Should prostitution be legal? What are the pros and cons of making it so?

1. 59

   FranYoposted 14 years ago

   Should prostitution be legal?  What are the pros and cons of making it so?
   
   Wouldn't all of society be protected more thoroughly if prostitutes had legal and medical provisions?  Aren't we all sexual beings, and if so, why should this natural instinct be prohibited when commercialized?  Is sex via prostitution any more immoral than alcohol use and abuse?  Why do values and ethics of the church have a place in our legal system?  OR, do you completely disagree with the above?  Please state your case here!

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2. 74

   Quilligrapherposted 14 years ago

   I believe the time has come for all people to admit that prostitution IS NOT a victimless crime.  When we fail to acknowledge there is a victim, we agree to ignore the plight of the ones who are the most in need of our help.  I have neither the talent nor the resources to argue on behalf of this belief but I beg everyone to please read LMMartin’s hub http://hubpages.com/hub/52-children-rec … d-about-it before offering an answer to this question.   
   Q.

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3. 59

   FranYoposted 14 years ago

   Thank you Quilligrapher for your reference and comments.  However, I feel that you've missed the specific point of my question.
   
   My question asks whether prostitution should be made legal in the United States, as it is in many European nations, with all the regulations, qualifications, and legal protocol necessary to fit within the system of acceptability for both the prostitute and the public who may pay for their services. 
   
   To equate the horrific situation of children forced into slavery is like equating child labor statistics of the early 20th century to the job market for youth and college graduates today.  Since children were once, or even today, forced into a potentially early death and denied rights/health care/education in factory work, are we to say that young people cannot, today, earn an income in a legitimate job?  Oh, the horror of working summers at the local mall or youth camp! 
   
   Yes, the statistics are insane--children, people, forced into slavery right in the midst of our so-called civilized society. 
   
   Yet, I ask you:  Should a person who has financial obligations, a person who is sexually active and desires to make their income from plying their sexuality, have the right to work as a prostitute?  To receive accepted wage protection, medical care, child care, retirement even?  Do they not have the same right as anyone to practice their trade under full protection of the law?
   
   Why, or why not?

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4. 49

   spriggsrposted 14 years ago

   The person who is afraid of legalizing it is either 1. Scared that they will loose there love one to it or 2. Scared the they will not be able to get someone because there attitude or something negative about themselves will push them to it. Using the child pornography thing is like saying we should not legalize Tylenol because cocaine is killing people. That is like saying everyone should stop having sex because people are being rapped. I thought the question had everything to do with people making there own decisions to work in that field should have the same protection as everyone else. Hey if the banks can be protected after screwing the American people unwillingly then why not protect those who's services are being asked for.

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5. 0

   reeltaulkposted 14 years ago

   Sex is indeed natural, but abuse isn't!  To experience as well as accept abuse doesn't do anyone any good.  There is so much abuse involved concerning prostitution.   There are no pros in making prostitution legal, a woman is going to do what she must, if she must, no one can stop her.  In this day and age there is too much diseases going around and some women are killing themselves in the name of a buck.  I don't think in a situation as such anyone is protected.  Just remember that children are being destroyed through prostitution.  The churches "morals" have nothing to do with what an individual wants to do, 9 times out of ten, the church is where the prostitutes run to in time of need.  Prostitution is a very dangerous game in more ways than one.
   
   Vonda G. Nelson

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6. 58

   mpchekuriposted 14 years ago

   I think we must have some ethics doing sex which says prostitution must not be legalised.

