Clark 1 Jaclyn Clark ENGL 2010-063 Paul Anderson 11/16/2013

Why Legalize Prostitution?

The orld!s oldes" #ro$ess%on& %s a #hrase you %ll o$"en hear "o descr%'e #ros"%"u"%on( )h%le %" %s de'a"ed he"her #ros"%"u"%on %s ac"ually "he orld!s oldes" #ro$ess%on or no"* "here %s e+%dence "ha" %" has e,%s"ed %n nearly e+ery hu-an c%+%l%.a"%on on Ear"h %n our recorded h%s"ory( The earl%es" record o$ #ros"%"u"%on as sacred #ros"%"u"%on #er$or-ed dur%n/ "he 10"h cen"ury 1(C( %n 2eso#o"a-%a 3G%llard4( 5ns"ead o$ #ros"%"u"%on 'e%n/ a co--on and acce#"ed #rac"%ce "ha" as e+en* %n so-e #lace* a sacred $or- o$ orsh%#* "oday %n "he 6n%"ed 7"a"es #ros"%"u"%on %s looked do n u#on* and re/arded 'y -any as a +%le and s%n$ul ac"( 1ecause o$ "h%s soc%e"al d%$$erence e ha+e -ade #ros"%"u"%on %lle/al %n an e$$or" "o /e" r%d o$ %" $ro- our coun"ry* 'u" %n "ru"h e ha+e only -ade %" -ore #re+alen" and o#ened "he door ay $or %lle/al se, "rade* hu-an "ra$$%ck%n/* dru/s* $ur"her s#read o$ 7T8s* and +%olence( 5ns"ead o$ us%n/ our #ol%ce $orce "o #ro"ec" #ros"%"u"es $ro- k%dna##%n/* ra#e* a'use* dru/ use* and e+en -urder* our soc%e"y uses "he- "o #un%sh #ros"%"u"es $or "h%n/s "ha" are o$"en 'eyond "he%r con"rol( As h%s"ory has clearly sho n* #roh%'%"%n/ so-e"h%n/ does no" erad%ca"e %" $ro- soc%e"y* %" -erely o#ens u# an %lle/al -arke" $or "he #roduc" and can* %n "urn* -ake "he %ssue -ore #re+alen" and orse "han %$ %" ere le/al( 2y aud%ence $or "h%s #os%"%on ar/u-en" %s any c%"%.en l%+%n/ %n a coun"ry here #ros"%"u"%on %s %lle/al 'ecause* he"her you e,#er%ence %" d%rec"ly or no"* "he %ll e$$ec"s o$ %lle/al%.ed #ros"%"u"%on a$$ec" "he soc%e"y as a hole( 5 'el%e+e "ha" #roh%'%"%n/ #ros"%"u"%on does -ore har- "han /ood* and "ha" le/al%.%n/ %" ould 'e 'ene$%c%al "o our soc%e"y( 5" %s %-#era"%+e "ha" e le/al%.e #ros"%"u"%on as soon as #oss%'le so as "o a+o%d $ur"her har- "o "he -any -en and o-en curren"ly %n+ol+ed %n #ros"%"u"%on* and

