Things That Would Happen If PROSTITUTION Was Legal

By Editorial Staff in Life Style On 24th October 2016

Prostitution is known as the oldest profession, though it is still illegal in most parts of the world. The debate, however, continues to roll on. Many people think it’s immoral and should be illegal. Others think that two consenting, grown adults should be able to do whatever they want. What would actually happen if the United States decided to let people have consensual sex for money?

#1 Cleans Up Cities

One of the arguments for legalizing prostitution is that it's not going to go away. This has led to countries all over the world opening up red light districts, which is basically legalizing prostitution on varying levels of degree. There are a few cities in the US that have these districts, such as Las Vegas, Tampa, and New York. This doesn't mean that its open season to sell yourself for sex, however. In essence, you're taking all of this devious activity and confining it to one section of town. That way, the vast majority of the city will be clean and family-friendly.

#2 Centralized Sex Locations

Some of the most famous ones include the one in Amsterdam, The Reeperbahn in Germany, and Soi Cowboy in Thailand. The idea of these districts is that it removes sex workers from working the streets so that minors will hopefully have less exposure to the sex trade.

#3 Women Would Have More Rights

A feminist argument for legalizing prostitution is that it can be empowering to women. No one should ever be forced into prostitution. But if someone chooses to, why shouldn't they be able to? This would give women the ultimate right to do what they want with their body. While it certainly wouldn't be a viable or preferable profession for many women, it would still be a step forward for women's rights.

#4 Women Could Control Their Own Careers

One way it could benefit women is that prostitution can be quite profitable. This would help address a major problem around the world by setting those who wished to get out of poverty. Another way legalizing prostitution will help with women's rights is that sex workers will be more in control of their careers, rather than being controlled by a pimp or organized crime syndicates. They will be able to control their own money and they dictate their own rules and standards.

#5 The Court System Won’t Be As Jammed Up

The court system is basically a huge clogged mess. People are being arrested and facing jail time for ridiculous crimes, and the system is paying for all of the fees that judges, lawyers, and officials get for their time. In 2010 alone, it cost the government over $9 billion to house people for non-violent crimes because they could not afford attorneys. A lot of these were involved in sex crimes like prostitution. Instead of working, buying things, and paying taxes, millions of people sit in prison, which costs the taxpayers money. Last year over 61,000 people were placed in lockup and sent to court for crimes related to prostitution. Had it been legal, that would be 61,000 less cases for taxpayers to flip the bill for.

#6 More Sexually Open Society

Sex workers in general, have a stigma attached to them. Courts, judges, society, all have a negative attitude towards those involved in any type of work involving sexual pleasure. Serial killers get set free after killing prostitutes, and many crimes against prostitutes go uninvestigated, as though their lives were not worth as much as others. Much of this is based on fading religious beliefs that somehow see an unpure woman as unworthy. In order for legalized prostitution to work, society would need to remove this stigma from sex workers. As a result, it must also remove the idea of shame around sex in general.

#7 Men Will Be Happier, Women Might Not

Studies have found that men from all different walks of life go to a sex worker for different reasons. Many of us think of men who pay for sex as sad, lonely men who can't get it anywhere else. But that is not the case. Many visit sex workers simply because it is considered taboo. A survey showed that 45% of men who visited a prostitute did so because of stress, which means there would be less stress...for men.

#8 Government Will Have More Money

If prostitution became legal, there would be all sorts of regulations and guides to follow, and that would cost money. Luckily, the profession would bring in all sorts of extra income for the government. Police wouldn't need to be paid to patrol for street walkers, and judges and courts would be less busy. New York City spends $17.7 million a year on policing of prostitution, usually just giving a few nights of jail time to the workers and sending them back out on the streets again. No policing saves money, but the government would also benefit from licensing for brothels, taxes, personal income taxes, and even medical fees for workers. Currently, legal brothels in Nevada make $150 million a year and do not have to pay any taxes..

#9 Spread of Sexually Transmitted Disease

If prostitution was legalized, the law would also need to include a provision that states that condoms had to be used at all times. In Nevada, for example, at the legal brothels, sex workers are required by law to be tested monthly for any sexually transmitted diseases. This would reduce the cases of HIV, herpes, syphilis, and other diseases if adhered to strictly and made part of the laws for legalization.

#10 Human Trafficking Levels Will Go Up Without Proper Enforcement

Human trafficking is often associated with the sex trade. Many children are forced into prostitution who are still under the age of 18. When looking at the effects of legalized prostitution on human trafficking, people often point to Germany. They legalized prostitution in 2002, yet human trafficking hasn't decreased dramatically and it is still a big problem. However, Germany has not enforced any of its own laws regarding legal prostitution since in passed them. A study shows that for legalized sex trade to work there needs to also be an increase in vigilance of human trafficking. Where there is a demand there needs to be a supply, and it needs to be of people who voluntarily go into the profession.

#11 Organized Crime Could be Crippled

Human smuggling, both for the sex trade or slave labor, is a huge business for organized crime syndicates around the world. If the legalization were to work along with stricter laws on trafficking, the major mobs would take a big blow to their survival. Besides just smuggling and drugs, organized crime syndicates also run prostitution rings. Legalization would take away valuable lines of income for organized crime syndicates. If a man wanted to hire a prostitute he would probably prefer going the legal route than through the organized crime syndicate.

#12 Less Violence Against Women

One of the biggest problems facing sex workers is violence at the hands of their clientele. Globally, in one year, a sex worker has a 32 to 55 percent chance of experiencing sexual violence. Amazingly, studies have found that if prostitution were legalized, violence against women, not just sex workers, but all women would decrease. The World Health Organization recommends the decriminalization of prostitution as a means to ease up on rape. A legal prostitute would be more likely to call for help or for the police if they encountered a combative or unsavory client, unlike those who hide in the shadows afraid of being arrested for their profession.