Should the sale and use of prostitues be legalized?
- Thread starter hello there
- Start date
Hey Jack,
Today I am a bored government worker, the next day I am in Asia . . . 2 hours later I will be in the Dominican Republic.
Anon proxy servers are great, so don't count too hard on that IP address trace route.
Good Luck Today
Today I am a bored government worker, the next day I am in Asia . . . 2 hours later I will be in the Dominican Republic.
Anon proxy servers are great, so don't count too hard on that IP address trace route.
Good Luck Today
Hipocrisy on prostitution & alcohol...
I can see there is no one on this board, if they read my explanations on page 2 of this thread, can challenge or rebutt my arguements, without them sounding like a hipocrite.
You guys who feel prostitution should be illegal, but don't think alcohol should be because you actually think drinking potentially causes less damage to our society are in denial. You know, we've seen it over and over and over, every year, alcohol causes lots of damage to families and causes tons of deaths per year, but no way you guys are going to say you want to outlaw drinking because YOU GUYS DRINK IT, AND YOU LIKE IT without the guilt or without risk of being caught and labelled a deviant pervert, unlike trying to buy a hooker.
Hey, how many of us might see a hot whore, and our primal male urges in us is thinking, "hhhmm, I want to have that." But the morality and guilt comes into play, plus the ego in us says, "Hell, I shouldn't have to pay for it." So we just drive by and try to focus our minds on something else, but still, don't lie, YOU WANTED IT. HOwever, with drinking, we want that too, but the difference that makes you guys go against prostitution, but at the same time say alcohol use is fine, is because with alcohol, YOU CAN HAVE IT WITHOUT any or nearly as much of our morals or guilt or our egos getting in the way of it and at the same time we can have a good time by yourself or with friends drinking it. In otherwords.....IT'S SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE. That is why and you know it. Even though you might feel like a hipocrite, atleast have the balls to be honest about it.....and just admit it.
I can see there is no one on this board, if they read my explanations on page 2 of this thread, can challenge or rebutt my arguements, without them sounding like a hipocrite.
You guys who feel prostitution should be illegal, but don't think alcohol should be because you actually think drinking potentially causes less damage to our society are in denial. You know, we've seen it over and over and over, every year, alcohol causes lots of damage to families and causes tons of deaths per year, but no way you guys are going to say you want to outlaw drinking because YOU GUYS DRINK IT, AND YOU LIKE IT without the guilt or without risk of being caught and labelled a deviant pervert, unlike trying to buy a hooker.
Hey, how many of us might see a hot whore, and our primal male urges in us is thinking, "hhhmm, I want to have that." But the morality and guilt comes into play, plus the ego in us says, "Hell, I shouldn't have to pay for it." So we just drive by and try to focus our minds on something else, but still, don't lie, YOU WANTED IT. HOwever, with drinking, we want that too, but the difference that makes you guys go against prostitution, but at the same time say alcohol use is fine, is because with alcohol, YOU CAN HAVE IT WITHOUT any or nearly as much of our morals or guilt or our egos getting in the way of it and at the same time we can have a good time by yourself or with friends drinking it. In otherwords.....IT'S SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE. That is why and you know it. Even though you might feel like a hipocrite, atleast have the balls to be honest about it.....and just admit it.
hello there....anyone home????
hello there....anyone home????
comparing apples and oranges in pretty dang stupid and a waste
of time.....something you seem to have plenty of......I sense you
are so adament about this prostitution issue because wacking
off in front of your screen is getting old but the price of pussy is
to high.....so you think you can come on here at mj's and petition
the world to legalize it and therefore bring down the price where
you can possibly afford a piece of ass once a blue moon.......
........GOOD LUCK...........
hello there....anyone home????
comparing apples and oranges in pretty dang stupid and a waste
of time.....something you seem to have plenty of......I sense you
are so adament about this prostitution issue because wacking
off in front of your screen is getting old but the price of pussy is
to high.....so you think you can come on here at mj's and petition
the world to legalize it and therefore bring down the price where
you can possibly afford a piece of ass once a blue moon.......
........GOOD LUCK...........