Clark 2 "hose ho ould 'eco-e %n+ol+ed %n "he $u"ure( There are curren"ly -any %ssues %n+ol+ed %"h #ros"%"u"%on( 9%rs" %s "ha" dru/ a'use %s co--on a-on/ #ros"%"u"es* -os" o$"en "he " o /o hand-%n-hand %"h each o"her( As 1hunu and 2ushaya'asa #o%n" ou" %n "he%r ar"%cle* Pros"%"u"%on and 8ru/ 3Alcohol4 2%suse: The 2enac%n/ Co-'%na"%on*& "here %s $re;uen"ly a l%nk 'e" een #ros"%"u"%on and dru/ use 'ecause -any se, orkers %ll /o %n"o #ros"%"u"%on %n order "o $und an already es"a'l%shed ha'%"* and o"hers %ll /e" %n"o %" la"er as a -eans "o "ry and co#e %"h e-o"%onal %ssues 'rou/h" on 'y "he%r l%$es"yle( Th%s %ll o$"en lead "o #ros"%"u"es 'e%n/ -an%#ula"ed and en"ra##ed "hrou/h a l%$es"yle o$ sell%n/ "he%r 'ody $or dru/s 324( 7econd* #ros"%"u"es are a" a h%/h r%sk o$ rece%+%n/ and s#read%n/ 7T8s( <ne o$ "he $ac"ors %n "h%s /oes 'ack "o dru/ use* "he shar%n/ o$ needles can s#read =5> $ro- #erson "o #erson 31hunu* and 2ushaya'asa 24( 8ru/ use can also lead "o un#ro"ec"ed se,* and s"ud%es ha+e sho n "ha" o-en ho e,chan/e se, $or dru/s ha+e un#ro"ec"ed se, -ore o$"en* and ha+e a h%/her occurrence o$ 7T8s "han #ros"%"u"es "ha" are no" dru/ users 32ur#hy ??64( 2any #ros"%"u"es s"ru//le "o earn enou/h -oney "o -ake ends -ee" and 'ecause o$ "h%s so-e %ll o#" "o sell un#ro"ec"ed se, a" a h%/her #r%ce* or $eel #ressured 'y a cl%en" "o no" use #ro"ec"%on $or $ear o$ los%n/ "ha" cl%en" 38a""a 304( The "h%rd %ssue %s +%olence "o ards #ros"%"u"es( 5n her ar"%cle* 6nders"and%n/ "he 7oc%al and Econo-%c Con"e,"s 7urround%n/ )o-en En/a/ed 5n 7"ree"-Le+el Pros"%"u"%on*& Lyn 7"ank%e %c. 2ur#hy s"a"es "ha" research has sho n "ha" %" %s re/ular e,#er%ence $or $e-ale #ros"%"u"es "o 'e +%c"%-s o$ #hys%cal and se,ual a'use( The +%olence %s -os" o$"en cus"o-er-rela"ed as %" can ha##en any "%-e a o-en co-es %n con"ac" %"h a cus"o-er due "o sad%s"%c %n"en"%ons or $ro- a #ros"%"u"e!s re$usal "o -ee" cer"a%n de-ands $ro- a cus"o-er( @esearch done on +%olence and #ros"%"u"%on $ound* 60-00A o$ o-en %n+ol+ed %n #ros"%"u"%on e,#er%enc%n/ ra#e and #hys%cal assaul" 'y cus"o-ers& 3??64( 5n 7 eden* here %" %s a cr%-e "o 'uy se,* %" has 'een re#or"ed "ha" #ros"%"u"es are ha+%n/ a "ou/her "%-e 'ecause o$ "he la ( They are no e,#osed "o -ore +%olen" cus"o-ers 'ecause "he%r ser%ous cl%en"s are a$ra%d o$ 'e%n/ arres"ed( 1ecause "he cl%en"s are

