Prostitution is historically considered to be the oldest profession in America. During the colonization of the country, most early settlers were male. Fears that these men would marry and thus, reproduce with the Native Americans developed, which led European governments to send over convicted prostitutes for them instead. Such females, however, discovered that the selling of sexual services offered more independence than being in arranged marriages upon their arrival to the colonies (Grant 2). As a result of this, prostitutes are identified as some of the first women in America. Issues towards prostitution first began with the increased appearance of the settlers’ wives, sisters, and daughters as the settlements became further established.
…show more content…
It is, however, not centered entirely on the concept of putting an end to prostitution as it was in previous times, but rather the idea of whether or not it should be legalized across the United States. The debate becomes highly controversial when human trafficking, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and the workers’ rights and safety are considered. Opponents argue that the legalization of selling sexual services will lead to an increase in the sex-based human trafficking trade and the spread of STDs. Yet, these two assertions have been proven to be incorrect. Germany is one of the few countries that have already legalized prostitution and from the year 2001 to 2011, “human trafficking shrank by 10 percent” (Reisenwitz 4). Some people claim that the reason for this is that the legalization of the commercial sex industry has lowered the price of sexual services. Thus, human traffickers can no longer gain a significant profit that would balance out the large expense of abducting a person. In addition, research studies did not find any “difference in sexually transmitted infection rates between sex workers and the general population” after Germany had legalized prostitution (Reisenwitz 3). This fact that the amount of people with STDs do not increase with the legalization of the commercial sex industry is further supported by the case of Rhode Island. Rhode …show more content…
Violence towards prostitutes was facilitated due to this invalid belief. The legalization of the commercial industry can instead help combat against sex-based human trafficking by implementing what is known as the Swedish Model. This model does not criminalize the selling of sexual service, but the buying of it. It is thought that the targeting of customers will lead to the decline in the demand for human trafficking. Former sex workers support this notion of criminalizing the clients and not the prostitutes (“Our Position” 1). Yet, the people still in the prostitution do not agree with this. They assert that it will cause hardships in earning money with police arresting their customers (Hanson 5). I think, however, that this is a small price to pay for trying to prevent more sex-based human trafficking victims. If the sex workers find it difficult to continue to support themselves with selling sexual services, then they have the option to switch to another job. They would not be able to easily make this choice if the sex industry is still considered illegal and the prostitutes had criminal records as a result of
It is, however, not centered entirely on the concept of putting an end to prostitution as it was in previous times, but rather the idea of whether or not it should be legalized across the United States. The debate becomes highly controversial when human trafficking, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and the workers’ rights and safety are considered. Opponents argue that the legalization of selling sexual services will lead to an increase in the sex-based human trafficking trade and the spread of STDs. Yet, these two assertions have been proven to be incorrect. Germany is one of the few countries that have already legalized prostitution and from the year 2001 to 2011, “human trafficking shrank by 10 percent” (Reisenwitz 4). Some people claim that the reason for this is that the legalization of the commercial sex industry has lowered the price of sexual services. Thus, human traffickers can no longer gain a significant profit that would balance out the large expense of abducting a person. In addition, research studies did not find any “difference in sexually transmitted infection rates between sex workers and the general population” after Germany had legalized prostitution (Reisenwitz 3). This fact that the amount of people with STDs do not increase with the legalization of the commercial sex industry is further supported by the case of Rhode Island. Rhode …show more content…
Violence towards prostitutes was facilitated due to this invalid belief. The legalization of the commercial industry can instead help combat against sex-based human trafficking by implementing what is known as the Swedish Model. This model does not criminalize the selling of sexual service, but the buying of it. It is thought that the targeting of customers will lead to the decline in the demand for human trafficking. Former sex workers support this notion of criminalizing the clients and not the prostitutes (“Our Position” 1). Yet, the people still in the prostitution do not agree with this. They assert that it will cause hardships in earning money with police arresting their customers (Hanson 5). I think, however, that this is a small price to pay for trying to prevent more sex-based human trafficking victims. If the sex workers find it difficult to continue to support themselves with selling sexual services, then they have the option to switch to another job. They would not be able to easily make this choice if the sex industry is still considered illegal and the prostitutes had criminal records as a result of