...Prostitution: A Problem of Equality, Dignity and Integrity There is much argument and debate in society about the issue of prostitution. Gunilla Ekberg, co-executive director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women states that “in order to successfully find solutions to the problem of prostitution, it is necessary to think about and discuss among ourselves what kind of society we wish to live in.” Before this discussion, however, we need to take a step back. The first question that needs to be addressed is whether we as a society see prostitution as a problem. Do we see prostitution as an inevitable, inescapable and necessary profession - a profession that has always existed as the ‘oldest profession in the world’? Or do we acknowledge that prostitution is a violation of internationally recognised human rights: equality, dignity and integrity? Is prostitution a problem? A problem for equality It is widely recognised that violence against women is antithetical to the establishment of gender equality, and that one of the most severe and devastating practices of gender-based violence is the commercial exploitation of women and girls, which includes prostitution. The United States Department of State determines that few activities are as brutal and damaging to people as prostitution. Field research in nine countries concluded that 60-75% of women in prostitution were raped, 70-95% were physically assaulted, and 68% met the criteria for post traumatic stress disorder, in the...
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...Introduction: Prostitution is one of the most widely neglected but complex vices of a society. It is the oldest profession in the world. The word prostitution began to come into common usage in the late eighteen century. Prostitution is historically and culturally ubiquitous with every culture adopting their own standards and attitudes. In the ancient world most purveyors of sexuality for economic reward were courtesans, concubines (kept mistresses) or slaves. Courtesans and concubines often had a high position in the traditional society. But in modern society this profession is being neglected and various social problems are occurred from it. One of the most serious problems is associated with the prostitution is the fact that the sex trade is surrounded by illegal, abusive and dangerous activities. One view maintains that such situations occur because prostitution is kept illegal and the industry operates on the back market. Besides these prostitutes are also sufferings in society. They have no status. Even their client also hates them. Prostitution: The word “prostitute” or more frequently “whore” is used as an insult towards a person (typically a women or girl) who is perceived as being sexually promiscuous (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prostitute). Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual service to another person in return for payment. People who execute such activities are called Prostitutes. According to Anthony Giddens, Prostitution can be defined...
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...common consent; out of all these questions prostitution is the darkest, the knottiest, and saddest” (Gilfoyle:0). The geography of prostitution is based on the area of social trends and acceptance. The most visible evidence of this is the rapid rise in the number of brothels and “bawdy houses” in New York during the 1820’s. Prostitution became increasingly more involved in urban life even though being criminalized by law. Yet the people who decide the legislation on prostitution were some of its most loyal and profitable customers. Prostitution is an un-harmful act and should be legalized, regardless of society’s uneducated opinion on the matter. Prostitution should be legalized for the facts that it would generate a substantial amount of income for the federal government as a means of taxation; legalization would suppress the spread of venereal and it would also reduce the amount of crime along with physical violence which occurs in the commercial sex trade. In the majority of states, prostitution is suppressed to illegal activity and many believe it to be a form of immoral actions. But in Nevada, the state became famous by grasping and promoting the un-popular commercial sex trade, which was banned elsewhere in other states. Prostitution has become a legitimate cash crop. Nevada began legalizing prostitution during the early 1970s; since then, they have been gaining multiple benefits economically from many different prostitution-related sources. Some of these revenues were...
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...Prostitution As a part of my research, I read two texts a chapter from Paul Metzger article “Should prostitution be legalized” and “ Would legalizing prostitution help the US economy?” written by Bruce Kennedy. The article written by Metzger, professor at Multnomah University explains Why legalizing prostitution has does more harm than good. He argues that legalizing prostitution will cause the demand for more sex will increase and the cost will decrease when it’s easy to access. In Kennedy article “Would legalizing prostitution help the US economy?” expose the business prospective behind the act. He also explains how legalization can open up jobs and would no longer need pimps for protection. Both Kennedy and Metzger understand that there are honest concerns surrounding an endorsed prostitution business, but Bruce Kennedy realized more of the latent and profits. Prostitution accumulates 30 billion dollars annually and none of that money is used to pay taxes. Kennedy believes the sex industry could indeed improve the economy by allowing the money to be taxed; the government would gain nearly 8 billion just from the sex workers and authorization fees. He also believes Legalization will produce self-employed taxpayers who no longer need pimps for protection. Which take money away form the sex trafficking because women would be independent with no middleman. In Contrast, Metzger is alarmed with the mental and physical damage sex jobs cause to the sex industry employees. Usually...
