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Post by musicalbookworm on Jul 19, 2011 0:56:24 GMT -5
www.newsweek.com/2011/07/17/the-growing-demand-for-prostitution.html#commentsHas anyone read the article yet? Thoughts? This is not the first time I've read the assertion that legalization increases trafficking, but is that a problem of legalization (demand) or lack of regulation? I'm not entirely sure where I stand WRT the legal status of prostitution. I lean towards legalize and regulate the hell out of it, but is that naive? I will say I have a problem right off the bat with Farley equating porn watching with outright buying of sex. I also am disturbed by her dismissal of the experience of women who say sex work can be dealt with in a rational manner.
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Post by Mlle Antéchrist on Jul 19, 2011 1:24:21 GMT -5
I have to wonder if the fact that it's illegal is contributing to the differences in attitudes. Respect for the law or lack thereof could be playing some part here, being that the antisocial elements of society are more inclined to break the law. One also wonders if the way the industry is run (controlled by pimps, drug dealers, etc.) has something to do with it. I'm not prepared to say that the act of exchanging money for sex automatically leads to negative attitudes, at least in and of itself.
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Post by erictheblue on Jul 19, 2011 6:31:18 GMT -5
A friend of mine has worked as an "escort" for about 10 years by choice. She may not be the best example, because she does not have a pimp and the only drugs she uses are tobacco and alcohol.
Her experiences and opinions are only her own. That said, she does not think the work she does is degrading. She provides a service, the same as anyone in a service industry. Men pay for her service.
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Post by lighthorseman on Jul 19, 2011 7:45:29 GMT -5
Second.
While legalisation may, indeed, increase the incidence of use of a product (see alcohol, drugs, etc) if the over all effect is to decrease the HARMFUL effects of something, then sure, legalise that shit up! And since pretty much all the negatives associated with prostitution (at least, all the ones I can think of) are a direct result of its being illegal... well, to me, it seems obvious what the solution is.
Its the same sort of deal as cigarettes, in my mind. Cigarettes are about as addictive as heroin. Yet we don't see smokers breaking into peoples' homes to fund their habit, simply because legalisation and regulation ensures that a "safe" (safe in that you know what you're getting, you don't buy a pack of cigarettes only to find the contents are drain cleaner disguised as cigarettes) relatively cheap, and reliable supply is available. Same way ending liquor prohibition in the US made liquor supply unprofitable for organised crime...
*sigh* it seems a no brainer to me. But the morals police so like to enforce their morality onto others, and try to justify it with "its for your own good" arguments, rather than "I don't like it, so it shouldn't be allowed for anyone" honesty.
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Post by Armand Tanzarian on Jul 19, 2011 9:33:51 GMT -5
I know people who indulge in it, and the last thing I wanna know is what they do when the money is exchanged. My views on prostitution are the same as homosexuality; I don't care if you indulge in it, I support it if you wanna do it and no one gets hurt, just for fuck's sake don't let me think about what happens when shit goes down.
