Geonzon 1

Jasmine Geonzon

Mrs. Pettay

English 112 2B

30 March 2017

A Freak in the Sheets, Illegal in the Streets

Its said to be the worlds oldest profession, but even over thousands of years of human

civilization, the legalization of prostitution has always remained a fresh topic for debate. One of

the most heavily disputed aspects on the issue at hand is what constitutes as prostitution, more

specifically where can one draw the line between ignorant self-exploitation to escape financial

woes and the right to informed choices regarding what someone wants to do with his or her body.

The opposing sides either believe that prostitution should be legalized in the United States or that

current laws outlawing prostitution need to remain standing. Where people tend to become

polarized is when answering, Would society be better or worse off if prostitution was

legalized?

Those arguing against the legalization of prostitution see the profession as inherently

wrong. Opponents of prostitution view prostitution as an immoral crime that poses a threat to

family values as the profession leaves an open door to adultery. The 1908 U.S. Supreme Court

case U.S. v. Bitty even described prostitution as in hostility to 'the idea of the family as

consisting in and springing from the union for life of one man and one woman in the holy estate

of matrimony (qtd. in ProCon). ProCon is an objective, nonpartisan debate website that

explains the opposing sides of controversial issues and their reasons. Prostitution may also be

seen as a gateway crime that only increases the risk of sexual exploitation and human
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trafficking so that pimps can make money. According to Girls Educational and Mentoring

Services (GEMS) founder Rachel Lloyd, an analysis of areas with legalized prostitution, most

prominently Amsterdam, has revealed that legalization has spurred traffickers to recruit children

and marginalized women to meet demand (qtd. in ProCon). Opponents reject the notion that

prostitution is a victimless crime, citing that it only further objectifies women and digs them into

a deep hole with little room to make a better life for themselves. From this angle, those against

prostitution see sex work as an unstable career choice and an ill-construed, short-term escape

from poverty that deters young adults from pursuing a real job. Bill ODonnell, a vocal

opponent of legalized prostitution, was a Nevada state senator for sixteen years, a state in

brothels are legal in most counties. In 2001, he denounced legislation permitting prostitution in

the state, declaring the laws as the most demeaning and degrading thing that the state can do to

women (qtd. in ProCon). Another fear that drives the push against its legalization is that

prostitution can never be truly regulated as the nature of the business is behind closed doors.

Bulgarian federal prosecutor Boris Belvich explains that law enforcement could never be sure

what is happening behind the doors of these public houses and no one can guarantee me that the

women there are not being exploited (qtd. in ProCon). Those who disagree that prostitution

should be legalized often believe that doing so would open Pandoras box and bring with it even

more problems.

Proponents of legalized prostitution believe the advantages of decriminalizing the

profession greatly outweigh that of any possible disadvantages. Those on this side of the

spectrum find prostitution to be empowering to those who follow such a path and view the

profession as the apex of personal choice and capitalism. Former prostitute and author Veronica

Monet wrote that workers in her profession are motivated by money, independence, freedom
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and dignity. If you can't understand the last word, dignity, then you are mired in a viewpoint

(qtd. in ProCon). Those arguing for the legalization of prostitution emphasize the importance of

regulation after relevant legislation has been put in place. This is especially true for those who

cite the health benefits for building the case for prostitution. Fiona Goode of the British Medical

Journal advocated for the licensing of prostitutes, explaining, Licensing premises would

encourage sex workers' access to health and social care instead of having prostitutes skip

essential check-ups for fear of prosecution. Law enforcement officers advocating for prostitution

legalization find such regulations especially helpful in solving and reducing crime so that the

police arent completely in the dark. Former Seattle police chief Norm Stamper argues, The

logical solution is to take it indoors and get it off the streets. Even indoor prostitution carries it's

own risks, but on the whole it is safer (qtd. in ProCon). Spokesperson Ntokozo Yingwana of the

Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce further emphasizes the importance of

establishing a strong relationship between prostitutes and law enforcement in hopes of sex

workers becoming key information sources in attempts to uncover human trafficking (qtd. in

ProCon). While I personally believe that prostitution should be legalized and regulated in the

United States, I question how closely the business should be regulated as too many regulations

may result in the emergence of an unregulated black market as theorized by Assistant Attorney

General of Washington State Jared R. Rayborn in his article published in the Willamette Law

Review. Regulation is an important aspect of any business, but the government must allow room

for businesses to grow.

Both proponents and opponents of legalizing prostitution stress the importance of

womens health, especially using the rate of the spread of possible sexually transmitted diseases.

While each side follows different hypotheticals foretelling the spread of such diseases if
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prostitutes could legally practice, both have expressed that STDs are of major concern. With this

in mind, the issue at hand could be greatly reduced if both sides worked together to curb the

spread of STDs. Since the issue is extremely old in age and not heavily debated on a nationwide,

public scale, the chances of a bill reintroducing the legalization of prostitution in the United

States are slim to none. In the meantime, both sides could pool resources and make a significant

impact by leading initiatives that promote STD prevention, not only for prostitutes, but for the

general public as well.

While there is no indication that prostitution reform in the United States will appear in

the form of a Congressional bill on the Capitol floor anytime soon, the topic at hand is still

debate-worthy. Both those favoring and opposing the legalization of prostitution maintain valid

arguments. However, the fact remains that crime will occur no matter what laws are put in place.

Id rather have prostitutes practice legally and be regulated like any other business than have the

same men and women refuse to see medical help in fear of being prosecuted. The legalization of

prostitution would open doors of communication between the prostitutes and services such as

law enforcement and medical professions rather than leaving prostitutes hide in shame due to the

taboo surrounding their profession. Whether working as a Wall Street broker or a Red Light

District prostitute, no one should have to compromise their safety and health simply over the

nature of their work.

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Works Cited

ProCon. Prostitution. Procon, 2 February 2017, http://prostitution.procon.org/. Accessed 28

March 2017.

Rayborn, Jared. "Regulated Prostitution as a Component in the Fight against Human Trafficking

in Oregon." Willamette Law Review, vol. 50, no. 1, Oct. 2013, pp. 115-162. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=a9h&AN=112174618&site=ehost-live. Accessed 30 March 2017.