Tumblehome
06-27-2005, 10:53 AM
I am making a list of the arguments for and against prostitution being illegal. As you may or may not know most countries in the western world now lack specific laws banning prostitution (the USA being an exception I believe). Many countries, such as Canada, have some weird rules you would have to follow to prostitute yourself legally, but it can be done.
Anyway, I'm looking for arguments for and against it. I have collected a number of reasons why it should not be illegal, as most of my colleagues and friends are liberals. I am hoping that some of you here can list some of the arguments why it should be illegal.
Some that I have though of include:
1. Religious reasons (bible says its wrong - although some have actually argued that point, I don't know enough to get involved in that)
2. Abuse and crime associated with it. (May be decreased if it was removed from the criminal element)
3. If it was legal, there would be more of it. (Don't have the data to know if this is true. I am collecting data from countries that have fully legalized it to see if that's the case)
4. It encourages adultery.
5. It spreads Sexually Transmitted Diseases. (Some have suggested licencing prostitutes and having mandatory STD tests. But, these tests are not perfect and these tests may drive some prostitution underground. And how would this be policed?)
6. It degrades women by treating them as sexual objects.
7. It desensitizes men and leads them to be dissatisfied with their wives or girlfriends, and if they dont have any wives or girlfriends, then it leads them into unrealistic expectations when they find wives or girlfriends.
Anybody care to expand on this list?
Some of the key points in favour of legal prostitution include:
1. That it should be a woman's right to do with her body as she pleases (similar to the pro-choice abortion argument but no innocent unborn is involved). The argument is often made that prostitution is a victimless crime. If the woman is willing to provide it (or even enjoys it) and the man is willing to pay her for it, this is a simple contract for service.
2. That it could be taxed. By having it illegal and underground we are missing out on a good amount of tax dollars. Prostitutes should have to pay taxes like everybody else. These taxes could be used to support battered women programs, etc.
3. It would remove prostitutes from the criminal element and help to bring an end to abuse etc. It may also help decrease substance abuse. (Data needs to be collected)
4. If there was mandatory STD testing, it could go a long way towards stopping the spread of these diseases.
5. It would give sexually frustrated men an outlet, and may help decrease rape and other sexually related crime (or it may increase it - the data needs to be collected).
6. It makes no sense for it to be illegal to charge for a service that it is perfectly legal to give away for free.
7. That our society's view is warped in accepting women marrying men for their money but not having sex with men for their money.
Got any other reasons why it should be legal?
I'm looking for arguments on both sides of this debate. Canada looking towards new legislation on this topic.
Anyway, I'm looking for arguments for and against it. I have collected a number of reasons why it should not be illegal, as most of my colleagues and friends are liberals. I am hoping that some of you here can list some of the arguments why it should be illegal.
Some that I have though of include:
1. Religious reasons (bible says its wrong - although some have actually argued that point, I don't know enough to get involved in that)
2. Abuse and crime associated with it. (May be decreased if it was removed from the criminal element)
3. If it was legal, there would be more of it. (Don't have the data to know if this is true. I am collecting data from countries that have fully legalized it to see if that's the case)
4. It encourages adultery.
5. It spreads Sexually Transmitted Diseases. (Some have suggested licencing prostitutes and having mandatory STD tests. But, these tests are not perfect and these tests may drive some prostitution underground. And how would this be policed?)
6. It degrades women by treating them as sexual objects.
7. It desensitizes men and leads them to be dissatisfied with their wives or girlfriends, and if they dont have any wives or girlfriends, then it leads them into unrealistic expectations when they find wives or girlfriends.
Anybody care to expand on this list?
Some of the key points in favour of legal prostitution include:
1. That it should be a woman's right to do with her body as she pleases (similar to the pro-choice abortion argument but no innocent unborn is involved). The argument is often made that prostitution is a victimless crime. If the woman is willing to provide it (or even enjoys it) and the man is willing to pay her for it, this is a simple contract for service.
2. That it could be taxed. By having it illegal and underground we are missing out on a good amount of tax dollars. Prostitutes should have to pay taxes like everybody else. These taxes could be used to support battered women programs, etc.
3. It would remove prostitutes from the criminal element and help to bring an end to abuse etc. It may also help decrease substance abuse. (Data needs to be collected)
4. If there was mandatory STD testing, it could go a long way towards stopping the spread of these diseases.
5. It would give sexually frustrated men an outlet, and may help decrease rape and other sexually related crime (or it may increase it - the data needs to be collected).
6. It makes no sense for it to be illegal to charge for a service that it is perfectly legal to give away for free.
7. That our society's view is warped in accepting women marrying men for their money but not having sex with men for their money.
Got any other reasons why it should be legal?
I'm looking for arguments on both sides of this debate. Canada looking towards new legislation on this topic.