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Post by DeadpanDoubter on Jul 19, 2011 10:05:50 GMT -5
Then please don't discuss shit in the same breath as prostitution.  Legalize it, regulate it, make it safer for all involved. The only arguments I've heard against it are from "moral", religious grounds or the whole "men can't look at women with appreciation without objectifying them!!!" idiocy, so I don't see any good reason why not. Make them use safe sex practices, make pimps/managers accountable for what they have the prostitutes do, and be done with it. |
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Post by Meshakhad on Jul 19, 2011 18:20:12 GMT -5
www.newsweek.com/2011/07/17/the-growing-demand-for-prostitution.html#commentsHas anyone read the article yet? Thoughts? This is not the first time I've read the assertion that legalization increases trafficking, but is that a problem of legalization (demand) or lack of regulation? I'm not entirely sure where I stand WRT the legal status of prostitution. I lean towards legalize and regulate the hell out of it, but is that naive? I will say I have a problem right off the bat with Farley equating porn watching with outright buying of sex. I also am disturbed by her dismissal of the experience of women who say sex work can be dealt with in a rational manner. Legalize it, regulate it, unionize it. Anyone who messes with the sex worker's union gets a free night with the dominatrixes... and no safe words. As for the sex traffickers? Call them what they are - slavers - and exterminate them. No plea deals. No mercy. You sell another human being, you die. |
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Post by Dragon Zachski on Jul 19, 2011 18:40:56 GMT -5
Legalize it, regulate it, unionize it. Anyone who messes with the sex worker's union gets a free night with the dominatrixes... and no safe words. That's actually a fetish. |
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Post by DeadpanDoubter on Jul 19, 2011 19:19:25 GMT -5
Yes, yes it is. :3
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Post by Mlle Antéchrist on Jul 19, 2011 19:22:51 GMT -5
Paging Rat of Steel
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Post by Rat Of Steel on Jul 19, 2011 19:57:10 GMT -5
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Post by sylvana on Jul 20, 2011 2:16:29 GMT -5
Make them use safe sex practices, make pimps/managers accountable for what they have the prostitutes do, and be done with it. I think here lies the primary problem. The regulation of prostitution will be incredibly difficult. Any effective regulation would in effect raise the price of prostitution. This of course means that pimps whoring out illegal immigrants which are basically slaves for far less will always exist. The only real answer is to try and cut out the middle man and make prostitutes government employees working from a hospital just to lower costs and ensure on high health regulations. As long as pimps exist the trafficking business and abuse of prostitutes will continue. The only real way to beat them is to offer services for far less than they can which would probably mean subsidizing prostitution. In short, I dont actually think there is a win situation here. Human trafficking will always continue. Its not like all their salves get sold to the sex work industry. Not to mention many crime lords would by slaves for personal use only. The health issue is far more tricky. In South Africa people here seem to have a chronic aversion to condoms. So the prostitute who does the deed without protection is far more likely to do business than the ones who do. Unfortunately the customers are to blame for this, but one must never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers. I honesty feel that prostitution should be legal and very carefully regulated for everyone's health. However, I am aware that the dark underbelly of society will keep the unsafe and illegal prostitution carrying on like always. |
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Post by Dragon Zachski on Jul 20, 2011 3:10:30 GMT -5
The only real answer is to try and cut out the middle man and make prostitutes government employees working from a hospital just to lower costs and ensure on high health regulations. Okay, I have to admit, I laughed at the mental image this made. "Doctor, I have... fatigue... can I have one of your... special nurses... help me...?" |
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Post by trike on Jul 20, 2011 13:29:17 GMT -5
The way I see it, prostitution and trafficking are two separate things. I support legalizing and regulating prostitution and, on the other hand, destroying trafficking. I think to really do that we'd need to educate those who are going to be buying and those police officers, social workers and others that are going to be on the streets with these men and women. I don't think its too beyond the pale to ask the prospect johns to ask a few questions of the person they buy this service from. Just simple questions like, "What's your name? Do you like what you do? How old are you?" Might go a long way toward identifying an enslaved person. Also, having a hotline or other reporting service that johns and other individuals can call in order to report someone who seems to be underaged, coerced, etc.
Sure, there will always be assholes out there who want to purchase underaged kids but the majority of johns are average, reasonable guys who would probably be all about getting help to those who want out of the sex trade/profession. It would take education and some resources but I think that that might help the problem quite a bit.
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Post by sylvana on Jul 21, 2011 4:14:28 GMT -5
Part of the problem is that most of the women involved in prostitution now are coerced or trafficked into it. I am worried that even if legalized and regulated the traffickers will just organize papers for their prostitutes and things will stay roughly the same. Remember that these women are manipulated and controlled most of the time, and will lie to get their legalization papers if told to do so by their pimps. Not to mention false papers. I dont even want to know how many kids have sex with adults using fake IDs if they even bother with IDs at all.
Probably the most effective way to do the job of stamping out the trafficking is to find a way to empower the people under their control. Somehow make all the threats the traffickers hold over their prostitutes heads become impotent. I will be honest though. I dont know how to do that. Saying a solution is needed is much easier than finding a solution and I dont even know where to begin.
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