OH Billy you are a nasty boy talking like that. Do you think HT is out looken for some hot taff. Nobody don't need to pay for it. It's free any place if you just want to work 20 minuets to get some. Hell ban it all drinking, screwing. I could give a rats ass. We all will do what we want, just like we do to day. They will just have to call everyone a law breaker. But pay for some nookie. No way.
No Way man it's free always has been. Well until you get maried. Now your talking expensive.
No Way man it's free always has been. Well until you get maried. Now your talking expensive.
djv said:
...i agree. Billy, you nasty. LOL
...but i agree that comparing the two are like apples and oranges. djv said:
...20 minutes? :shrug: ...i need to know exactly where these girls fall on the beer scale.
djv said:
...i agree totally. we all do whatever we want now anyway. let the innocent amongst us cast the first stone.
djv said:But pay for some nookie. No way. No Way man it's free always has been. Well until you get maried. Now your talking expensive.
WRONG!!! :nono: ...we've ALWAYS paid for it, and we ALWAYS will.... marriage, dating, drinks, gifts, flowers, dinner.... the list goes on and on....and on. it's all a huge scam, and if it weren't for the nooky.........it wouldn't even work.
:director: ...but it does. and it works pretty well.
20 minutes.....????
BRO (DJV)!!! You're working TOO hard....
10 minutes FLAT (MAX) in certain areas up here in T.O at a "certain" university residence.....
TIME TO MAKE $$$, let's try and beat the ten minute record this Thursday up at YORK UNIVERSITY!!!!!
about time i went back and said hi to my grad friends...
BTW: great discussion GUYZ.
Personally, i agree, plenty of poontang out there....no need to pay for it...
:toast:
I have been following this thread for some time, and I hope we can all just agree to disagree on this matter. I just hope the lawmakers see it from my side, and make it OK for me to spend my money any way I want. Did yall know that 75% of all pros. do it for the money. What makes them different is what they do. See ya at the corner.
Kind of getting out of hand
Kind of getting out of hand
Okay, let me interject one last time before I'm finished with this thread. It appears that everyone that has formed an opinion about this thread and is stuck to it and there is no room for persuasion to the other side. Everyone is dead firm and is too much of a zealot towards their ideals. It just seems that this thread is going in circles. There can be a million posts back and forth and nothing will change.
freeze,
I truly respect you for you sticking to your guns though our views will always conflict. And I also apologize for reading in too much about the "raising my daughter" issue. I wish you the best in the handicapping forum and with you furthering your education.
heater,
I think you got the bad end of the deal by posting that article. I also think you were labeled and judged before anyone could find out about you. I really enjoyed reading your responses. I think by the way you replied to others that you are a very intelligent person (I had to pull out the thesaurus a couple of times). I too wish you the best of luck in the forums.
hello there,
I am on your side and totally agree with your thread. To me, prostitution, the legalization of it, and it's acceptance is purely cultural. I think you've made some very valid points and I agree everyone has some form of hipocracy about them. Good luck.
Kind of getting out of hand
Okay, let me interject one last time before I'm finished with this thread. It appears that everyone that has formed an opinion about this thread and is stuck to it and there is no room for persuasion to the other side. Everyone is dead firm and is too much of a zealot towards their ideals. It just seems that this thread is going in circles. There can be a million posts back and forth and nothing will change.
freeze,
I truly respect you for you sticking to your guns though our views will always conflict. And I also apologize for reading in too much about the "raising my daughter" issue. I wish you the best in the handicapping forum and with you furthering your education.
heater,
I think you got the bad end of the deal by posting that article. I also think you were labeled and judged before anyone could find out about you. I really enjoyed reading your responses. I think by the way you replied to others that you are a very intelligent person (I had to pull out the thesaurus a couple of times). I too wish you the best of luck in the forums.
hello there,
I am on your side and totally agree with your thread. To me, prostitution, the legalization of it, and it's acceptance is purely cultural. I think you've made some very valid points and I agree everyone has some form of hipocracy about them. Good luck.
Hey this was just getting good! I was just about to throw my .02 in and damn Somebody goes and cuts off the converstaion! Well Damn it! I'm taking my ball and going home!
