The Legalization of Prostitution

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the need for the decriminalization or legalization of prostitution in the United States for the benefit of both sex workers and average citizens. It provides an analysis of legal prostitution as compared to illegal prostitution and the concept of privacy rights in regards to the sale of one's own body. It also discusses the impact of religion on the legislative process.

From the Paper:

"The issue of prostitution in the United States is one that has been constantly debated throughout the years. Those who wish prostitution to remain illegal claim that prostitution is harmful to society both morally and physically. Supporters of decriminalization and legalization, on the other hand, feel that prostitution is a harmless private act or a "victimless crime." While matters of sexuality will always be debated and are deep personal choices of all individuals, the benefits of doing away with the archaic prohibition of "the world's oldest profession" are clear. When one analyzes the issue from a moral standpoint, the argument comes down to the common goal of any system of ethics, which is a society in which individuals do the greatest good for themselves and others in any manner of their choosing so long as they do not harm any others. One must ask then, which system provides the greatest good while doing the least harm? The system of prohibition in which a holier-than-thou attitude creates second-class citizens, ignores the problems of prostitution altogether (until said problems affect "normal" citizens), and denies individuals a way to earn a living, or the system of legalization which gives dignity to sex workers, gives them freedom and resources to practice their business in the safest and healthiest ways possible, and participate in a tradition that has been practiced in private since the earliest times of civilization? Clearly, the legalization of prostitution would be an action of great moral value in that it would provide sex workers with the freedom to control their own bodies, achieve legal equality with the rest of society, access healthcare and legal services as a normal American citizen, and receive the same acceptance of any other human being in functioning society."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Davidson, Julia O'Connell. Prostitution, Power and Freedom. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1998.
• Fairstein, Linda. Sexual Violence: Our War Against Rape. New York: William Morrow, 1993.
• "Prostitution in the United States - The Statistics." Bayswan Website. 2006. 6 June 2006. <http://www.bayswan.org/stats.html>.
• "San Jose." Answers.com. 2006. 6 June 2006. <http://www.answers.com/topic/san-jos-costa-rica>.
• "Sodomy Laws in the United States." Sodomy Laws. 1 April 2006. 8 July 2006. <http://www.sodomylaws.org/usa/usa.htm>.

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