Should Prostitution Be Legalized?

Prostitution is one of the many topics surrounded by stigma in this country. Recently, groups are trying to relieve that stigma and some are trying to decriminalize it entirely. Arguments including body positivity and empowering women both argue for and against legalizing prostitution.

Prostitution is the practice or occupation of engaging in sexual activity for payment.

Decriminalizing prostitution means to abolish the criminal charges associated with sex work, removing criminal

Legalizing prostitution means to establish laws to regulate, tax, and control prostitution and the sex trade.

Human trafficking or sex trafficking is the act of forcibly enslaving men or women into sex labor. Children are vulnerable to this.

Pimps are in charge of prostitutes and their clients. They control prostitutes and arranges clients for them, taking part of their earnings in return.

Violence against sex workers can be defined as physical violence/beatings, rape, and denying them pay. Perpetrators can be the 'customers' or the worker's own pimps.

PRO

People arguing for decriminalization of prostitution say that it should be legalized for many reasons. Workplace protections are offered to workers in other professions, but not prostitutes. This would not be the case if it were legalized, women sex workers would be safer from STD's and be protected from violence and drugs.

CON

Those opposed to legalizing prostitution say it would cause more trouble than it might solve. They say that the decriminalization of sex work would lead to more human trafficking and increase the magnitude of illegal sex work, violence against workers and enticing children. They also argue that prostituting one's self is a traumatic experience that would cause issues such as PTSD and anxiety.

The following video is showing a case where a politician might have solicited underage sex workers. Leaving the country only to engage in these acts, the underage girls might not have been engaged with if prostitution was legalized and regulated.

105 kids rescued from prostitution rings in 2013, the FBI launched raids on many alleged illegal child prostitution rings across the country with the help of local law enforcement agencies.

Nevada is the only place in the United States where prostitution is legalized. This is not a case of decriminalization, but a case of legislation regulating sex work in brothels. These brothels hold strict regulations for sex workers and clients. STD Tests are mandatory every week and security cameras keep a close eye on every patron. Girls are provided with panic buttons to alert security and staff that something is wrong. Extensive background checks are done to every worker to ensure their age, health and genetic background to secure their safety and the safety of underaged girls.

Legalizing prostitution was a good choice for the counties involved in Nevada. Sex workers are protected from violence and the chances of disease are decreased significantly. Underage and illegal prostitution is diminished because of the legislative prerequisites.

New Zealand is an example of legal prostitution. New Zealand decriminalized sex work which is not the same as legalization. New Zealand reformed its legislation on prostitution by removing the laws that incriminate anyone involved in sex work. Prostitutes can choose how and where they work, whether that be in a brothel, as part of an escort service, or individually. Not being legalized, prostitution in New Zealand is not taxed or regulated. Active protection for sex workers is not mandatory and STD tests are optional. Underaged prostitution is still illegal, but much harder to enforce without the strict regulations that legalized legislation would require.

Decriminalized prostitution in New Zealand has been around since 2003, and advocates for decriminalization and legalization in the United States will cite the country as a good example of how the public will be affected if the legislation were to change at home.

After reviewing the information gathered from all my sources, it is still hard to form a solid opinion on one side of the question.

Real world proof of decriminalization working is evident in the world currently. New Zealand is cited as an example of supporting decriminalizing prostitution. Legalizing prostitution would establish workplace protections that are not possible under current legislation. However, sex work is thought to be a cause of trauma and violence. Personal experiences from sex workers and past prostitutes conflict with scientific studies. One study concluded that there is no difference in mental health between a group of women involved in sex work, and a group of women never involved.

Putting aside the personal testimony and following science and real-life examples, I think that prostitution should be legalized. I don't believe decriminalization is the best option as it is more tolerant of violence, drugs, and underage activities in the sex trade. Legalization allows for the regulation of sex work and mandates safety and health, whereas decriminalization has no way to enforce STD testing or assault.

As it might be difficult to form an opinion at first glance, after reviewing sources and weighing the positives and negatives of legalizing/decriminalizing prostitution, I can say that I think legalization is something we should strive for as a society.