In major cities around the world, both time and money are being wasted in the fight against prostitution. Not only are politicians constantly devising new methods of eliminating the prostitutes, but also the mayors of these cities are continuously squandering precious amounts of money in trying to rid the streets of prostitutes. What the politicians do not realize however is that no matter how hard they try, they will never fully eradicate prostitution. Sex is essential to the human being; if one is willing to pay for it, someone else will always be willing to perform it. Moreover, if sex is legal, and paying for services is also legal, then why shouldn?t paid sex be legal? In Amsterdam, Holland, prostitution has been legalized. Not only does this allow the city to focus on more important issues as homelessness and criminal activity, it also brings in a large profit from the tourists who come to Amsterdam for the sex.
There are those who claim that establishing brothels in a city will lower the market values of neighboring residential properties. They further maintain that these lower value properties will attract the attention of lower-income people, thereby bringing in the ?wrong? types of people to live in the neighborhood. These ?wrong? types of people would hurt the economy, because they would be relying on the government for welfare. However, a map of Amsterdam shows that in the red-light district (area set aside for prostitution), only 9-13% of the population were unemployed as of January 1, 1999. Moreover, a corresponding map shows that there were at least 750 jobs per 1000 inhabitants in that same area as of January 1, 1998. This number of available jobs was far higher than the amount available in any other district in the city. Because of the popularity of the sex industry, the houses of prostitution charge high rates. Thus, the area outside the red light district would not bring in low-income people, but would instead attract the higher income people to live there, which would help the economy.
Opponents of the legalization of prostitution assert that prostitution may be eliminated through the use of 12-step programs for johns and prostitutes. These programs supposedly teach these ?miscreants? about the evils of prostitution, and would slowly back them away from it. They further maintain that if they continually use the police force to push prostitutes off the streets, the prostitutes would eventually become discouraged, and not return to the streets. However, there is not one city in the world that has successfully eliminated prostitution. Moreover, when one craves sex, one will not take ?no? for an answer, even after one has been taught the evils of commercial sex. As the world?s oldest profession, prostitution, like a faithful dog, will not leave its owner?s side. The owners will continue to call on it even if it is made illegal. In trying to vacuum the streets of prostitutes, the government would just waste increasing amounts money and time into more police officers. In fact, the average arrest, court, and incarceration costs amount to approximately $2,000.00 per arrest. Moreover, cities spend an average 7.5 million dollars a year on prostitution control . By legalizing prostitution, as in Amsterdam, the government could not only save itself 7.5 million dollars a year, but could make a profit off prostitution. In fact, in Amsterdam, the average prostitute charges $50 for a fifteen-minute encounter . If this prostitute had 7 customers a day, and worked 365 days a year, this government could make a quite a handsome profit through her income taxes. Furthermore, with over 5000 prostitutes working legally, this government has turned what could have been a huge loss into gigantic gain. However if the government really does wish to curb the spreading of prostitution, it could tax the brothels heavily and raise their licensing fees. In this way, if people still wish to open up brothels, they will have to pay a lot. But if this fails to curb the opening of brothels, the government will only benefit more financially, and not waste money on useless enforcements.
Some people may argue that the legalization of prostitution may encourage more women to start selling themselves for sex, as it is an ?easy? profession that requires absolutely no training or education. Because of the ease of such an occupation, and because of its legality, these people further assert that this would encourage youngsters to start prostituting themselves. However, only the poorest and least-educated women will start doing so out of the lack of money or opportunity to do otherwise. Any women with a decent job will not leave it to become a prostitute. As of now, because prostitution is illegal, many homeless women take up prostitution as their occupation, as they have no other choice to earn money. If they did not do so, they would end up dying on the streets of starvation. However, this situation wastes the government?s money, as these prostitutes would most likely end up in prison. At a cost of $2000 per arrest, as more and more women start prostituting themselves, the amount of money wasted would speedily increase. If prostitution were legal, as in Amsterdam, all these homeless women would not only be able to avoid incarceration, but would have jobs, and be off the streets. With a homeless population of around 4000 people out of a population of 727,095, Amsterdam?s prostitution trade is a success . Thus, the legalization of prostitution would create jobs and help lower the number of homeless people.
