Abstract This paper reviews the process of legalizing prostitution in the Netherlands. It looks at the history of prostitution in the region, tracing the views of the prohibitionists and the abolitionists, citing the Dutch Morality Act and the Dutch Brothel Act of 1911 and following the development of the regulation of the trade through to the modern day.
From the Paper "The history of the Netherlands and the mentality shared by both the government and the citizens is a major aspect of the country's legalization of prostitution. For centuries, Rotterdam, was known as one of the most prominent European ports. With thousands of sailors passing through the Dutch city, the existence of prostitution in the area was uncontrollable. Unlike many countries during the same time, the Dutch government chose to stay out of the sex lives of their citizens and therefore prostitution seemed to exist in a grey area of Dutch society. The open tolerance of prostitution continued until the religious Calvinist revolution in the early 1900?s. This religious upheaval created open debates on the effect of prostitution on the moral standards of society. Two schools of thought emerged in the debate, the prohibitionists and the abolitionists."
This paper examines the magnitude of the growing global sex trade problem, in which more than one million children under the age of 16 are reported to be working as child prostitutes in brothels throughout Asia alone.
Abstract The writer of this paper analyzes the growing problem of the sex trade industry in America as well as around the world. This paper details the sex trade problem in Asia in which over one million girls are reported to be working working as child prostitutes in brothels. The problem, however, is not confined to Asia alone but is manifested in a flourishing global sex trade or trafficking of children from one country to another and within national borders for the purposes of sexual exploitation. This paper discusses the illegal activity that takes place by international crime rings taking women and children captive with the aim of selling them as sex slaves. The writer also discusses the large amounts of money that are generated in the illegal sex trade industry. The trafficking of humans has grown so large in proportion that it is projected to be the world's most lucrative illegal activity with profits topping $7 billion annually. This paper delves into the criminal nature of the global sex trade in children that is further accentuated by the fact that most of these children are from underdeveloped countries and/or the poorer sections of society.
From the Paper "Girl children are particularly vulnerable because they are forced to have repeated sex before their bodies have been prepared for it by nature. This results in physiological problems such as the tearing of flesh, which then becomes a breeding ground for sexually transmitted diseases. These unfortunate children are also exposed to the danger of AIDS that may end up endangering their very lives. Indeed, as Poulin and O'Grady point out, HIV is rampant among prostitutes all over the world. The female gender, as already observed, is particularly vulnerable, and this vulnerability only increases considering that, the global sex trade is more skewed towards the abducting of women. So much so, that Poulin terms it as feminization of migration, although he uses the term to signify the illegal trafficking of women for purposes of labor and sexual exploitation."
Abstract This paper discusses the ways that artistic activism portrays Korean girls who were sent to serve military brothels of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) throughout occupied Asia, during World War II. It discusses how, together with international law, litigation and documentation, artistic activism has attempted to draw more supporters to the comfort women's cause.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Artistic Activism
Exhibits in North America
Concluding Discussion
From the Paper "Far work continues to be promised in the future, as more women and other artists take up the cause of the comfort women, making use of their testimony collected in several countries and what are said to be numerous surviving photographs taken shortly after the end of the War or at different times in the surviving comfort women's futures. For viewers not at all interested in imperial Japan's atrocities in Asia or the comfort women in particular, each work discussed in this paper, nonetheless, succeeds in a kind of informal reminder that what we see in the exterior or a person, or in perceptible emotions, can tell very little indeed as to a person's precise life experience. Of the third or so of comfort women to survive their existences of being military prostitutes, each had an horrendous story of devaluation, violence and injuries of all kinds."
Abstract This paper discusses the potential benefits to the United States that would come with the decriminalization of prostitution. It describes the potential profits from taxes and commerce that would be created by brothels and how the streets would be rid of crime and raise the property values of surrounding areas. The paper also suggests that the regulation of prostitution by the government would lower the infection rate of sex workers by testing for diseases and prohibiting the use of drugs.