Clark 3 scared o$ 'e%n/ arres"ed deals are rushed and "he #ros"%"u"es ha+e less "%-e "o asses ha" #o"en"%al cus"o-ers are l%ke 38a""a 304( These "hree -aBor %ssues -ake l%$e -uch harder $or #ros"%"u"es* 'u" "hese %ssues could -uch -ore eas%ly 'e deal" %"h %$ #ros"%"u"%on ere le/al%.ed( 1y le/al%.%n/ #ros"%"u"%on e can "ake "hese -en and o-en o$$ "he s"ree" and %n"o a real 'us%nessCa 'us%ness "han can 'e "a,ed* /%+en heal"h care* and e+en a un%on( To le/al%.e #ros"%"u"%on* ra"her "han decr%-%nal%.e* ould en"a%l l%cens%n/ and s#ec%$%c re/ula"%on o$ #ros"%"u"%on as a 'us%ness* such as kee#%n/ %" %"h%n s#ec%$%c +enues l%ke a 'ro"hel* and ha+%n/ %" only 'e 'e" een consen"%n/ adul"s 3Lou%e and Lo -an 2D64( Throu/h "hese re/ula"%ons you could kee# s"r%c" an"%-dru/ #ol%c%es "o reduce dru/ usa/e 'y #ros"%"u"es( Eou could ha+e sa$e-se, #ol%c%es %n #lace and ha+e "he se, orkers 'e re/ularly "es"ed* as %s "he case %n "he #orno/ra#hy %ndus"ry* h%ch ould s"e- "he s#read o$ 7T8s "o and $ro- #ros"%"u"es( 1y le/al%.%n/ #ros"%"u"%on you ould 'r%n/ se, orkers 'ack under "he #ro"ec"%on o$ "he la * so "ha" "hey ould no" ha+e "o $ear su$$er%n/ +%olence as -uch $ro- cus"o-ers( The #ros"%"u"es ould 'e ork%n/ %n a -uch sa$er en+%ron-en"* and ould 'e a'le "o re#or" any +%olence a/a%ns" "he- %"hou" $ear o$ 'e%n/ arres"ed "he-sel+es( Cr%-%nal%.%n/ #ros"%"u"%on only #un%shes "hese -en and o-en ork%n/ %n "he se, %ndus"ry 'y -ak%n/ l%$e -ore d%$$%cul" $or "he- and 'r%n/%n/ %n ne/a"%+e as#ec"s "ha" crea"e unsa$e and uns"a'le en+%ron-en"s $or "he-( @e$err%n/ "o a sur+ey done on 3*000 se, orkers* 1%shakha 8a""a #u"s %" ;u%"e ell hen she says* All o+er "he orld o-en %n se, ork are de-and%n/ "ha" adul" se, ork 'e decr%-%nal%.ed and "ha" "hey 'e /%+en r%/h"s* res#ec" and reco/n%"%on( Tha" "hey 'e /%+en "he r%/h" "o +o"e and access heal"h ser+%ces %"hou" s"%/-a* "ha" "he co#s do no" harass "he-* "ha" "he%r co-#la%n"s o$ +%olence 'e recorded( Tha" "hey 'e /%+en "he r%/h" "o 'e hu-an* l%ke anyone else(& 32F4 Le/al%.%n/ #ros"%"u"%on %ll %-#ro+e our soc%e"y 'y "ak%n/ -any o$ "he s"ru//l%n/ and ho-eless #ros"%"u"es o$$ o$ "he s"ree" and #u" "he- %n a sa$e* le/%"%-a"e #lace o$ 'us%ness( 5n Ne Gealand/Ao"earoa #ros"%"u"%on has 'een co-#le"ely decr%-%nal%.ed and as a resul" #ros"%"u"es "here no

