Should Prostitution be legal?

[Spiderman]

Voted No. (Though I have to admit it's a close one.) I'm not for turning people's flesh into a commodity that can be bought and sold for money. That's an abuse of sexuality and makes the concept of consent very blurred. If the difference between consent and refusing to consent is money is that really freedom? It is just rape by another means? That's what I'm getting at.

The way I see it legalisation is privatisation by another name. People may defend it based on the idea of self-ownership and consent but those are also arguments for voluntary servitude- so I remain sceptical.

And that's coming from an atheist right?

 

[Skwim]

But you can't safely reveal that you're a prostitute to authorities.

Yes you can. The only thing a prostitute can be arrested for is engaging in prostitution. If you make your living as a prostitute you can't be arrested for it while eating a Big Mac some Tuesday afternoon at McDonalds.


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[Kirran]

Yes you can. The only thing a prostitute can be arrested for is engaging in prostitution. If you make your living as a prostitute you can't be arrested for it while eating a Big Mac some Tuesday afternoon at McDonalds.

That depends on the jurisdiction, I think. Some yes, some no.

Either way, the industry itself remains unregulated when it's illegal.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

If it wasn't for the wide abuse of females who are in prostitution I would say it should be legal. So, until our society can assure the safety and lack of coercion of prostitutes I have to say, no it shouldn't.


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There are tons of professions that can't assure safety and lack of coercion. Don't you think the risk should be the choice of the individual?

 

[wizanda]

Don't you think that if prostitution is legal, it can damage society?

Prostitution is one of the oldest businesses in the world, and it isn't going to disappear...

You should watch some of the documentaries on legalization of it, as they put forward the reasons it makes more sense for society, and the people involved.

 

[lovesong]

Voted No. (Though I have to admit it's a close one.) I'm not for turning people's flesh into a commodity that can be bought and sold for money. That's an abuse of sexuality and makes the concept of consent very blurred. If the difference between consent and refusing to consent is money is that really freedom? It is just rape by another means? That's what I'm getting at.

The way I see it legalisation is privatisation by another name. People may defend it based on the idea of self-ownership and consent but those are also arguments for voluntary servitude- so I remain sceptical.

Hopefully, once regulated, the same policy that most service-based industries have in place would become standard; "we hold the right to refuse service to anyone." This would mean that if the woman (or man!) got to the house and it just did not feel safe, they would be allowed to go. Any company that forbade their sex workers from refusing a particular job could easily get charged with some kind of rights violation, as that would essentially be rape through the employer. This is something that's happening now though, the whole point of legalization would be to end this and put safety measures in place to protect the workers so that coercion would not occur.

 

[YmirGF]

Personally I think yes, it should, but I do not support it. However, I think if it is legal then it can be regulated, people can get help if they need it etc. It's safer.

Exactly.

 

[Revoltingest]

Not only would it give regulation and safety to a dangerous industry, but nobody should be able to regulate what a person chooses to do with their body so long as it does not infringe on the rights of other.

What she said.

It's pithy posts like this'n that make my count so high.

 

[Electus de Lumine]

I'm just curious what the majority of people at this website think about whether or not Prostitution should be legal

The better question is why should it be illegal?

 

[Electus de Lumine]

Don't you think that if prostitution is legal, it can damage society?

How?

 

[Revoltingest]

So I can legally sell a kidney to the highest bidder and toss my donor card in the trash bin?

It's your body, so it's your kidney.
I'll start the bidding at $5.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

I think if they are an adult it is their choice to make. That said; I however do not think 18 is an adult, around 25 is what I consider an adult, because that is when the brain makes its final shift from emotional based thinking to a more rational base thinking.

Child psychologists are being given a new directive which is that the age range they work with is increasing from 0-18 to 0-25

There are three stages of adolescence - early adolescence from 12-14 years, middle adolescence from 15-17 years and late adolescence from 18 years and over.

Neuroscience has shown that a young person's cognitive development continues into this later stage and that their emotional maturity, self-image and judgement will be affected until the prefrontal cortex of the brain has fully developed.

Alongside brain development, hormonal activity is also continuing well into the early twenties says Antrobus.

Is 25 the new cut-off point for adulthood? - BBC News

My position is not so much that I agree with prostitution, but that I do not feel it is my place to tell an adult what they can do with their body. However, when it comes to a non-adult (25 and under) we should definitely step in and say no.

 

[bobhikes]

Nah, cos they're doing something illegal. You can't come forwards and tell the authorities etc you're having problems with your life as a prostitute when being a prostitute is illegal.

I can't remember the country, but one country treats it as a crime of the John not the prostitute. The prostitute is considered a victim. From what I read its not perfect but they have had good success. There are certain regulations that must be followed where it can legal. It was instituted mostly for forced prostitution.

 

[Aštra’el]

I do not really care if prostitution is legal or illegal, same with weed. Sometimes, keeping certain things illegal makes the acts all the more thrilling.

Though, I definitely do not favor lengthy prison sentences for something like prostitution or marijuana.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

So I can legally sell a kidney to the highest bidder and toss my donor card in the trash bin?

I think there is a bit of middle ground between prostitution and pulling out your kidney.

I mean along your line of thought, should we also outlaw soda pop, excess salt, and trans-fat?

 

[Spiderman]

How?

that's what I'm trying to figure out

 

[Electus de Lumine]

that's what I'm trying to figure out

Are you saying you want to deny it on the basis that it is harmful for society and are trying to find a reason to do so?

 

[Skwim]

That depends on the jurisdiction, I think. Some yes, some no.

No. There is no such jurisdiction, at least not in the USA.

There are tons of professions that can't assure safety and lack of coercion.

Yup.

Don't you think the risk should be the choice of the individual?

If it was an absolutely free and informed choice, yes, but as it's been shown in many studies on prostitution, it isn't. Do you think a girl goes into prostitution choosing to risk being abused coerced? Not when they know the outcome of the risk is almost guaranteed to be fulfilled. And if they don't know this then their choice is not an informed one. It's obvious that many girls do freely choose to go into prostitution, but as is well known, their freedom is soon cut short by pimps, and others who exercise control over them. The self-employed high-end "escort" is a rarity.


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[Kirran]

No. There is no such jurisdiction, at least not in the USA.

Lot of non-USA world out there.

 

[Revoltingest]

If it was an absolutely free and informed choice, yes, but as it's been shown in many documentaries on prostitution, it isn't. Do you think a girl goes into prostitution choosing to risk being abused coerced? Not when they know the outcome of the risk is almost guaranteed to be fulfilled. And if they don't know this then their choice is not an informed one. It's obvious that many girls do freely choose to go into prostitution, but as is well known, their freedom is soon cut short by pimps, and others who exercise control over them. The self-employed high-end "escort" is a rarity.
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There's a relationship between its being illegal, & coercion in the industry.
Legalizing would make things above board, mitigating the problem you cite.
That's better then denying them their autonomy in order to protect them.