From the Paper "Removing prostitutes from the street and placing them in brothels will remove an element of crime that ranges from petty theft to capital murder. Many prostitutes are drug addicts that attract a criminal element that lowers the property value of an area. The first female serial killer to be executed, Aileen 'Lee' Carol Wuornos, was a drug addicted prostitute. Street prostitution causes gentrification in the area that these prostitutes begin to operate, by bringing not only the crimes committed by the prostitutes but by the criminal element that tends to operate in the same area. Placing brothels in these areas with an increased police presence funded by the revenues attained by the brothel would raise property values in an otherwise condemned area and increase the safety for those too porr to move out of the area. The decrease of customers and increase of police presence would also remove the drugs from the area and the criminal element that is so often associated with the use of drugs. The decrease of drug use in these areas would create a decrease in profits for drug smugglers and force these criminals to seek out new markets."
Abstract The paper shows how prostitution has existed for as long as history has been recorded and beyond. It defines the term prostitution and shows its history from the time of the Bible through the Middle Ages and finally the history of prostitution in the United States. The paper also examines prostitution in America today.
From the Paper "During the 1800s, America was expanding. Men were often alone on the frontier for months to even years at a time. When women finally arrived, many of them were part of a family, but many more came seeing an opportunity. Prostitution now spanned three major subcultures. Women in it strictly for the money made up five to ten percent of the first subculture. The second subculture was male; 'sporting males' were encouraged to hire prostitutes. The third subculture was organized brothels. Men could find hundreds of brothels in St. Louis, Philadelphia, and Chicago, and as the Westward Expansion carried people further west, you could find them in all the "rip-roaring" mining towns of the west too, like San Francisco, Denver, Virginia City, and Sacramento."
Major works, themes & styles of Judith Leyster, Lucas van Leyden, Quentin Metsys & others, focusing on moralistic depictions of brothels & prostitution.
2,250 words (approx. 9 pages), 8 sources, 1996, $ 79.95
From the Paper "The Baroque era in art was a manifestation of seventeenth-century life. It was expressed in different ways in different regions. The Baroque was the child of the Renaissance and was in part the result of a religious crisis brought about by the Renaissance emphasis on beauty and humanity:
It did not raise hopes of eternity nor promise everlasting glory to the poor to compensate for their earthly lot. The limitation of its message partly explains why the religious crisis came to a head, leading both to the birth of Protestantism and to the efforts of the Catholic Church to reorganize itself as the Council of Trent. Baroque. . . became the interpreter of the Catholic Church. . ."
Abstract The paper examines how, from prehistoric times until today, prostitution has evolved considerably. Legally, socially, financially and practically, it is a professional dynamic that has responded to the predominant pressures of the day. The paper offers a history of prostitution, particularly taking into consideration issues relating to regulation and legalization.
From the Paper "Reproductively, men are more likely to perpetuate their gene pool if they impregnate as many women as possible. Hence the innate desire for casual sex. Conversely, women do not stand to benefit from casual sex with multiple partners because of limited supply of eggs, and the fact that with a nine month gestation, women can bear only one child a year.
Nevertheless, if reproduction is not the primary consideration, women can be moved to share their bodies in exchange for material considerations. And under these circumstances, these women are known as prostitutes. Prostitution can be linked to religious beliefs, family survival, and patriarchal authority. But the principal motivator for prostitutes throughout history was to find independence through the security of income (Guy, 184)."
Abstract This paper puts forward the argument that prostitution should be legalized. It examines how up until now, banning prostitution has not only failed to eradicate the trade, but has transformed the trade into a seedy world of criminals, pimps, and disease-ridden prostitutes contributing to the health risks of society. It looks at the advantages of its legalization such as the savings by the government of a tremendous amount of time and money in their attempts to enforce prostitution laws which could be diverted to more serious crimes, such as homicides and how in a regulated setting, the government can also benefit from the taxes it collects from the prostitutes and the brothels. Most importantly, it brings the trade of the prostitution into the open, freeing it from the domination of criminals who govern the underground world.
From the Paper "Legalization of the prostitution industry will give the authority the upper hand to regulate it, thus issuing brothels licenses and guidelines, while eliminating undesirable elements. By implementing these laws, the government will be protecting the well-being of prostitutes, customers and society. Holland provides a good example with the legalisation of its prostitution industry. Under the regulations erected for this industry, licenses are issued to brothel owners who have registered their workers and complied with strict safety standards. The brothel owners are subjected to police screening, Those who employ under-age prostitutes or illegal immigrants risk being arrested by the authorities (Sissons, 1999, p. 27)."