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7. 60

   xiao_kangposted 14 years ago

   Very interesting topic. It really caused me to think and imagine a society where prostitution is legal. 
   I guess there are both pro's and con's. I think I'll just stick with the pro's.
   If prostitution is legal it's likely that sexual crimes and misconduct would decrease. I imagine it would be that way simply because men that commit sexual crimes are probably just really horny and lack the moral fiber and respect to handle their urges in a civilized manner. Legalized prostitution could be the answer, as long as the women/men working in the industry are willing and professional.
   Personally, I wouldn't mind if I could run down to the nearest sex shop to get my fix when I really needed it. It's sure a lot less complicated than attempting to date, one-night stands, and the BS that follows. Sometimes people just want to hump, no strings attached. That's not wrong or deviant, it's a fact of life. If there are people willing to offer themselves in that service then why not? There is no shame in that, as opposed to now where prostitutes are looked at as the scum of the earth.
   Other pro's. If it became an 'industry' then there would be rules and regulations to govern it. The 'workers' would be educated, tested, and safe. They could operate in a clean and secure environment instead of in shabby hotels, alleys, or in a strangers car. In the hard times I've thought about ho-ing myself out a time or two and I have no moral hang-up about doing that. The only thing that prevented me from doing so was the risk involved. I don't wanna get raped, I don't want an STD. I just wanted to make a few bucks and I'm sure many prostitutes are exactly the same but circumstances forced them to take the risk I wouldn't take. A legalized industry would minimized that risk.
   Also, legalized prostitution would open the industry to women more than it is now. You don't see many male prostitutes unless they are servicing the gays. Once the shame and risk is taken from seeking sexual services I think a lot more women would take advantage of the service. We know they want it as bad as the men, the only thing is they are at a much greater risk in pursuing casual sexual encounters than men. It'd be a safe avenue for women to get their freak on.
   Like I mentioned there are cons, but if they sent out a petition for the legalization of prostitution I would be all for it.

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8. 61

   darkprincessposted 14 years ago

   Yes prostitution should be legal, it is the choice of the person whom is selling there service's for a fee, however the law should be that there is an age in which you can engage in soliciting yourself, and it should be of free will never forced upon someone by another.

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9. 60

   snowflowerposted 14 years ago

   Prostitution is legal in the UK, although there are so many illegalities surrounding it it may as well be illegal. In Britain the act of offering sexual services in the exchange for cash in a private property are legal. However advertising publicly i.e. causing any kind of public outrage, loitering on streets in the hope of attracting business (or likewise advertising on a public street from say a window overlooking the street), kerb-crawling, and brothels/pimping are all illegal. Therefore it would be hard to stay within the law here if one was a prostitute.
   
   Personally I'm more inclined towards keeping the actual act of prostitution itself legal. These women may be desperate for money and may believe that the only way in which they can gain it is through prostitution. If they were ever to need police assistance or medical treatment then I believe that they should be able to recieve it when they need to without the fear of being branded a criminal and prosecuted. Being illegal would cause serious problems in pushing prostitution even further underground and would result in less protection and help being made readily available to them.

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10. 57

    Shadow Manposted 14 years ago

    I feel the pros are greater than the cons on this matter. The time and money used by law enforcement and the courts would be eliminated and used in better ways. I don't think it should just be made legal but should be overseen and regulated to keep it safe and healthy for all involved. This would also create a new tax base for state and federal use. It may even cut down on the street prostitution to some degree? To me this is more of a moral issue than a legal one. I have no problem with it.

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11. 61

    VampireAliceposted 14 years ago

    no, because is it really a womans choice if she is a prostitute?
    most women are forced into it and cant get out.
    Is it her choice to stay there and have sex with people or to try and leave and be killed. Postition is wrong no matter how you look at it. Its not really the woman choice to be in it or not.

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12. 60

    Obscurely Diverseposted 14 years ago

    I think it would already be legalized in the U.S., if it was an act that could easily be taxed by the government.  Independent 'sex contractors' roaming the streets, reek havoc on the IRS, due to unreported income. Ha-ha!

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13. 84

    Springboardposted 14 years ago

    I'm not saying that we should open the floodgates on all vices, but here's the reality. People will always seek sex for hire, and certain people will always provide sex for hire.
    
