Should prostitution be legalized? This issue has been debated for many years. There are those who believe that legalizing prostitution will bring benefits like, improved human rights, better health and economic benefits. They also assert that prostitution is the oldest profession and it will always be there. But, legalizing it will increase use of condoms and reduce sexual transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS. They also point out that prostitutes should be left to choose they way they earn their income as that is their right, therefore the society should not interfere with their rights. On the other hand, opponents of prostitution assert that many of these prostitutes are in the business against their will and legalizing it would only increase cases of forced prostitution. They also brought up the issue of sex trafficking and child prostitution; accordingly they point out that prostitution is dehumanizing, risky and dehumanizing. They restate that the abuses and possible dangers for legalizing prostitution outweigh the possible benefits of legalizing prostitution. And the debate goes on: Should prostitution be legalized? This paper enters into this debate by arguing that prostitution should not be legalized, the following points supports this position.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Legalizing prostitution will promote sex trafficking
- Legalization does not regulate the sex industry it increases prostitution
- Legalization of prostitution increases clandestine, illicit and street prostitution
- Legalization of prostitution will increase child sex
- Legalizing prostitution does not offer the needed protection by women
- Legalization of prostitution will increases cases of prostitution
- Legalizing prostitution will worsen women's health
- Counter arguments
- Laws against prostitution have failed
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper argues against the legalization of prostitution, presenting evidence to counter arguments in favor. The main objective is to demonstrate the negative consequences of legalization, focusing on its impact on sex trafficking, the growth of the sex industry, and the increased vulnerability of women and children.
- The link between prostitution legalization and increased sex trafficking.
- The failure of legalization to regulate the sex industry and its contribution to its growth.
- The increased risks and vulnerabilities faced by women and children in legalized prostitution environments.
- The exacerbation of health problems and exploitation among sex workers under legalization.
- The inadequacy of legal frameworks in protecting sex workers from abuse and exploitation.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introduction lays out the central debate surrounding the legalization of prostitution, presenting both sides of the argument. It highlights the purported benefits of legalization (improved human rights, better health outcomes, economic gains) against the concerns regarding increased forced prostitution, sex trafficking, and the dehumanizing aspects of the profession. The introduction establishes the paper's position against legalization and outlines the key arguments that will be presented in support of this stance.
Legalizing prostitution will promote sex trafficking: This section uses examples from the Netherlands and Germany to demonstrate how the legalization of prostitution has led to a significant increase in sex trafficking. Studies are cited showing a substantial percentage of women working in legalized brothels were trafficked into the country. The section argues that legalization, contrary to its intended effect, facilitates exploitation rather than mitigating it.
Legalization does not regulate the sex industry it increases prostitution: This section counters the argument that legalization leads to regulation and control. It uses examples from the Netherlands, Australia, and Nevada to illustrate how legalization has led to a significant growth in the sex industry, encompassing various sexual activities beyond prostitution itself. The argument highlights the failure of legalization to control or reduce the scale of prostitution.
Legalization of prostitution increases clandestine, illicit and street prostitution: This section challenges the assertion that legalization moves prostitution from the streets to regulated establishments. It argues that many women continue to engage in street prostitution to avoid control by pimps and the requirements of legalized systems, such as registration and health checks. The section emphasizes that legalization does not eliminate the risks and dangers associated with street prostitution.
Legalization of prostitution will increase child sex: This section provides evidence from the Netherlands and Australia showing that legalization has not curbed but instead drastically increased cases of child prostitution. The section highlights the vulnerability of children to exploitation within the legalized sex industry and argues against the notion that legalization protects minors.
Legalizing prostitution does not offer the needed protection by women: This section presents studies showing that legalized prostitution does not offer adequate protection for women. It cites research indicating that women in both legalized and illegal settings experience high rates of physical assault and exploitation. The argument emphasizes the failure of legal frameworks to ensure the safety and well-being of sex workers.
Legalization of prostitution will increases cases of prostitution: This section argues that legalization increases the overall demand for prostitution. It suggests that the removal of legal barriers leads to a societal shift in attitudes, normalizing the practice and increasing its prevalence. The argument highlights the negative social consequences of increased sexual objectification of women.
Legalizing prostitution will worsen women's health: This section focuses on the health risks faced by women in legalized prostitution. While acknowledging the existence of mandatory health checks, the argument emphasizes that these checks do not protect women from sexually transmitted diseases contracted from unchecked male clients. It highlights the pressure on women to engage in unprotected sex for financial reasons and the limitations of regulations in ensuring condom usage.
Counter arguments: This section briefly acknowledges the counterarguments in favor of legalization, mainly that laws against prostitution have failed to prevent it. However, it sets the stage for a rebuttal (which is not included in this preview because it would reveal the overall conclusion of the paper).
Laws against prostitution have failed: This section briefly presents the argument that the high number of arrests related to prostitution indicates the failure of current laws to effectively curb the practice. It provides a statistic on the number of arrests in the United States as supporting evidence for this claim.
Keywords
Prostitution legalization, sex trafficking, sex industry regulation, women's health, child prostitution, exploitation, human rights, public health.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview on the Legalization of Prostitution
What is the main argument presented in this document?
This document argues against the legalization of prostitution. It presents evidence to counter arguments in favor of legalization, focusing on the negative consequences, particularly its impact on sex trafficking, the growth of the sex industry, and the increased vulnerability of women and children.
What are the key themes explored in this document?
The key themes include the link between prostitution legalization and increased sex trafficking; the failure of legalization to regulate the sex industry; the increased risks and vulnerabilities faced by women and children in legalized environments; the exacerbation of health problems and exploitation; and the inadequacy of legal frameworks in protecting sex workers.
What are the chapter summaries included in the preview?
The preview includes summaries of chapters addressing the following arguments: Legalizing prostitution promotes sex trafficking; legalization doesn't regulate, but increases prostitution; legalization increases clandestine prostitution; legalization increases child sex; legalization doesn't protect women; legalization increases prostitution cases; legalization worsens women's health; counterarguments to legalization; and the failure of laws against prostitution.
What evidence is used to support the arguments against legalization?
The document uses examples and studies from countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, and Nevada to demonstrate how legalization has led to increased sex trafficking, growth of the sex industry, and continued exploitation of women and children. Statistics on arrests related to prostitution in the United States are also cited.
What are the counterarguments acknowledged in the document?
The document acknowledges the counterargument that laws against prostitution have failed to prevent it. However, a full rebuttal of this counterargument is not included in this preview.
What are the objectives of this paper?
The main objective is to demonstrate the negative consequences of legalizing prostitution, focusing on its impact on sex trafficking, the growth of the sex industry, and the increased vulnerability of women and children. It aims to counter arguments in favor of legalization.
What keywords are associated with this document?
Keywords include: Prostitution legalization, sex trafficking, sex industry regulation, women's health, child prostitution, exploitation, human rights, public health.
What is the overall structure of the document?
The document is structured with an introduction, chapters addressing specific arguments against legalization, a section on counterarguments, and a conclusion (not included in this preview). It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What is the intended audience for this document?
The intended audience appears to be academic, given its structured approach, use of evidence, and focus on analyzing themes in a professional manner.
Where can I find the full document?
This is only a preview. The location of the full document is not provided in this preview.
- Quote paper
- Kathy Ndinda (Author), 2010, Should Prostitution be legalized?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/270030
