Meet Jessi; a beautiful, platinum, 22 year-old, she walks the lonely streets of Reno City, Nevada, as a prostitute. Growing up as a ranch-girl in California, she had dreams of being a firefighter, but unstable home conditions forced her to leave. At 17, she enlisted in the Navy, but due to epilepsy she was deemed unfit and sent home. Jessi became homeless and, like most others, turned to drugs.Things escalated, and her drug dealer first suggested that she enter prostitution to make money.
In Reno, illegal prostitutes make around $20 an hour according to ABC News. Them being abused by their customers happens almost more frequently than not.
You see, prostitution is one of the oldest professions in the world. Yet today, they are regarded as street scum, condemned by the law and exploited by the thugs that employ them. An estimated 58% of prostitutes are assaulted by their clients, and unregulated prostitution can be a catalyst for the spread of HIV, hepatitis, and gonorrhea. Although prostitution has stood the test of time, it's legality has not. In Kentucky, for example, paying for or being payed for sexual services is illegal. However, a cursory google search is enough order a prostitute in almost any city anonymously. As we speak, a war on prostitution is being waged in Winchester, Kentucky, although all their efforts "seem to have had little effect" according to Central Kentucky News. The market for prostitution is bottomless, meaning that if one prostitute is arrested, another will undoubtedly take its place. And being an underground industry means that the manipulation and trafficking of women is enormously unchecked. Only the legalization of prostitution can convert it into a safe, law-abiding industry.
Consider another Nevadan prostitute named Christina. Christina works in one of the 30 legal brothels in Nevada. After going through countless foster homes and failing to put herself through nursing school, she claims this job has been a dream come true. Going into the profession, she knew that she “would never go without a roof over my head, never go hungry, and never go without money.” Not once has she encountered sexual assault, and in a couple hours, she can make a nurse’s wage in two weeks.
By legalizing prostitution, the government would be able to monitor drug use, arrest abusive pimps, prevent human trafficking, and check the workers for sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, decrease in rape is also correlated with the legalization of prostitution. Rhode Island saw a 31% decrease in rape, as well as 2000 fewer cases of Gonorrhea after legalizing prostitution from 2003-2009.
The main argument against prostitution would be its immoral basis; but keep in mind that prostitution is an act between consenting adults. Some might claim that legalizing it might, say, send a message to other nations that we “advocate” for individuals selling their bodies to others. In reality, we would be sending the message that we care for our men and women and will do what is necessary to ensure their well-being. That we hear their cries for help and to escape this industry as it is. That if they are being abused, they can be welcomed into the law with open arms without fear of repercussions.
As with the drug trade, the violence of the prostitution industry is exacerbated by its illegality. Customers and pimps are more likely to target sex workers, confident that their actions will not be reported to the police.
Last year, Jessi registered in a legal brothel, similar to that of Christina. She quotes that “in addition to making substantially more money, my overall life has been enhanced. I feel protected. I am happy.”
The aim of this is only to bring the industry out of the underworld and into the welcoming arms of the state, where it can be properly regulated and cared for like any other business.
Works Cited
http://hellenicinsider.com/cyprus-mp-calls-for-the-legalisation-of-prostitution-admits-to-paying-for-sex/
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