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...Prostitution On the basis of information provided by the Prostitutes Education Network (2000), it is believed that over one million people in the U.S. have worked as prostitutes, or about one percent of women. According to prostitution research papers, the commercial sex industry today includes street prostitution, massage brothels, escort services, outcall services, strip clubs, lapdancing, phone sex, adult and child pornography, video and internet pornography and prostitution tourism. Most prostitutes who are in the business for longer than a few months drift in and out of these various forms of work within the sex industry. The average age of entry into prostitution is 13 years. Prostitution research papers have indicated that mpost of the younger girls involved in prostitution were coerced into working within the sex industry. Many others involved in the work have been found to be women without job skills who had escaped from or were abandoned by abusive husbands and partners who went into prostitution to support themselves and their children. Prostitution Additionally, in order to further understand the occurrence of prostitution today, as provided by the Prostitutes Educational Network (2000), average prostitution arrests include 70% females, 20% males, and 10% customers. It has also been found that a disproportionate number of prostitutes arrested and sentenced are women of color, even though a minority of prostitutes are women of color. Most prostitutes who are...
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...Prostitution is a phenomenon that can be dated back to the very beginnings of man's history on earth. To the times of the Christian Messiah and of the Islamic messenger; it has existed as long as man was able to conceive and be conceived. Prostitution is defined as “the practice or occupation of engaging in sexual activity with someone for payment”. In other words, it is basically selling sexual pleasures to a person so as to receive money. People hold a general belief that females are the sole practitioners of prostitution; however recent research has shown that males engage in this act as well and in advanced cultures only. Globally, prostitution is shunned upon; in every area except Las Vegas, USA and Red Light District, Holland where the practice of prostitution is legal. (McLeod) Many cultures and religions regard it as profane and a sin but regardless of the general distaste, the practice still exists. The fact that Nigeria is a developing, and one of the most corrupt nations in the world, doesn’t help the matter of prostitution in universities. Due to the weakening economy and widespread corruption, tuition in universities all over the country continues to rise. (McLeod) This constant increase is part of what is forcing these ladies to engage in such nefarious acts. While passing through the streets of Lagos at night, one is likely to find at least ten prostitutes on the side of the road. There are more of them on what can be termed the richer parts of town. Most of...
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...1. Definition: The word “prostitution” can also be used metaphorically to mean debasing oneself or working towards an unworthy cause or “selling out” In this sense, “prostituting oneself” or “whoring oneself” the services or acts performed are typically not sexual. A person who works in this field is called a prostitute, and is a kind of sex worker. Prostitution is one of the branches of the sex industry. A person who works in this field is called a prostitute, and is a kind of sex worker. Prostitution is one of the branches of the sex industry. The legal status of prostitution varies from country to country, from being permissible but unregulated, to an enforced or unenforced crime or to a regulated profession. Prostitution is sometimes also referred to as “the world’s oldest profession”. Estimates place the annual revenue generated by prostitution worldwide to be over $100 billion. Both women and boys engaged in prostitution. Female prostitutes could be independent and sometimes influential women. They were required to wear distinctive dresses and had to pay taxes. 2. Origin: In ancient days, prostitutes were often foreign slaves, captured, purchased, or raised for that purpose, sometimes by large-scale “prostitute farmers” who took abandoned children. Indeed, abandoned children were almost always raised as prostitutes. In the early 17th century, there was widespread male and female prostitution throughout the cities of Kyoto, Edo, and Osaka, Japan. To entertain their...
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...Prostitution is a highly debated term. Its common definition is the exchange of sexual services for compensation, usually in the form of money or other valuables (Ditmore, 2006; Edlund & Korn, 2002; Esselstyn, 1968). Yet, there are many activities that can fall into this category, and it can be argued that getting married for the purpose of having a home and livelihood qualifies as prostitution (Edlund & Korn, 2002). Some add that to differentiate prostitution from other forms of nonmarital sexual activities, it must be devoid of emotional attachment between partners (McGinn, 1998). Others, such as Edlund and Korn, argue that an element of promiscuity must also be involved. However, the notions “devoid of emotional attachment” and “promiscuity” are also vague. A young woman maintaining a long-term sexual relationship with a “sugar daddy” may not fall in this category, while others may argue that this is indeed a form of prostitution. There is also difficulty in determining the number of partners one should have to be considered promiscuous. For example, the following was noted: A woman who had sex with more than 23,000 men should be classified as a prostitute, although 40 to 60 would also do. However, promiscuity itself does not turn a woman into a prostitute. Although a vast majority of prostitutes are promiscuous, most people would agree that sleeping around does not amount to prostitution. (Edlund & Korn, 2002, p. 183) John Ince, a lawyer and leader of the Sex Party, a Canadian...
