Debate Should Prostitution be legalized

This is a very touchy subject and there is much controversy over it. Should prostitution be allowed. In a few countries it is allowed (i will take Amsterdam as an example) and their country is fine and there don't seem to be any problems. Or cities like New York where there must be a quite a few around.
Though of course many people beleive that it is of course degrading to women and many of them get beaten by their pimps. Though many times its the womans fault for getting in that buisness herself. In countries where it is legal (Amsterdam again) few people even aproach the woman so it is kinda useless. Though right now many rappers in the music industry are trying to give it a better name. (I think)

I don't have any opinion yet, I am tied between its their life and they can do what they want and its degrading and sometimes dangerous.


(Hey this was my 666th post.....HAIL TO THE GREAT BEAST, DEVOURER OF WORLDS)...lol

 

Once you think about it...it should be legalized. Youre not technically not doing anything wrong...just having pleasure. Sure its degrading....but look at in the womens situation...they dont do it because they want 2 (hopefully not) they probably do it because they need the money. I dont know much but i think its kind of pathetic to make up a law like that. next thing u know itll be illegal to kiss.

 

I think there needs to be a lot of steps put in place before this can be made legal everywhere.
There is a lot of crazy things floating around in our world today. Making one of the oldest professions legal may just ease some of the stressed out crazies out there.
This, of course, is a long as things are done the right and safe way. Making this legal could have its setbacks as well. Deseases could spread like wild fire if one wasnt careful who they slept with.
But it could also reduce the violence towards the women. If it were legal, they would be protected by the law---what pimp is going to beat his working girl if he knows she can report him to the police and get locked-up for it.

This subject is almost the same as the subject of legallizing drugs. It can go either direction just as quickly as it gets started.

Victor

 

To each is own, every person decides what to do with his/her own body, and whatever they decide to do its their own bussiness.

 

i cannot see any legal premise for prostitution to be illegal. the only problem i can see is that they operate in public. if it were legalized though, they wouldn't have to stand on public corners where they could offend religious ppl. (or ppl with moral values.) they could operate in privacy.
As VM1070 said, legalizing it would make it easier to control, and violence against prosties would be easier to handle. it may also be easier to control where the red-light-districs are, by placing restrictions to where prostitution is allowed.

 

Prostitution should be legal. I'm talking about consenting adult prostitution. Why not? It's the world's oldest profession, and it's a vital part of human society.

What could possibly be wrong with this idea? Legalizing prostitution would make more room in our jails for violent criminals. It would make prostitution a regulated, taxable, and comparatively safe industry. There really are no conceivable adverse consequences of legalization. It's already been done in some parts of the world, and it hasn't been problematic as far as I know. People should be able to do what they want with their own bodies.

After all... you can charge money for a service.

You can give away sex for free.

...but... you cant... charge for your sexual services?........ I don't get it. =/

 

I believe it shouldn't be legalized. When viewing it as an industry, then there are little problems; but seeing it from a moral point of view is something else. I wouldn't want my kids to grow up in a community were heratige and community are disgraced and replaced by animal urge.

Anyways, thats my take. I live by it too.

 

You already live in one. Strip clubs, porn mags, even fast food are all instant gratification of "animal" urges. Furthermore, unless you live in a pristine Amish community, odds are far worse already happens anyway (free sex, underground prostitution, rape...).

Sex is a fact of life, not some horrible atrocity. Rather than sheltering them, educate them. Legalizing prostitution wouldn't just suddenly fill the streets with women everywhere. Rather, I believe clean, private, designated brothels would move in and actually clean UP the streets.

 

I myself am still wrestling with the thought, but I just wanted to throw this bit of information into the ring. If prostitution were legal, then it is a job. You would then have to declare it as income, and thus it is taxable. Think of all the money the government could make if it were legal. Of course for me, this is a con, but most would consider this a good thing.

 

As usual, Nephilim X makes good points. ^^ Legalized prostitution would be no worse than the illegal prostitution that goes on today, has gone on for ages, and will continue to go on unless society becomes drastically and completely enlightened. Sex, as one of our strongest desires - fueled by instinct to reproduce, and by the pleasure of the act - is something that can't be removed from society without also removing freedom and part of the natural cycle.

I don't see prostitution as inherently immoral. The violence, drugs, disease, and so on that tend to go along with it - those are bad things. But legalizing prostitution would help to regulate all that. Allow me to explain:

Violence in the workplace is absolutely illegal. But right now prostitutes can't report abuse, because they themselves are breaking current laws...

If prostitution was government-regulated, there'd be much less drug use accompanying it - that too would be illegal and get cleaned up.