If prostitution were legalized all around the world, the prostitute would be accepted as an integral and important part of all wage earners of the world. Other wage earners would rely on her for sexual gratification, helping to relieve their tension, and thus improving their abilities to perform their jobs. Meanwhile, the prostitute is able to deliver without fear of being arrested. Thus, the relationship between the worker and sex worker is beneficial for both parties. Whereas now, the worker would be considered a ?john? participating in illegal activities, and the prostitute would be breaking the law, with the legalization of prostitution, both both would be legal.
Prostitution is a complex issue. Those who advocate against prostitution do so saying it brings the criminal element and on moral issues. If we regulate and create areas for prostitution we as tax payer can not only save money but also make it in tax revenue money. It also gets rid of the criminal element as done in Amsterdam, Hamburg and Nevada.
My .02
There are those who claim that establishing brothels in a city will lower the market values of neighboring residential properties. They further maintain that these lower value properties will attract the attention of lower-income people, thereby bringing in the ?wrong? types of people to live in the neighborhood. These ?wrong? types of people would hurt the economy, because they would be relying on the government for welfare. However, a map of Amsterdam shows that in the red-light district (area set aside for prostitution), only 9-13% of the population were unemployed as of January 1, 1999. Moreover, a corresponding map shows that there were at least 750 jobs per 1000 inhabitants in that same area as of January 1, 1998. This number of available jobs was far higher than the amount available in any other district in the city. Because of the popularity of the sex industry, the houses of prostitution charge high rates. Thus, the area outside the red light district would not bring in low-income people, but would instead attract the higher income people to live there, which would help the economy.
Opponents of the legalization of prostitution assert that prostitution may be eliminated through the use of 12-step programs for johns and prostitutes. These programs supposedly teach these ?miscreants? about the evils of prostitution, and would slowly back them away from it. They further maintain that if they continually use the police force to push prostitutes off the streets, the prostitutes would eventually become discouraged, and not return to the streets. However, there is not one city in the world that has successfully eliminated prostitution. Moreover, when one craves sex, one will not take ?no? for an answer, even after one has been taught the evils of commercial sex. As the world?s oldest profession, prostitution, like a faithful dog, will not leave its owner?s side. The owners will continue to call on it even if it is made illegal. In trying to vacuum the streets of prostitutes, the government would just waste increasing amounts money and time into more police officers. In fact, the average arrest, court, and incarceration costs amount to approximately $2,000.00 per arrest. Moreover, cities spend an average 7.5 million dollars a year on prostitution control . By legalizing prostitution, as in Amsterdam, the government could not only save itself 7.5 million dollars a year, but could make a profit off prostitution. In fact, in Amsterdam, the average prostitute charges $50 for a fifteen-minute encounter . If this prostitute had 7 customers a day, and worked 365 days a year, this government could make a quite a handsome profit through her income taxes. Furthermore, with over 5000 prostitutes working legally, this government has turned what could have been a huge loss into gigantic gain. However if the government really does wish to curb the spreading of prostitution, it could tax the brothels heavily and raise their licensing fees. In this way, if people still wish to open up brothels, they will have to pay a lot. But if this fails to curb the opening of brothels, the government will only benefit more financially, and not waste money on useless enforcements.
Some people may argue that the legalization of prostitution may encourage more women to start selling themselves for sex, as it is an ?easy? profession that requires absolutely no training or education. Because of the ease of such an occupation, and because of its legality, these people further assert that this would encourage youngsters to start prostituting themselves. However, only the poorest and least-educated women will start doing so out of the lack of money or opportunity to do otherwise. Any women with a decent job will not leave it to become a prostitute. As of now, because prostitution is illegal, many homeless women take up prostitution as their occupation, as they have no other choice to earn money. If they did not do so, they would end up dying on the streets of starvation. However, this situation wastes the government?s money, as these prostitutes would most likely end up in prison. At a cost of $2000 per arrest, as more and more women start prostituting themselves, the amount of money wasted would speedily increase. If prostitution were legal, as in Amsterdam, all these homeless women would not only be able to avoid incarceration, but would have jobs, and be off the streets. With a homeless population of around 4000 people out of a population of 727,095, Amsterdam?s prostitution trade is a success . Thus, the legalization of prostitution would create jobs and help lower the number of homeless people.