Clark D ha+e access "o "he%r r%/h"s and ser+%ces %n "he%r coun"ry* "hey can rece%+e heal"h care and re#or" +%olence "o ards "he- "o "he #ol%ce 38a""a 304( Less and less ould #eo#le cru%se around look%n/ "o #%ck u# one o$ "hese se, orkers and %n "urn harass %nnocen" #edes"r%ans* as has ha##ened "o -e #ersonally 'e$ore( P%-#s could no lon/er con"rol "he -arke"* or a'use and -an%#ula"e #eo#le Bus" "ry%n/ "o /e" 'y %n l%$e( Pros"%"u"es ould no lon/er su$$er a'use a" "he hands o$ cus"o-ers* #%-#s* or #ol%ce( 7#read o$ 7T8s could 'e -uch -ore closely -on%"ored and con"rolled( As a le/al 'us%ness "hey ould #ay "a,es h%ch ould hel# "o #ay /o+ern-en" de'"* and ould %-#ro+e local econo-%es( 7e, orkers could ha+e access "o heal"h care* a -ore s"a'le %nco-e* and 'e""er l%+%n/ cond%"%ons( 1y ha+%n/ a heal"h%er* sa$er* and -ore s"a'le l%$es"yle -any se, orkers ould no" $eel "he need "o "urn "o dru/s* and %"h "ha" on on "o# o$ dru/ re/ula"%ons* "he #re+alence o$ dru/s %n "hese co--un%"%es ould /o do n( 5" %s %-#or"an" "ha" e ac" on "h%s no and re$or- our #ros"%"u"%on la s 'ecause %" ould %-#ro+e "he soc%e"y and "he l%+es o$ so -any ho are su$$er%n/ $ro- dru/ add%c"%ons* heal"h #ro'le-s* and +%olence C%ssues "ha" could 'e -uch -ore eas%ly "aken care o$ "hrou/h le/al%.a"%on and re/ula"%on( )h%le "h%s "o#%c -ay see- d%s"an" $or -any* %n "ru"h #ros"%"u"es co-e $ro- all alks o$ l%$e and %" could eas%ly 'e your $r%ends or $a-%ly ho end u# alk%n/ "he s"ree" one day( The 2000 Na"%onal Task 9orce on Pros"%"u"%on es"%-a"ed "ha" o+er " o -%ll%on o-en %n "he 6n%"ed 7"a"es are se, orkers 32ur#hy ??H4( Th%s nu-'er %s s"a//er%n/ es#ec%ally hen you cons%der "ha" %" %s only $or $e-ale #ros"%"u"es( )h%le you -ay "h%nk "ha" #ros"%"u"%on does no" a$$ec" you* all you need do %s look a" "ha" nu-'er and cons%der ha" #ercen" o$ our #o#ula"%on %s -ade u# o$ se, orkers "o see "ha" such a $%/ure ould de$%n%"ely %n$luence our soc%e"y( 5n conclus%on* -ak%n/ #ros"%"u"%on %lle/al does no" el%-%na"e %" $ro- soc%e"y* %" Bus" co-#ounds -any o$ "he %ssues surround%n/ %" and ends u# hur"%n/ "he se, orkers* and "he soc%e"y( 1y le/al%.%n/ #ros"%"u"%on e ould 'e""er 'e a'le "o con"rol dru/ a'use* 7T8s* and +%olence %"h%n #ros"%"u"%on* h%ch %n "urn hel#s "he soc%e"y as a hole( Le/al%.a"%on ould -ake l%$e -uch 'e""er $or "he -%ll%ons

Clark H o$ se, orkers %n our coun"ry h%le %-#ro+%n/ our econo-y* and 'y kee#%n/ %" %lle/al e do -ore har- "han /ood(

Works Cited 1hunu* Cla+er P( and 7"eady 2ushaya'asa( Pros"%"u"%on and 8ru/ 3Alcohol4 2%suse: The 2enac%n/ Co-'%na"%on(& Journal of Biological Systems 20(2 320124: 1-1?( )e'( 16 No+( 2013( 8a""a* 1%shakha and 8%anne Pos"( 7hould Pros"%"u"%on 1e Le/al%.edI& New Internationalist. A#r%l 2013: 20-30( )e'( 16 No+( 2013( G%llard* >anessa( J)orld!s <ldes" Pro$ess%on Goes Le/%"(J The Reflector( 2oun" @oyal 6n%+ers%"y* ? <c"( 2010( )e'( 16 No+( 2013( Lou%e* Chr%s"%ne and John Lo -an( Pu'l%c <#%n%on on Pros"%"u"%on @e$or- %n Canada(&Canadian Journal of Criminology & Criminal Justice. HD(2 320124: 2DH-260( )e' 16 No+( 2013( 2ur#hy* Lyn 7( 6nders"and%n/ "he 7oc%al and Econo-%c Con"e,"s 7urround%n/ )o-en En/a/ed %n 7"ree"-Le+el Pros"%"u"%on(& Mental Health Nursing( 31(12 320104: ??H-?0D( )e'( 16 No+( 2013