The topic is Prostitution - Research Paper Example

?Prostitution-Will Legalization Have A Positive Effect           Prostitution is one of the most ancient occupations in the world. But unfortunately the women who are engaged in this profession have always been treated with great contempt by our society. This is the current scenario all over the world. They are treated like outcasts and very rarely do they get any kind of recognition. Nowadays there are many organizations working on their behalf. The claim that these women are often victims of circumstances and legalizing prostitution will have a beneficial effect has created controversies centering this issue.          A mere act of law will possibly not solve all the problems related to this issue. It might be argued by some people that legalizing prostitution will make it easier to control the dark and corrupt side of this trade. It will give some measure of dignity to the sex workers. It will ensure they get regular health check-ups and they are not left to the mercy of unscrupulous pimps or customers. They shall be better paid and ultimately like any other organized sector they shall get some measure of legal protection. (Hayes-Smith and Shekarkhar, 50) Although this is one way of looking at it there is another viewpoint, which considers prostitution to be a threat to the institution of marriage. According to this group legalizing prostitution will result in the break-up of many marriages, as it will make it easier for spouses to cheat on their partners. One might argue that a faithful spouse shall remain so even if prostitution is legalized. So if in the long run legalizing this trade results in some long-term benefits for the women concerned it should be seriously considered. (Hayes-Smith and Shekarkhar, 53)          It has been discovered that indoor sex workers are less likely to face violence than prostitutes who work on the streets. Surveys conducted in Vancouver, British Columbia have revealed that about 67% of the indoor sex workers had never faced any violence in their profession. This survey concentrated on massage parlors, escort agencies and women who worked as independent sex workers. This was in stark contrast to the violence faced by women who worked on the streets of Vancouver. Here the rate of violence was as high 98% and it is obvious from this survey that indoor sex work is safer than working on the streets. I n the United Kingdom Jeal and Salisbury reported that 79% of their indoor sex workers had never faced violence. Another survey conducted by Sanders and Campbell found that around 76% to 79% of the indoor sex workers had never experienced violence (O’Doherty, 218). So if the Government legalizes prostitution the women will no longer have to work on the streets. They can operate from their own private set-ups without fear of prosecution. This will give them greater autonomy and more litheness. They will no longer be at the mercy of pimps and middlemen.          A lack of awareness and education puts most prostitutes at a disadvantage. As a result of this when they face violence of any kind they are unable to fight for their rights. Moreover there is a feeling among certain sections of the public that anybody engaged in this kind of profession deserve what they get .A prostitute who complains of violence by the customer is therefore not likely to receive much sympathy. Legalization of prostitution will enable women to fight for their rights. It will also protect them from corrupt law-enforcement officials. (O’Doherty, 223-224)             The fact that economic problems might lead to an increase in the level of prostitution is borne out by what we see in Russia today. There has been a rise in the level of prostitution in Russia. Unfortunately little action has been taken by the State to regulate and control this industry. As a result of this venereal diseases and HIV infection has spread rapidly. According to the information of the Ministry of Health of Saratov oblast, in 1996-2003 the number of people infected with AIDS was 5,565.Thus prostitution is having a devastating impact on the health of the population. If the Government legalizes prostitution then the prostitutes will have access to better healthcare facilities. Thus their health and the health of the general public shall be protected. (Alikhadzhieva, 61)                Australia has adopted a different approach to prostitution compared to other countries. In the US and Canada most prostitution remains illegal. The UK has approached the problem of prostitution from a different angle. The British have adopted a welfare strategy and they are trying to exit women from prostitution. In Australia brothels and escort agencies have been legalized in a number of jurisdictions. Besides this street- based sex work has been decriminalized in New South Wales. The Australian approach is similar to the attitude taken by New Zealand and Netherlands. (Sullivan, 85-86)             In Australia it has been seen that licensing the brothels gives the brothel owners a significant power over the women sex workers. Generally brothels owners impose a certain set of conditions on the women who work for them. The women have no control over the hours they have to work, the clothes they have to wear to work and the clients they to serve. If any woman refuses to accept the conditions laid down by the brothel owner she might be subject to sanctions. These sanctions might range from being given fewer clients or having her services terminated without notice. Brothel owners also threaten expulsion if a woman works in another brothel or engages in private work outside the brothel. So in Australia we see that in spite of legalization women are still being exploited. Perhaps the loopholes in the law need to be plugged so that this kind of thing doesn’t happen. (Sullivan, 95)            After the liberation of Paris by the Americans during the Second World War there was an influx of American soldiers into the city. As a result of this the demand for prostitutes rose dramatically leading to a breakdown in the old system and order. Under the old system the prostitutes had operated from Government regulated platforms closes. Here the prostitutes were given regular health check-ups. (Roberts, 100) The American soldiers had money and power. Most French women at that time had no other means of earning a living. Poverty forced them into prostitution. This was the only way in which they could provide for themselves and their families. To the American soldiers Paris symbolized a city where they could get drunk and have fun. To the French women the American soldiers provided a source of income. Although initially a sign of French liberation sex ultimately became a symbol of American power and domination over the French. Thus we see that in times of economic crisis the level of prostitution rises in most countries. If prostitution is legalized perhaps the Government will be able to organize some kind of plan under which during hard times the prostitutes shall be provided with alternate means of employment. (Roberts, 128)            It is not only women who prostitute themselves. There is also a market for male prostitutes. In the early twentieth century male prostitutes who were caught soliciting were treated with contempt and indifference by the society. No effort was made for their rehabilitation and reformation. If legal reforms take place no doubt the problems faced by male prostitutes shall also find a forum. (Romesburg, 374)             In my opinion it might be impossible to eradicate prostitution completely. The basic market economics state that where there is a demand there shall be a supply. While it is true that some women are forced into prostitution due to poverty others come into this line willingly as they find it an easy way to earn money. Without any kind of regulation unscrupulous men often exploit women and they are sometimes subjected to violence. If prostitution has to be tolerated as a necessary evil than we should bring it under the protective umbrella of some kind of legal act or regulation. This will ensure a certain amount of dignity to the women engaged in this line. It will also provide them with legal protection and ensure they get paid for their services.              Ultimately it is the mind-set of the society, which needs to be changed. Prostitution ultimately degrades both parties, the buyer who is purchasing temporary gratification for money and the seller who is selling his or her body. In the ideal society every human being should be treated with respect. If that is our aim then we still have a long way to go. References Alikhadzhieva, Inna Salamovna, “Public Opinion About Prostitution and Measures to Prevent It” Russian Social Science Review, May–June 2010, 51. 3, 60–68  Louise Roberts, Mary, “The Silver Foxhole: The GI’s and Prostitution in Paris, 1944-1945”, French Historical Studies”, (2010), 33.1, 99-128 Hayes-Smith, Rebecca and Shekarkhan, Zahra   “Why is prostitution criminalized? An alternative viewpoint on the construction of sex work” Contemporary Justice Review , March 2010, 13.1, 43-55  O’Doherty, Tamara, “Criminalization and Off-Street Sex Work in Canada”, Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice, (2011) 53.2, 217-245.  Romesburg, Don, "Wouldn't a Boy Do" Placing Early-Twentieth-Century Male Youth Sex Work into Histories of Sexuality”, J. History Sex, 18.3, 367-392 Sullivan, Barbara, “When (Some) Prostitution Is Legal: The Impact Of Law Reform On Sex Work In Australia”, JOURNAL OF LAW AND SOCIETY , (MARCH 2010), 37.1, 85-104  Read More