If prostitution were legalized all around the world, the prostitute would be accepted as an integral and important part of all wage earners of the world. Other wage earners would rely on her for sexual gratification, helping to relieve their tension, and thus improving their abilities to perform their jobs. Meanwhile, the prostitute is able to deliver without fear of being arrested. Thus, the relationship between the worker and sex worker is beneficial for both parties. Whereas now, the worker would be considered a ?john? participating in illegal activities, and the prostitute would be breaking the law, with the legalization of prostitution, both both would be legal.
Prostitution is a complex issue. Those who advocate against prostitution do so saying it brings the criminal element and on moral issues. If we regulate and create areas for prostitution we as tax payer can not only save money but also make it in tax revenue money. It also gets rid of the criminal element as done in Amsterdam, Hamburg and Nevada.
My .02
hey Time....have you ever been to Amsterdam?
i haven't, but from what i have heard, it is about the last place anyone would want to live....people there are like zombies -- i have several friends who have been there and they all come back saying the same thing -- its like a bunch of soulless, impersonable people walking the streets....i don't think it is the paradise who's mold we want to follow
i haven't, but from what i have heard, it is about the last place anyone would want to live....people there are like zombies -- i have several friends who have been there and they all come back saying the same thing -- its like a bunch of soulless, impersonable people walking the streets....i don't think it is the paradise who's mold we want to follow
Yes I have Dr Freeze, and I agree with you, I do not think I would want to live there either.
I think it important to define prostitution as the consensual granting of sexual gratification by one person in exchange for money or other valuable consideration. This definition implies a legal contract, and thus only individuals at or above the age of majority would legally be entitled to enter into these contracts, either as purchaser or provider. Prostitution as I discuss it here does not include slavery, indentured or involuntary servitude, the participation of minors, or those individuals incapable of rationally and consciously deciding to engage in the activity. It is also important to consider that while the majority of prostitutes are women, a goodly portion are males or transgender.
I think the two main conceptions of prostitution's are these:
1) Prostitution as a job like any other job. This is the "capitalist" argument of free market; if there is a demand for prostitutes, and if there are persons who are ready to sell their sexual services then an existence of a sex-market, is both inevitable and morally ok. 2) Prostitution as a type of victimization; under this view prostitutes are considered as victims. Victims of whom? They are victims of a society which manufactures the conditions that force some people (women usually, especially the poor and the jobless) to be involved in prostitution. They are furthermore a victim of male-driven culture, which turns women sexuality (or simple sexual gratification) into a commodity, thus paving the way for it's marketing. This argument claims that prostitution is symbolic for male dominance, particularly over females. One of men's "rights" in this culture, so to speak, is the use women for sexual satisfaction. One marries a woman, or dates a girl, and so gets his own "free sex" at home. Or in times of need, one exercises his right for sex by buying a "sex commodity". In both cases the women is understood firstly and mainly as a sexual object which has to be gained in one or another way.
The primary objection to these conceptions is that they reduce the
individuals who are prostitutes (and for that matter also their patrons) to the status of "things", and ignore their rights to have opinions, desires, civil rights (including freedom and autonomy), and a place within our society free from stigma and unwarranted persecution. A woman who has sex with multiple partners is behaving within the law. However, if that same woman were to charge a dollar for sex, the act would become illegal. Isn't that odd? Okay, if a dollar isn't a big deal, then what should be the
deciding amount? How about removing the money factor from the whole debate?
It is obvious that the argument isn't really over the amount. The real heart of the issue, in the minds of many people, is about controlling sexuality for moral reasons. Our society wastes vast sums enforcing an otherwise legal activity for no other purpose than enforcing a moral code imposed by organized religion's proselytizations. In addition, this enforcement curtails economic growth and funding for local governments. It is difficult to estimate the number of persons who currently work, or have ever worked as prostitutes for many reasons, including the various definitions of prostitution. Arrest figure ranges are over 100,000 per year. The National Task Force on Prostitution suggests that over one million people in the US have worked as prostitutes in the United States, or about 1% of American women.
Average prostitution arrests include 70% females, 20% percent male prostitutes and 10% customers.2 A disproportionate number of prostitutes arrested are women of color, and although a minority of prostitutes are women of color, a large majority of those sentenced to jail are women of color. 85-90% of those arrested work on the street though street work accounts for approximately 20% of prostitutes. (Figures vary from city to city.)