    Prohibition did not work for alcohol. It's not working for drugs. It's not working for prostitution.
    
    I think there are good reasons to hinder each of the above things—hey look, we all want to live in a community that is good and wholesome for our kids. So, what the ultimate answer is I don't know.
    
    But what I do know is you won't stop people from buying sex, or drugs, or anything else for that matter by making a law that says you can't. It's that simple.

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14. 68

    IntimatEvolutionposted 14 years ago

    There Will Be Sex, is a hub that I wrote ages ago about my viewpoints on legalizing prostitution.  http://hubpages.com/hub/Sex-Slave  I would really like for to take a look at this hub, tell me what you think and take my poll on legalizing prostitution.

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15. 60

    terced ojosposted 14 years ago

    I'm a born again Christian man.
    
    Prostitution should not be illegal.
    
    It is in my estimation immoral but I can't see putting someone in jail for it.
    
    I think it has a lot of negative connotations because of all the women who have been and are currently forced to be prostitutes as opposed to those who voluntarily enter the practice.
    
    Then there is of course the fear of the spread of disease.
    
    These two things notwithstanding if you asked me to vote on it I would vote to decriminalize prostitution.
    
    I know my vote will be viewed by Christians as some wink and nod to fornication or adultery but it's not. It doesn't make sense to put people in jail for paying for sex.
    
    I believe the reason for the criminilization of harlotry in this culture is because the bible speaks so harshly concerning the practice. It was not however against the law to be a prostitute.
    
    Decriminalize it.

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16. 60

    secularist10posted 13 years ago

    Prostitution was originally made illegal because the men who ran society could not control the sexuality of these women. In ancient cultures, a woman's value was based on her virginity and her ability to have children. A woman was essentially the property of her husband, brother or father.
    
    A woman, like a prostitute, who lived outside of these narrow sexual rules, or broke them altogether, could not be tolerated because she could not be controlled and it could not be determined which man owned her or her progeny. Therefore government and religious authorities cast prostitution as a terrible, sinful, destructive activity.
    
    Fast forward to today. Luckily, we don't have these backward values anymore, so we can look at prostitution more rationally. If prostitution is legalized, is can be regulated, controlled and taxed. Abuses can be eliminated. The spread of STDs can be minimized. Children and women who are exploited by thugs can be saved. Once we understand there is no moral or ethical reason to be against consensual sex for money, we can take a much more reasonable approach, and society and individuals can benefit greatly.

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17. 60

    Shahid Bukhariposted 13 years ago

    As long as Prostitution, retains the Freedom, of Work ... and a clause, that defines the Exact nature, and scope of Prostitution...
    Because, as things stand today in the modern Society ... the Institution of Marriage, can be considered 'legalized' prostitution.
    Just to remind Franyo ... we are humans ... animals, fauna and flowers are also sexual beings.

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18. 60

    Dave Mathewsposted 13 years ago

    One of the reasons that it is not legal is because the PIMPS who live off these prostitutes would have to pay taxes and treat these people as ligitimate employees. That would cut into their illegal profits.
    
    Think about this if you dare?
    
    Whether we know it or not, whether we are willing to admit to it or not any person who goes out and gets a job whether it be a burger flipper or an account executive, or a secretary, or a plummer,or a doctor, or whatever job you happen to be doing, everyone working for a living is in actuality prostituting themselves for an agreed to price, and the government and the owner of the company are your joint-pimps. Now there's something for you to really get upset about.

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19. 75

    cathylynn99posted 12 years ago

    the pros, with which i am inclined to agree and have voted up, are articulately laid out in other answers to this question. i have one con which i have not seen addressed. that is, a significant number of prostitutes are past incest and rape victims, repeating and reliving their abuse. i can't say these women are doing it out of a healthy free will choice. they feel it is now their only possible destiny. perhaps keeping prostitution illegal discourages some past victims from pursuing this damaging (for them) lifestyle.

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