Some say that decriminalizing prostitution is a way to reduce the harmful effects of prostitution.
Here is a link containing this opinion. It would reduce the effects of crime in communities, and increase the safety of sex workers by allowing them to work from the home.
I disagree. I could cite disciplines such as microeconomics and sociology to prove my point, but instead I will be concise and appeal to human decency. This method is merely a way to keep the effects of prostitution out of sight and out of mind. You can not tell from looking at a house that there is a woman inside being raped. If she is working on a street corner, prostitution is far more evident. Legalizing prostitution is just an abrogation of responsibility. Instead of helping sex workers get out of the trade and provide for themselves with dignity, we would hide them. We would legalize this abuse so that we don't have to see and think about it. If we were to legalize prostitution, we would be saying to all sex workers: "We do think we are better than you. We are not going to bother giving you a hand up, as decent human beings would. We are going to legalize what you do so some may benefit from it and we don't have to see it." Do you want to say that?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
What do I say to that? You're full of shit, is what I say to that.
ReplyDelete"I disagree. I could cite disciplines such as microeconomics and sociology to prove my point, but instead I will be concise and appeal to human decency."
Meaning, you could actually, you know, look at the FACTS- but instead you're going to spout moralizing nonsense and ignore the voice of sex workers.
"This method is merely a way to keep the effects of prostitution out of sight and out of mind. You can not tell from looking at a house that there is a woman inside being raped. If she is working on a street corner, prostitution is far more evident."
Uh, wrong again. Allowing women to work indoors protects them from violence, protects them from pimps and gives them autonomy over their own lives. As long as sex work is criminalized, they can't go to police when they are victims of sexual assault. But I guess you don't care about actually stopping the rape of sex workers- you just want them to be "visible" and miserable, apparently.
I'm really offended by this blog- you're a straight man who has come sort of saviour complex instead of listening to the real voices of sex workers. Y'know, the ones who are pushing for decriminalization. Seeing people as passive victims doens't help them, it doesn't change the power structure, and your apparent "calling" to be some sort of saviour only furthers patriarchy by ignoring the voices of women. We need to work WITh sex workers and support as them as allies in their own liberation.
Did you know that today (December 17th) is International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers? Did you know that the day was started by sex workers in order to fight for their right to have their profession seen as "real" work?
Here's some links to projects run by sex workers who are empowering themselves and their communities. I suggest you get of your pedestal for a minute and take a look:
http://www.maggiestoronto.com/
http://www.spoc.ca/
http://www.xtra.ca/public/National
/Sex_workers_in_their_own_words-6471.aspx
http://www.bayswan.org/COYOTE.html
http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/International_Day_to_End_Violence_Against_Sex_Workers_in_its_seventh_year-7991.aspx