The ratio of on-street prostitution to off-street (sauna, massage parlor, in call-outcall escort) varies in cities depending on local law, policy and custom. Whereas street prostitution accounts for between 10 to 20% of the prostitution in larger cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, in some smaller cities with limited indoor venues (or when indoor venues are closed down) street prostitution may account for approximately 50%.
Percentages of male and female prostitutes vary from city to city. Estimates in some larger cities suggest 20-30% of prostitutes are male. In San Francisco, it has been estimated that 25% of the female prostitutes are transgender.
Generation of taxes:
The requirement that prostitutes obtain business licenses and comport themselves as any other legitimate business would not only result in direct taxation on their earnings while directing the license fees to local coffers, but would invariably result in taxes being paid as their incomes were spent. Also, if licensing of those utilizing the services of prostitutes were required, additional fees would be collected.
Reduction in unemployment/dependency on social programs:
It has been said that legalized prostitution will drive costs down; the opposite will most likely be true. Increasing the number of prostitutes will increase competition and lower costs. Making it legal would also drive costs down because illegal businesses of the past, like alcohol trade, were always higher during the illegal stage of their lifespan. That is how some people reason. In actuality, factor in medical personnel, overhead costs ecretaries, building space, security, etc), and government inspectors and the price will skyrocket. Instead of earning only ten to twenty dollars per "trick", a prostitute will be compelled to charge more, not only for their own benefit, but to that of all the support personnel required to allow him or her to operate in a legal, safe, and clinical manner, thus further stimulating employment within the community. As a result of the low initial overhead and short-term training requirements of this line of work, more individuals will be able to enjoy the status of entrepreneurs. In addition, the nature of prostitution, with its inherent flexibility, lends itself to allowing an individual engaged in this business to hold additional jobs with no great inconvenience. Many individuals who would not otherwise be employable would find this business a golden opportunity for independence.
Increased employability due to lack of social stigma:
Currently, once a person gets a rap sheet as a known prostitute, she/he may be trapped and stigmatized for life, and may be unable to pursue other jobs. An arrest record for (illegal) prostitution limits that individual to a life of prostitution on the streets because it excludes them from other forms of employment. In other words, once a person has a prostitution citation on their record, they may not be able to secure other types of employment. In this case, the law has inadvertently acted to lock the convicted prostitute into a life of social dependency, poverty, abuse and misery. Making prostitution legal will allow the business to be handled more maturely. Instead of ladies of the evening hanging out on corners, where minorsmight be playing, pleasure engineers would wait in discrete parlors for reservations by customers where security and hygiene could easily be maintained. Instead of pimps controlling the lives of their prostitutes with violence and drugs, a madam would provide a safe, even friendly, place to provide services if the prostitute did not wish the effort or complexity of sole proprietorship.
Some researchers suggest that prostitutes, in general, suffer from "negative identities" or lack of self-esteem. A 1986 study by Diane Prince, however, found call girls and brothel workers had higher self esteem than before they became prostitutes. 97% of call girls liked themselves "more than before." (This study also examines suicide rates, and is often misquoted, referring to a statistic regarding call girls. In the context of pathologizing prostitutes, some mistakenly report that 75% percent of call girls have attempted suicide, however, according to this study 76% of call girls considered (not attempted) suicide, along with 61% of non-prostitutes, and only 42% of brothel workers. People with high self-esteem more vigorously pursue education and careers than those who do not, and are more likely to be productive members of society. Legalization of prostitution would enhance the self-esteem of sex-workers greatly by removing the guilt and fear associated with committing what is now an illegal act. Conversely, those hiring such persons would not be subject to stigmatization as a result, and so would be more likely to engage prostitutes in other forms of employment.
I think it important to define prostitution as the consensual granting of sexual gratification by one person in exchange for money or other valuable consideration. This definition implies a legal contract, and thus only individuals at or above the age of majority would legally be entitled to enter into these contracts, either as purchaser or provider. Prostitution as I discuss it here does not include slavery, indentured or involuntary servitude, the participation of minors, or those individuals incapable of rationally and consciously deciding to engage in the activity. It is also important to consider that while the majority of prostitutes are women, a goodly portion are males or transgender.