Abstract This paper traces the history of prostitution from ancient Greece until modern day Asia. It links child abuse to the prostitution of young women and shows the role of the media in this phenomena.
Outline
Introduction
Prostitution Through the Ages
Prostitution in the Byzantine Holy Land
Prostitution in the Middle Ages
Prostitution in the 19th Century
Child Prostitution in the United States in the Twentieth Century
What is Paedophilia and How is it related to Child Abuse
Why Do Pedophiles Flock To Asia?
The Media and Child Prostitution
Girls of the Night
Conclusion
Bibliography and References
From the Paper "From those early references we can believe that societies beliefs about the rights of children were considerably different than our own. In fact, the only children that were held in any regard were the legal sons of citizens and aristocrats. Free men living at the brink of poverty often sold their excess children in prostitution. In Ancient Greece, excess female babies were abandoned and then usually collected by prostitutes and pimps so they could be trained into the life as early as possible."
Abstract This paper is an argumentative discussion of sex tourism. It discusses the sources of demand that drive it and the government inactivity that permits it to thrive. The paper examines the problem of the sex tourism business targeting women and children in the poorest countries.
From the Paper "A working definition of sex tourism is tourism partially or fully for the purpose of having sex often with prostitutes. According to Jo Sargent writing for Geographical child sex tourism is a deeply uncomfortable subject. Many people are unaware of how widespread this practice is in many parts of the world and especially in the third world. However there are many people who are well aware of the problem and choose to ignore it. There are also many international travelers who are unsure of ..."
Tags: sex, child sex, sex trafficking, slavery, brothel, indifference, demand and supply, third world, hard currency, pedophile, sex tourism, sexcapades
Abstract This paper discusses the sex trade in Jamaica and compares it to Cuba. It describes the history of the trade and the factors that influence it. The paper examines the socioeconomic factors that contribute to the trade, as well as the rise of men in the trade of prostitution. It also look into the participation of tourists in the demand for this service. Finally, the paper researches the conditions in which the women work and live, which women work within the strip clubs and brothels, the accompanying use of drugs, their health-care (specifically as to HIV and STD testing) and their chances of being arrested for their work choice.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Research Questions
Background
Literature Review
Conclusion
From the Paper "The work of Kempadoo (2004) strives toward illumination of the inner working of the sex trade in the Caribbean as related to gender, sexuality, race and work and the economics of the sex industry. According to Kempadoo (2004) generally prostitution is viewed as violence toward women however Kempadoo challenges this accepted view holding that sex for money can be oppressive but in the lives of the women in the Caribbean it may also be a provider of a form of freedom. In the work "Global Sex Workers" the various authors use the term 'sex workers' very deliberately. The view held is that criminalization of prostitution is that it results in hurting the workers themselves instead of protecting them. The authors look at prostitution from an angle that looks at the deeper morals that exist within the inner-workings of the economics of prostitution and introduces the reader to the voice of the sex workers themselves. This work provides a candid view in the reality of prostitution in the Caribbean."
Abstract This paper discusses the positive effects that legalization of prostitution would have not only on the people involved in this industry, but on society as a whole. The writer discusses a recent study that focuses chiefly upon the impact of legalized brothels in Nevada. The writer further explains how, based on this study, legalization will reduce the spread of sexually-transmitted disease, cut down on violence against sex-trade workers, and discourage the upsetting of public order. The writer concludes that while there is an understandable public aversion to legalizing prostitution, the benefits to women engaged in this industry makes legalization something law-makers should seriously consider.
From the Paper "One of the first things which becomes apparent with regards to the legalization of prostitution is that several of the rationales which have historically been brought forward in defense of keeping it illegal - reducing the threat of sexually-transmitted diseases, discouraging "violence" against community order, and thwarting inter-personal violence against women who happen to be sex-trade workers - are actually better-served by legalization. For example, a recent study - focusing chiefly upon the impact of legalized brothels in Nevada - reveals that a compelling case can be put forward that legalization of prostitution brings with it a level of public scrutiny and observation, a measure of official regulation, and sufficient "bureaucratization" that the forms of violence detailed above are actually reduced (Brents, 270 and 280-295)."
