Summary: The Decriminalization Of Prostitution

When you hear the word prostitution what kind of image pops up in your mind? Is it a malnourished drug addicted woman? A woman possibly controlled by a pimp? When you hear prostitution, do you think of someone forced against their will? I wanted to know what you all thought before I told you the definition. Prostitution is the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relations for money; the unworthy or corrupt use of one’s talents for the sake of personal or financial gain; the practice or occupation of engaging in sexual activity with someone for money (Legal Dictionary). I’m not related to any prostitutes, and I am not a prostitute, but I have done much research on the topic and watched a documentary on the subject. I feel that
I am qualified to attempt to persuade you to agree with the legalization of prostitution, here’s why.
Prostitution is an international multi-billion dollar trade (Schwartz). Try as our government may, it cannot stop it. Instead our country locks up the prostitutes with the misguided notion that it is helping.Unless you are in Nevada, you will be arrested for prostitution (Legal Dictionary). That is exactly the problem; multiple people are being arrested for selling their own body and if they are being forced then they are now in jail and in potential danger and abuse from their pimp.Around 62 thousand prostitutes were arrested in 2010, the most recent year of documented arrests. (ProCon) Of those arrested for prostitution, 70% have been women and 20% were men; the remaining 10% of arrests were clients. 85%-90%of those that were arrested worked on the street.(Toth, Cheryl). Prostitution is sometimes unwilling. There are many reasons for why prostitution exist. In Ancient Greece and Pompeii, it was an actual occupation. Some prostitutes choose their line of work because they may need fast money. For example, some college students prostitute themselves to pay their way through university and plan to quit prostitution once they have enough money.(Schwartz, A.) Others are quite possibly attracted to the large amount of money a prostitute makes.(Schwartz, A.) Of course, the highest percentage it is not by choice and a prostitute may be forced. The breadwinner or main supporter of a family may be out of a job and have their family to support.(Schwartz.A) Some feel that prostitution is an easy job compared to other occupations. And lastly, of course, some people become prostitutes because they enjoy sex and want to get paid doing something they enjoy (Bbee,C). According to prostitute Candie Bbee, “Prostitution is not all pimp slaps...I’m in this business because I want to be.”
The prostitutes, their families, and society are affected. Prostitutes are heavily affected by their job. Being for someone who are unwilling in the trade, they are raped and abused by their clients and pimps. Some prostitutes may even become addicted to drugs because drugs take away the pain. Prostitutes may even be traumatized by the transactions involved in prostitution. Also since some prostitutes start at the young age of 14, it can really impact their future mindset. Prostitution affects mostly the family of the prostitute since if they’ve been taken, the family may worry, or since prostitution is not very popular, be ashamed. Society is affected by prostitution by STD’s, sexually transmitted disease, and stings, prostitution busts in police jargon, which has a high cost.. Society isn’t any more corrupt because of a thing like prostitution and most people do not give thought to it unless it is put in front of their face. When it’s the drug addicted abused women, most people would rather ignore that the problem is happening or be disgusted by prostitution and think it’s is immoral. Prostitution is not an unsolvable problem; legalization is the solution.
Legalizing prostitution would resolve many problems associated with it. There would be laws protecting the prostitutes from violence.(Daily Beast) It is proven that a person is more likely to beat or rape a prostitute because there would be little to no repercussions (Daily Beast). The decriminalization would solve the problem because, as I said before, the prostitutes would be protected by law. Prostitutes are committing a victimless crime since they are not the ones hurting people; their pimps and madams are. They shouldn’t be the ones getting arrested. Also brothels would have to be registered and tested for STD’s potentially reducing the spread of STD’s in America.
The World Health Organization recommends countries decriminalize prostitution. WHO reports, “Violence against sex workers is associated with inconsistent use of a condom….Violence also prevents sex workers from getting HIV information from their clients.”(Daily Beast). Legalization of prostitution is a simple plan. First and foremost a bill would need to passed. A lot of campaigning would be need for that and possible the start of a movement. In the 1970’s there were advocates who attempted to get prostitution legalized unfortunately is was not successful (Daily Beast). If prostitution became legal in America, it would become much safer for the prostitutes of America.
With the decriminalization of prostitution the true victims of it being a crime would be protected and safe.
Prostitutes would no longer have to work on the streets in search for a customer, they could go online and find a customer there (Legal Dictionary). They could go to the police, even sue their client if they get hurt or raped during their job. For a prostitute there is a 45%-75% chance of violence(Daily Beast).Prostitutes could force their clients to wear condoms and if not leave safely. Prostitutes could even conduct their own business now that they would no longer need a pimp. Prostitutes search for pimps or madams for protection (Daily Beast), but with the law protecting them there would be no need. Police behavior would have to change in terms of treatment of street prostitutes. Police are more inclined to treat a street prostitute worse than an off-street prostitute. If prostitution were not legalized then everything would continue on the same way. Prostitution could be taxed and bring back the money lost by funding police.
Prostitutes unjustly being arrested and human trafficking still happening. Nevertheless, if prostitution was to be legalized, imagine all the people it would help, all the people that could protected, who would feel safer. Prostitution needs to become legal not because it easy and accessible sex but for the prostitutes and the people the law would be helping. In other words, prostitution legalization should and needs to
happen. To stop the violence against stop or at the very least reduce it. To help these people. We need to remember that not everyone is forced into this trade and the shouldn’t be prosecuted for their choice because the state thinks it is a bad one. Not to long ago homosexuals were persecuted for who they loved. It’s 2015 and it’s time for change. And for those who are forced they could be saved and wouldn’t need to fear being arrested. Before I end my speech I’d just like everyone to think about all the good that could come from legalization. Thank you listening, you guys are awesome.