I think the two main conceptions of prostitution's are these:
1) Prostitution as a job like any other job. This is the "capitalist" argument of free market; if there is a demand for prostitutes, and if there are persons who are ready to sell their sexual services then an existence of a sex-market, is both inevitable and morally ok. 2) Prostitution as a type of victimization; under this view prostitutes are considered as victims. Victims of whom? They are victims of a society which manufactures the conditions that force some people (women usually, especially the poor and the jobless) to be involved in prostitution. They are furthermore a victim of male-driven culture, which turns women sexuality (or simple sexual gratification) into a commodity, thus paving the way for it's marketing. This argument claims that prostitution is symbolic for male dominance, particularly over females. One of men's "rights" in this culture, so to speak, is the use women for sexual satisfaction. One marries a woman, or dates a girl, and so gets his own "free sex" at home. Or in times of need, one exercises his right for sex by buying a "sex commodity". In both cases the women is understood firstly and mainly as a sexual object which has to be gained in one or another way.
The primary objection to these conceptions is that they reduce the
individuals who are prostitutes (and for that matter also their patrons) to the status of "things", and ignore their rights to have opinions, desires, civil rights (including freedom and autonomy), and a place within our society free from stigma and unwarranted persecution. A woman who has sex with multiple partners is behaving within the law. However, if that same woman were to charge a dollar for sex, the act would become illegal. Isn't that odd? Okay, if a dollar isn't a big deal, then what should be the
deciding amount? How about removing the money factor from the whole debate?
It is obvious that the argument isn't really over the amount. The real heart of the issue, in the minds of many people, is about controlling sexuality for moral reasons. Our society wastes vast sums enforcing an otherwise legal activity for no other purpose than enforcing a moral code imposed by organized religion's proselytizations. In addition, this enforcement curtails economic growth and funding for local governments. It is difficult to estimate the number of persons who currently work, or have ever worked as prostitutes for many reasons, including the various definitions of prostitution. Arrest figure ranges are over 100,000 per year. The National Task Force on Prostitution suggests that over one million people in the US have worked as prostitutes in the United States, or about 1% of American women.
Average prostitution arrests include 70% females, 20% percent male prostitutes and 10% customers.2 A disproportionate number of prostitutes arrested are women of color, and although a minority of prostitutes are women of color, a large majority of those sentenced to jail are women of color. 85-90% of those arrested work on the street though street work accounts for approximately 20% of prostitutes. (Figures vary from city to city.)
The ratio of on-street prostitution to off-street (sauna, massage parlor, in call-outcall escort) varies in cities depending on local law, policy and custom. Whereas street prostitution accounts for between 10 to 20% of the prostitution in larger cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, in some smaller cities with limited indoor venues (or when indoor venues are closed down) street prostitution may account for approximately 50%.
Percentages of male and female prostitutes vary from city to city. Estimates in some larger cities suggest 20-30% of prostitutes are male. In San Francisco, it has been estimated that 25% of the female prostitutes are transgender.
Generation of taxes:
The requirement that prostitutes obtain business licenses and comport themselves as any other legitimate business would not only result in direct taxation on their earnings while directing the license fees to local coffers, but would invariably result in taxes being paid as their incomes were spent. Also, if licensing of those utilizing the services of prostitutes were required, additional fees would be collected.
Reduction in unemployment/dependency on social programs:
It has been said that legalized prostitution will drive costs down; the opposite will most likely be true. Increasing the number of prostitutes will increase competition and lower costs. Making it legal would also drive costs down because illegal businesses of the past, like alcohol trade, were always higher during the illegal stage of their lifespan. That is how some people reason. In actuality, factor in medical personnel, overhead costs ecretaries, building space, security, etc), and government inspectors and the price will skyrocket. Instead of earning only ten to twenty dollars per "trick", a prostitute will be compelled to charge more, not only for their own benefit, but to that of all the support personnel required to allow him or her to operate in a legal, safe, and clinical manner, thus further stimulating employment within the community. As a result of the low initial overhead and short-term training requirements of this line of work, more individuals will be able to enjoy the status of entrepreneurs. In addition, the nature of prostitution, with its inherent flexibility, lends itself to allowing an individual engaged in this business to hold additional jobs with no great inconvenience. Many individuals who would not otherwise be employable would find this business a golden opportunity for independence.
