As Cornell law professor Sherry Colb wrote, “Prostitution should not be a crime. Prostitutes do not commit an inherently harmful act. Although the spread of disease and other disadvantages are possible in the practice of prostitution, criminalization is a sure way to exacerbate these effects rather than combat them. “Instead of forcing sex workers to run their businesses in unregulated black markets where their lives are at risk, all with the mislabeled goal of `saving` women, take concrete steps to save women. Legalize prostitution, impose strict regulations, and put in place comprehensive support systems that allow sex workers to do their jobs safely. People, especially women, sell their bodies daily for financial gain in a legalized way. Pornography is legal, as are exotic dances. It is common for people to have sex with wealthier partners in order to enjoy their wealth, whether through the search for wealthy life partners or through the less formal but increasingly common phenomenon known as sugar dating. It`s also common for people to stay in unhappy relationships because they don`t want to lose financial stability or spend money on a divorce. Legalization eliminates criminal penalties for certain cases of buying and selling sexual acts, i.e. prostitution, provided that participants comply with the relevant regulations.
To prove this, researchers at the London School of Economics conducted a quantitative empirical analysis of more than 150 different countries and their prostitution policies. Their study found that “the economies of scale of legalizing prostitution lead to an expansion of the prostitution market and thus an increase in human trafficking.” On average, countries where prostitution is legalized experience a higher influx of human trafficking. [1] Decriminalization refers to the abolition of criminal penalties for the purchase and sale of sexual acts, particularly those classified as prostitution. Decriminalization is not the same as legalization. It is true that the current efforts of the various European countries to legalize prostitution are far from perfect. In the Netherlands, elements of the legislation, such as requiring sex workers to register and setting the minimum age of prostitution at 21, could push more sex workers into illegal markets. Not only that, but studies suggest that legalizing prostitution can increase human trafficking. But even those who criticize the legalization of prostitution can see the benefits the legislation can have on sex workers` working conditions.
When countries with existing laws spend more time listening to current sex workers, the results of decriminalizing prostitution include safety and respect for a population that has traditionally been deprived of such things. Scott Cunningham, an economist at Baylor University, and colleagues found that sex trafficking had increased during those years. But Cunningham points to other important findings: During that period, the number of rapes reported to state police fell by more than a third. And gonorrhea in all women decreased by 39%. Of course, changes to prostitution laws may not be the only cause, but Cunningham says, “The trade-off is that if you make it safer to some extent, you build the industry.” Lloyd says she doesn`t want sex workers to be persecuted or punished. But she doesn`t think men should be allowed to buy sex legally. She says that would mean tolerating the same industry that brutalized her and the women she works with today. Opponents believe that legalizing prostitution would lead to an increase in sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS, global human trafficking and violent crimes such as rape and murder. They argue that prostitution is inherently immoral and commercially exploitative, reinforces the criminal underworld, and fosters the oppression of women by men.
Prostitution does not allow the general public to take advantage of these pretexts. On the contrary, the industry is honest about how sex and money are directly related. And for many people, it`s an uncomfortable idea. It is even more uncomfortable for some people to believe that women should have control over their bodies that would allow them to voluntarily engage in prostitution; You cannot afford to believe that women would choose such a profession. But instead of acknowledging this reality, those who oppose the legalization of prostitution advance with arguments about concern for women`s safety. They don`t realize that criminalizing prostitution doesn`t help sex workers, and their arguments lead to legislation that harms women while operating under the morally motivated pretext of wanting to protect them. Illegal prostitution businesses in America, of course, don`t pay taxes. If these brothels were legalized, state and county governments could generate significant revenue. The sexual exploitation of children is a serious problem that Congress should address. The EARN IT Act is not a solution to this problem. Prostitution is a sensitive issue in the United States.
Often, arguments against prostitution focus on concerns about women`s health and safety, and these concerns are not unfounded. Prostitution is an incredibly dangerous profession for the (mostly) women involved; Sexual assault, forced drug abuse, physical violence and death are common in the industry. For women working in this field, it is often very difficult to get help or get out of it. Many sex workers were trafficked for sex at a very young age and lack the resources to escape forced prostitution, or voluntarily started as sex workers, only to become victims of sex trafficking later. Because prostitution is illegal in most places in the United States, there are few legal protections for prostitutes. Many fear that seeking help will only lead to arrest, and many of those who seek help are arrested and then have to contend with the stigma of a criminal record as they try to reintegrate into society. On Trans Day of Remembrance, we should honour those who have been killed and dismantle the structures that cause anti-trans violence. Increased demand for prostitution through legalization and decriminalization leads to an increase in the sex market. However, the legalization of prostitution has had positive benefits for sex workers across Europe. The best-known country that has legalized prostitution is the Netherlands, where sex work has been legal for nearly two decades.
Taking the industry out of the black market and imposing strict regulations has improved the safety of sex workers. Brothels must obtain and renew safety and health licenses to operate, and street prostitution is legal and highly regulated in places like the Red Light District. Not only does sex work become safer when regulated, but legalization also helps eliminate the black market in prostitution and make women safer overall. In addition, sex workers are not labeled criminals, so they have better access to the legal system and are encouraged to report behaviours that pose a danger to themselves and other women in the industry. Finally, the legalization of sex work will bring many other positive externalities, including tax revenues, the reduction of sexually transmitted diseases, and the redistribution of law enforcement resources. The idea that legalizing or decriminalizing the sex trade would reduce its harms is a persistent myth. Many argue that if sex trafficking were legal, regulated, and treated like any other profession, it would be safer. But research suggests otherwise. Countries that have legalized or decriminalized the sex trade often experience an increase in human trafficking, pimping, and other related crimes. Everyone deserves access to financial services and everyone should be able to earn a living, including sex workers.
As debate continues around the world over whether prostitution should be decriminalized, a researcher at Boston University`s School of Public Health (SPH) argues in the American Medical Association`s Journal of Ethics for common ground in the United States that would punish sex buyers and intermediaries. but not people who sell sex (i.e. prostitutes). It is high time to legalize and regulate this part of American life, even though many people have ethical problems with it. In collaboration with the London School of Economics, economist Axel Dreher of the University of Heidelberg analysed the relationship between human trafficking and prostitution laws in 150 countries. “If prostitution is legal, there is more human trafficking, simply because the market is bigger,” he says. Illegal street prostitutes could be pressured by pimps and clients to stop using condoms. But states that legalize prostitution can force sex workers to use condoms and get tested for sexually transmitted diseases.
The desire to protect women from sexual abuse will always be valid, and if anything is a desire that should be more prevalent in the United States. What is dishonest is the rejection of legalized sex work on grounds that claim to be women`s safety, but actually stem from a place of discomfort towards women who openly engage in sexual interactions for financial gain. If you are not comfortable with the idea of women having sex for money, then you should also have a problem with pornography, exotic dances, and dating for money. If you don`t have a problem with all these socially accepted practices, but a problem with prostitution because it is “morally questionable,” then you have lost your right to any forum where decisions about women`s safety and rights are made.