Tags: sexually-transmitted, disease, sex, workers, violence, women
Abstract This paper discusses how the decriminalization of prostitution in Toronto may be advantageous for sex workers. It states that although women are supposedly equal in Canada, somehow thousands of Canadian women still end up in sex work - a line of work in which they are at risk of violence, diseases and death. The paper argues that laws meant to protect society actually victimize people who are already at the bottom rung of society - marginalized, poor women - as well as a smaller group of male and transsexual prostitutes, and even some children. Law enforcers and the public frequently launch campaigns aimed at removing sex workers altogether - such as closing brothels and massage parlors. This does not remove sex workers - it merely makes them less safe. The paper concludes that protecting the rights of sex workers and decriminalizing prostitution will help to protect their safety and welfare.
From the Paper "The lives of sex workers are fraught with risks and threats. For example, by the very nature of their work, they are at risk of contracting a range of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, which is usually terminal. One might argue that sex workers should protect themselves by practicing safe sex. However, the reality is that these people are in a very disempowered position in society, and consequently, they are very often not in a position to insist on safe sex practices. A key part of their disempowerment is that they have little recourse to the law. In other words, if they are forced to have unsafe sex, they do not feel safe in laying a charge with the police. This is because their line of work is circumscribed by laws that aim to end prostitution, and therefore they do not feel safe phoning the police. Thus, one of the key reasons why the legal system pertaining to sex work should be changed is that this would facilitate equal rights to police protection for sex workers - who desperately need such protection."
Tags: sex workers, crime legal legalization prostitute prejudice victimization violence
Abstract The essay discusses the themes related to men and women in Feng Meng-long's "Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger", a short story typical of vernacular courtesan romances popular with the 16th century shift towards a business culture prevalent through the Ming Dynasty. Specifically, the author analyzes the relationships between the character of Master Li with his father and with his lover Du Tenth.
Outline:
Introduction
The Economics of Brothels Male Weakness as Unfeeling Behaviour
Last Remarks
From the Paper "As a member of Li Zhi's school of writing which stressed human sentiment and behaviour, Feng stressed to the reader how Master Li had acted out of cowardice, thinking that the sale of Du Tenth would permit resolution in the future, that he could return to his family and later have Du Tenth. She is having no part of it, of course, having seen immediately what Sun had placed in Li's mind and how easily he had gone ahead with what seemed a solution. At once, the reader understands that her sentiment has been genuine along with her words, and also, that she is shrewd and when revealing the wealth she had amassed to give to her husband, that she is far better as business woman and person able to manage in the world. For Feng, men are cowardly when ignoring women's feelings, and easily manipulated, or opportunists in the manner of Sun who almost managed to get hold of Du Tenth. Unsurprisingly, in the romantic scheme of things, it is Du Tenth the whore who proves to have nobler sentiment, as well as intelligence. Feng summarized that 'Sun Fu, who thought nothing of throwing away a thousand taels in a plot to steal away a lovely woman, was certainly no gentleman, while Li Jia, who failed to recognize Du Tenth's sincere devotion, was a vulgar person not even worth talking about.' (p.855)
"The crowd wondered why she had not found a mate that suited her beauty and devotion, the whole story most pitiful in that she has suffered for her honesty, risked leaving the brothel behind, believing that she had found her future with Master Li who seems not to appreciate, at all, the radical step that she has taken, placing herself on the winds of fate, willing to go anywhere and face any consequences with the man she loves."
Tags: gender courtesan, human sentiment, china themes morality
Abstract This paper discusses the most extreme form of child sexual abuse, child prostitution. The author provides statistics on child prostitutes in various countries around the world and discusses the possible reasons that might result in a child turning to prostitution. The paper sees child prostitution as part of a larger social problem, which is the inability to take care of and provide for children. The author also discusses problems and hardships such as the spread of diseases and physical abuse faced by children in this trade.
From the Paper "Child sexual abuse is a serious concern, but most people who think about it think only of parents or relatively molesting children, or a child being kidnapped and molested here in the United States. These are terrible things to have happen to children, but there are worse problems, and one of them is an extreme form of child abuse - child prostitution. While child prostitution is not something Americans hear about very often, it is a crime, a tragedy, and a serious problem; especially in other countries that do not have the same beliefs that most Americans do. Child prostitution can involve anyone under the age of 18, but most child prostitutes are much younger. Some are as young as 7 and 8 years old."
Tags: sexual exploitation, venereal diseases, brothels crime AIDS