Increased employability due to lack of social stigma:
Currently, once a person gets a rap sheet as a known prostitute, she/he may be trapped and stigmatized for life, and may be unable to pursue other jobs. An arrest record for (illegal) prostitution limits that individual to a life of prostitution on the streets because it excludes them from other forms of employment. In other words, once a person has a prostitution citation on their record, they may not be able to secure other types of employment. In this case, the law has inadvertently acted to lock the convicted prostitute into a life of social dependency, poverty, abuse and misery. Making prostitution legal will allow the business to be handled more maturely. Instead of ladies of the evening hanging out on corners, where minorsmight be playing, pleasure engineers would wait in discrete parlors for reservations by customers where security and hygiene could easily be maintained. Instead of pimps controlling the lives of their prostitutes with violence and drugs, a madam would provide a safe, even friendly, place to provide services if the prostitute did not wish the effort or complexity of sole proprietorship.
Some researchers suggest that prostitutes, in general, suffer from "negative identities" or lack of self-esteem. A 1986 study by Diane Prince, however, found call girls and brothel workers had higher self esteem than before they became prostitutes. 97% of call girls liked themselves "more than before." (This study also examines suicide rates, and is often misquoted, referring to a statistic regarding call girls. In the context of pathologizing prostitutes, some mistakenly report that 75% percent of call girls have attempted suicide, however, according to this study 76% of call girls considered (not attempted) suicide, along with 61% of non-prostitutes, and only 42% of brothel workers. People with high self-esteem more vigorously pursue education and careers than those who do not, and are more likely to be productive members of society. Legalization of prostitution would enhance the self-esteem of sex-workers greatly by removing the guilt and fear associated with committing what is now an illegal act. Conversely, those hiring such persons would not be subject to stigmatization as a result, and so would be more likely to engage prostitutes in other forms of employment.
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I've been to Amsterdam twice. Dr Freeze, your friends forgot to tell you that those "zombies" they saw wandering the streets were, for the most part, stoned US college students.
If you visit, make sure you check out "the Bullfrog", one of the largest and best known "coffee houses" in the city........
If you visit, make sure you check out "the Bullfrog", one of the largest and best known "coffee houses" in the city........
Time to make $$-
Time to make $$-
Curious as to why, if you've been to Amsterdam, that you would not want to live there?
For me, the number one reason would have to be the chitty weather. I spent 9 days total in Amsterdam(late June/Early July) and I saw the sun for a total of 20 minutes. 45-55 degrees, either drizzle or rain at all times-- I don't know how the locals do it.
Otherwise, I think Amsterdam would be a great place to live. Friendly, progressive thinking people, easy transportation via streetcars or the canals and great museums and art galleries to visit whenever you wished to.
And you can't forget about all that free beer they let you drink at the end of the tour of the Heineken Brewery.....
To me, the Red Light district and the "coffee houses"
are to the locals what gambling is to those that live in Las Vegas. People in both cities go to work, raise their families and if they choose to indulge in the vices of their respective cities, they are free to do so. If not, they go about their business and know that the visitors to their cities leave lots of money behind.
Time to make $$-
Curious as to why, if you've been to Amsterdam, that you would not want to live there?
For me, the number one reason would have to be the chitty weather. I spent 9 days total in Amsterdam(late June/Early July) and I saw the sun for a total of 20 minutes. 45-55 degrees, either drizzle or rain at all times-- I don't know how the locals do it.
Otherwise, I think Amsterdam would be a great place to live. Friendly, progressive thinking people, easy transportation via streetcars or the canals and great museums and art galleries to visit whenever you wished to.
And you can't forget about all that free beer they let you drink at the end of the tour of the Heineken Brewery.....
To me, the Red Light district and the "coffee houses"
are to the locals what gambling is to those that live in Las Vegas. People in both cities go to work, raise their families and if they choose to indulge in the vices of their respective cities, they are free to do so. If not, they go about their business and know that the visitors to their cities leave lots of money behind.