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...The problem with prostitution Over the past two decades, Canada's prostitution laws have faced a number of challenges. Soon they will face another. By The Vancouver Sun August 27, 2007 Over the past two decades, Canada's prostitution laws have faced a number of challenges. Soon they will face another. A group of Vancouver lawyers and sex workers have initiated a Charter challenge arguing that our present laws violate their right to life, liberty, security, equality and free expression. Our laws don't actually prohibit prostitution per se. They just ban any mechanism of engaging in it -- from soliciting for the purposes of prostitution to operating a common bawdy house. Those bringing the challenge argue that the laws do more harm than good. They argue that our criminal laws expose sex workers to significant harm: Physical and sexual violence, lack of access to police protection, social stigma, inequality, exploitation and murder. Their solution? Strike down the laws and institute a regulatory scheme to help make being a prostitute safer. There is something fundamentally wrong with this vision. Prostitution laws don't expose sex workers to an increased risk of physical and sexual violence, psychological injury, kidnapping and death. Prostitution does that. Should drug dealers challenge laws banning the selling of drugs because those laws force them to sell drugs in alleys and deal with shady individuals in their business? No. They should stop selling drugs...
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...Mitchell Wong English 93 King May 13, 2013 Prostitution Should prostitution be legalized? Prostitution is known as one of the world’s oldest professions. Prostitution is a risky industry filled with women and men being paid to please the opposite sex sexually. Prostitution is risky because the sex workers are easily exposed to abuse and drugs. An estimate shows there are over 100,000 prostitutes in the U.S, but it is impossible to count them all. Nick Kristof, an expert on human trafficking from New York Times studies show that about 2/3 of prostitutes have been sexually abused/raped , while other studies show 60 to 90 percent are abused. This shows almost all female prostitutes get abused. Statistics show that female prostitutes have it really bad, yet why do they still continue to sell sex? According to Norma Ramos from the New York Times, “Vast majority of prostitution results from conditions like childhood sexual abuse, gender inequality, poverty, racism, etc.” Prostitution and drugs go hand and hand. Most prostitutes use drugs to numb themselves in order to continue working from all the physical and mental pain. Others turn to prostitution as a last resort to score drug and money for an ongoing drug habit. While prostitution is still a choice, troubled women find it is an easy path to escape to. Prostitution should not be legalized because it promotes domestic abuse and drugs associated with the profession. Legalization will bring more power to the predators...
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...Prostitution Prostitution: Legal or Illegal Ashley Garcia 5/25/13 CM220: College Composition II Prostitution: Legal or Illegal Prostitution is one of the oldest illegal professions of all times. It is not going anywhere so I suggest that it be legalized to make it safer for society. Rape, child pornography and sex/drug crimes could also lower because of legalization. Think about it for a moment; when someone is told not to do something it makes them want to do it that much more, and when someone is told that they can do something, and then it’s not as intriguing to them. I will be doing a lot of research for my project. I will be using the Kaplan library and many different websites. I plan to go to my local library as well. I have not thought about interviewing anyone just yet. I plan to not let emotions or any of my own beliefs get involved in the writing of my paper. I am going to go on just facts. I am not sure what government websites could be useful at this point but I plan to look into it more deeply. Prostitution should be legalized because it can make society safer and calmer. If the prostitutes were made to get a weekly health screening and were given health cards to present, then maybe it will cut down on the STD part of the dilemma. Prostitutes also help to relieve stress from some marriages. If a man can go out and pay for sex, that he is not getting pleased with at home, without any commitments, then it can help to save a marriage. There...
