninfected members of society. Besides, it propagates a culture of promiscuity and drug abuse, which is never okay. The only way that the government can reduce incidences of rape and abuse of women is by illegalizing prostitution and imposing heavy penalties on those who breach the law. The few alleged advantages of legalizing prostitution like, aiding in the economic growth and creating employment opportunities for the prostitutes are some of the lamest points that any government can consider in the debate about prostitution legalization. Women must wake up and think of constructive and alternative ways of making income without compromising their morals. Legalizing prostitution can never and will never remove the stigma that the public has for prostitutes. Legal or not, prostitutes will always be perceived as desperate and worthless people who add zero value to society.
Works Cited
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Swanson, Jessica. “Sexual liberation or violence against women? The debate on the legalization of prostitution and the relationship to human trafficking.” New Criminal Law Review 19.4 (2016): 592-639.
Truong, Tran. “Book Review Essay: Not a Choice, Not a Job: Exposing the Myths about Prostitution and the Global Sex Trade.” Journal of International Women’s Studies 17.4 (2016): 283-291.
Watson, Lori. “Philosophical Debates about Prostitution: State of the Question.” The Southern Journal of Philosophy 57.2 (2019): 165-193.