I actually wrote this out a year or two back:
The hypocrisy of criminalized prostitution
07:13:37 pm, Categories: Life Views, 896 words
I spent a lot of time learning about this topic before I was confident enough to write about it. I spent a lot of time watching documentaries, reading research and studies and speaking to people around me before I put my fingers to the keyboard.
The reason I am writing this is not because I have any type of desire to use the services of a prostitute but because I understand the hypocrisy and unjustness of criminalizing prostitution.
First lets have a look why it is illegal... I asked around and the only reasons I could seem to find was because it is, "immoral" and "degrading". So basically the reason appears to be religious moral conditions more than any actual real crime or harm being done to either the buyer or the seller.
What society has done by criminalising prostitution has allowed some very vulnerable people to become victims to some of the worst types of abuse. Females and males who work in the industry can be subjected to rape without any type of recourse from the law for fear of being arrested themselves.
So basically, because we are offended by the concept and idea of the type of work someone has chosen to do, we just sit back and allow their hurt and abuse to continue. I'm sorry, you cant take the moral high ground on this one. If you seriously think that we should continue to create victims because of some warped morality code than I cant hold any type of respect for you. You are committing a great crime by allowing these woman to be abused, then by legalizing the industry. Morality should not be legislated!
Now I want to move onto the "degrading" argument that was constantly thrown my way. I emailed and got into contact with a couple of people who work in the industry to get a more balanced view point on the topic, and get their thoughts on the criminalization of prostitution. The responses I got back where professional and interesting and to the letter, not one of them thought their job was degrading.
Most of the people I contacted in fact informed me that they loved their jobs and what they did and a couple even mentioned it was more than about the money. Their point of view seemed to center around the fact that they considered themselves sexually "mature" and did not see any type of sin or evilness with sex.
A couple of the people I spoke to appeared already to be the victims of society with no other resources available to them. One of the ladies explained how her husband had left her with three kids and they were basically starving on the side of the road before she entered the industry. Now she is able to look after herself and her kids, and is putting them all through school.
Another important point we have to look at is the crime associated with prostitution. Yes, there is a pretty large criminal element associated with prostitution but as studies have shown... that element is there because the act of prostitution is criminalized. Because prostitutes are considered to be committing a crime they are unable to use the protective services a lot of society has to offer, and so in turn, have to associate themselves with less savoury characters to get some type of protection from the sicker parts of humanity.
If you legalize it, most of the criminal element should leave with it. This has been shown over and over again when countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand and even an American and Australian state who have all started the process of legalizing it.
In the state of Nevada where prostitution has been legalized and is regulated, results have shown that the STD rate amongst the prostitutes in that state are lower than those of the general public. Also, because the woman are more educated in safer sex and are protected there has not being a single case of AIDS in the Nevada legalized prostitution industry.
This topic should be very simple for us. You have no right to tell someone else what they can and can not do with their body, and no one has the right to tell you what to do with yours. If you choose to sell your body services off as a toilet janitor, a politician or a prostitute that should be YOUR choice. Whether you are offended by the idea or not, prostitution has and most likely will always have a roll and to play and a part in our society. Even in countries in the Middle East where prostitution is punishable by death it continues. Sex is legal, money is legal, sex for money is illegal... unless its in front of a camera, and its just porn, and then its legal. You cant be serious?
Now we can choose to be hypocrites and allow this abuse to continue in the name of some imaginary moral conviction or you can do the right thing, and help protect these woman by decriminalizing the industry.
In the closing words of Penn & Teller episode on the subject of prostitution, if you think its disgusting and degrading. Don't do it.