Most importantly: legalized prostitution would, if anything, decrease the transmission of STDs. Why? Condoms could be a requirement for oral sex and sex with penetration. (This would also drop rates of pregnancy, thereby decreasing the need for abortions and the number of babies abandoned.) Furthermore, "working girls" could have access to healthcare, regular doctor appointments, etc. They and their clients would be safer. After all, how many guys would really go to a dirty, drugged-up, disease-ridden prostitute when they could get a clean, reputable, healthy, probably far more attractive woman for about the same price? Not too many...

EDIT: Granted, there would still be the disgusting perverts who want an underage prostitute, but there's not a lot to be done with them besides throw them in jail. Sickos will be around no matter WHAT you do.

I don't think that consensual, protected sex between two adults should be considered illegal - no one is harmed, why should the exchange of money make a difference? Husbands and wives will cheat regardless, so that wouldn't matter. (And this way they'd be far less likely to pick up HIV or herpes and transmit it to their spouse.) The fact is that it's going to happen - why not legalize it and at least be able to regulate it somewhat?

And, as mentioned, it could be taxed...

Plenty of women (and men) make their living through sex appeal and by 'selling their bodies' - models, for one. Many actors and other performers do too, to a degree. Prostitution is just a more controversial way of doing so.

And, frankly, I feel sorry for women who think that selling sex is the only way for them to live... But if they must do that, why not make it safer for everyone?

 

As long as you are forced to use protection during the act then i see know real reasond to make it illegal. Cause just one slip up and then you'll have an STD epedemic on your hands.

I do feel bad for people that have to work in that industry as it's there only source of money, but i think it would be better to make it legal for their sakes. It must be hard enough for them to get along in life but this way their not getting stoped by the cops all the time. So it would make their lives easier.

 

The reason why it has been successful in those countries is prostitutes have to go compulsory check ups regularly and if it is found that they have an STD their license is taken away.. If anything legalizing prostitution would make it much safer for everyone. Although there would still be a lot of stigmatization for these women/men.

You can't assume that "Husbands and wives will cheat regardless", I know that in Canada there is a minority of people who agree with extramarital relationships. But I do agree with regulating it - charging taxes to both the prostitute and their clients which could be put towards research on AIDS and other STDs. As well, to make it safer for those who end up (either forced or willingly) into that type of lifestyle.. If they were forced then there would be more legal and social protection for them too, and the possibility for them to leave that lifestyle easily if that is what they decide on. I highly doubt that child prostitution would be allowed either, the Children's Aid Society would get them the hell out of there - not exactly the most nurturing environment to have a kid grow up in.

 

well, there still would be underground child prostitution rings but if the adult prostitution was taken above ground, taxed and what have you, then no one would have to deal with the 'eevuuull' pimps who also traffic in little people.

similar to the situation with soft, and hard drugs.

 

I think when something is illegal, it just makes people want to do it more.

If prostitution is legalized, it can be better contoled in my eyes.

Having visited some countries where it is legal, I could see no real scars or anything on the society. Just don't watch late night TV in France if you don't want to see some things.

Prostitution doesn't bother me if it is a grown up person who makes the choice willingly.

 

Dilandu is talking about people who have the intent or urge to cheat, not EVERY husband and wife. Prostitution isn't legal now, but it's not like infidelity is that uncommon, so I highly doubt it would have much of an effect on marriage/divorce rates.

Edit: Apparently I misinterpreted your comment but it certainly does look like what I'm addressing. My apologies if you were trying to say something else.

 

Naturally - it's difficult to get away from the moral arguments that inherently go along with these types of issues. And rightly so; society SHOULD consider morality in policy decisions, but in the end... I think most of us have the right idea. It's gonna happen anyway, so the best thing to do is remove some of the risk.

Well... I think you've misunderstood my point (probably because I wrote it at about 3am and didn't explain well XD). There's always going to be problems with infidelity, people having affairs for whatever reason - but prostitution isn't the cause, and legalizing it wouldn't have much of an impact. The only thing that's really going increase or decrease the number of extramarital relationships is the overall state of the average marriage. I just didn't want to see anyone claiming that legalized prostitution would make more men want to cheat on their wives (someone threw that argument at me once).

Well, obviously. No minor's going to be allowed to work in a job that involves having sex - thankfully. Child prostitution disgusts and disturbs me. Most of the girls who get into that life are runaways or from extremely poor families; it's the only way they can find to survive, sadly.

 

Yeah, especially not in the US, where the legal working age isn't until you're 14 and most won't hire you until you're 18! Sorry, thought I'd bring a touch of humor to this morbid conversation.

 

Here's my take.

As of now, prostitution is illegal in my state, and is therefore uncontrolled. Now, take a look at Nevada, where it is legal. The women must have cervical (I think that's how it's spelled) exams much more often and are regularly checked for STDs. That, however is not the case in Spain(where I'm fairly certain it's legal) or Amsterdam(where pretty much everything is legal). If it was legal it could be more easily regulated and this would help stop the spreading of HIV/AIDS.