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...Prostitution Chapter I The Problem and its Background Introduction Prostitution is said to be one of the oldest profession in the world. It is the giving or receiving of the body for sexual activity for hire but excludes sexual activity between spouses. It is the performance for hire where there is an exchange of value, any of the following acts: Sexual intercourse; sodomy, or; manual or other bodily contact stimulation of the genitals of any person with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desires of the offender or another. Background of the Study Prostitution is the performance of sexual acts solely for the purpose of material gain. Persons prostitute themselves when they grant sexual favors to others in exchange for money, gifts, or other payment and in so doing use their bodies as commodities. In legal terms, the word prostitute refers only to those who engage overtly in such sexual-economic transactions, usually for a specified sum of money. Prostitutes may be of either sex, but throughout history the majorities have been women, reflecting both the traditional socioeconomic dependence of women and the tendency to exploit female sexuality. Although prostitution has often been characterized as the “world’s oldest profession,” the concept of women as property, which prevailed in most cultures until the end of the 19th century, meant that the profits of the profession most often accrued to the men who controlled it. Men have traditionally been characterized as procurers...
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...Glady Rose C. Bunao IV-23 BSE- Values Prof. Arabit DISCRIMINATING PROSTITUTION IS IMPOSSIBLE ABSTRACT: Prostitution was considered as the “oldest profession” in the world because of its commonality. This is one of the most abundant societal issue recognize all over the country that can’t be avoided nor discriminate at all. This term paper aims : 1.) To define prostitution 2.) To understand the history of prostitution in the Philippines; 3.) To classify the type of prostitution; 4.) To identify the cause and effect of prostitution; 5.) To specify the cause of men in buying prostitutes 6.) To give facts about prostitution all over the world. The researcher used to have interview with the buyer of prostitute specifically in Bulacan. This methodology will strengthen the 3 major theories namely: a.) Symbolic Interactionism, b.) Functionalism c.) Conflict Theory. Charles Darwin stated that there’s a need for survival. Prostitution was a product of never ending poverty in the world and in order to survive, even though they don’t want to engage to this kind of work, they don’t have choice but to follow where the money is or else, they will die in hunger. The scarcity of primary needs pushed people to desperately make some money even if they became “immoral” .It is considered as immoral because until now, it is not accepted in the society and there’s still debate if the world must accept this profession since it can’t be stop as the powerful group protects and control the illegality...
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...Chapter I The Problem and its Background Introduction Prostitution is said to be one of the oldest profession in the world. It is the giving or receiving of the body for sexual activity for hire but excludes sexual activity between spouses. It is the performance for hire where there is an exchange of value, any of the following acts: Sexual intercourse; sodomy, or; manual or other bodily contact stimulation of the genitals of any person with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desires of the offender or another. Background of the Study Prostitution is the performance of sexual acts solely for the purpose of material gain. Persons prostitute themselves when they grant sexual favors to others in exchange for money, gifts, or other payment and in so doing use their bodies as commodities. In legal terms, the word prostitute refers only to those who engage overtly in such sexual-economic transactions, usually for a specified sum of money. Prostitutes may be of either sex, but throughout history the majorities have been women, reflecting both the traditional socioeconomic dependence of women and the tendency to exploit female sexuality. Although prostitution has often been characterized as the “world’s oldest profession,” the concept of women as property, which prevailed in most cultures until the end of the 19th century, meant that the profits of the profession most often accrued to the men who controlled it. Men have traditionally been characterized as procurers and customers...
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...Prostitution was widespread in preindustrial societies. The exchange of wives by their husbands was a practice among many primitive peoples. In the ancient Middle East and India temples maintained large numbers of prostitutes. Sexual intercourse with them was believed to facilitate communion with the gods. In ancient Greece prostitution flourished on all levels of society. Prostitutes of the lowest level worked in licensed brothels and were required to wear distinctive clothing as a badge of their vocation. Prostitutes of a higher level usually were skilled dancers and singers. Those of the highest level, the hetaerae, kept salons where politicians met, and they often attained power and influence. In ancient Rome prostitution was common despite severe legal restrictions. Female slaves, captured abroad by the Roman legions, were impressed into urban brothels or exploited by owners in the households they served. The Roman authorities attempted to limit the spread of slave prostitution and often resorted to harsh measures. Brothel inmates, called meretrices, were forced to register with the government for life, to wear garish blond wigs and other distinctive raiment, to forfeit all civil rights, and to pay a heavy tax. In the Middle Ages the Christian church, which valued chastity, attempted to convert or rehabilitate individual prostitutes but refrained from campaigning against the institution itself. In so doing the church followed the teaching of St. Augustine, who held...
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