Essay On Decriminalization Of Prostitution

Are American prostitution laws helping to solve the problem, or hurting the people that need the most help? Prostitution has been a point of contention since the dawn of mankind; and the endless demand, brought on by man-kinds’ most primal desires, guarantees the supply of sex workers for generations to come. Sex workers often suffer heinous acts of abuse including: assault, rape, sexually transmitted diseases, human trafficking, and murder. Many of the laws in modern society are not stopping the problem; contrarily, once a person has a record for prostitution, it is more difficult for them to escape the life. This is a grave issue that has proven over millennia to have no cure. Instead of focusing on a cure, society might consider a change in tactic. According to Traffic Free, a human rights organization, there are up to 25,000 people enslaved to prostitution in Chicago alone (Dueholm). If society cannot eliminate prostitution through prosecution, a consensus must be reached to minimalize public risk and help the victims of the sex industry. Could the legalization of prostitution be a better way of regulating one of America’s biggest black markets?
Many opponents argue that the
In theory, this would protect the often-victimized sex workers, while targeting the people that drive the demand of the industry. However, this was put to practice in Sweden, resulting in a high rise in unreported violence toward prostitutes (Shucart). This new legislation in Sweden essentially turned every sex worker into a baited trap for “johns’’; causing the backlash against the sex workers. America must open its eyes to the human suffering happening daily on its city streets. Our county must bring the sex industry out of the dark so the true victims of this industry can receive the help they