Sex work should be decriminalized

[morita]

(I don't know if someone already made a thread on this matter, just thought I would post this.)

"Criminalization makes sex workers more vulnerable to violence, including r*pe, assault, and murder, by attackers who see sex workers as easy targets because they are stigmatized and unlikely to receive help from the police. Criminalization may also force sex workers to work in unsafe locations to avoid the police.

Criminalization consistently undermines sex workers’ ability to seek justice for crimes against them.
They said that they are afraid of being arrested because their work is illegal and that their experience with police is of being harassed or profiled and arrested, or laughed at or not taken seriously. "

"Does decriminalizing sex work encourage other human rights violations such as human trafficking and sexual exploitation?
Sex work is the consensual exchange of sex between adults. Human trafficking and sexual exploitation are separate issues. They are both serious human rights abuses and crimes and should always be investigated and prosecuted."

"Governments should fully decriminalize sex work and ensure that sex workers do not face discrimination in law or practice. They should also strengthen services for sex workers and ensure that they have safe working conditions and access to public benefits and social safety nets."

source

 

[Thunderian]

Yes.

 

[Aero]

I agree.

I think it's time we dumped the philosophy of "optics" and went with real practical solutions.

 

[Lurker]

Yes.

Ditto

 

[Thunderian]

There’s selling yourself, and then there’s being trafficked.

Traffickers need to go away forever, but locking up the men and women who are victims in this so-called victimless crime just piles on to people who are already at the bottom of life.

If an adult wants to sell or rent out their own body of their own free will, I don’t see much of a difference between prostitutes and prize fighters. No matter how we may feel about the morality of it, it’s not society’s job to criminalize that kind of personal choice.

 

[Aero]

it’s not society’s job to criminalize that kind of personal choice

Yes, but we are dealing with shallow and ignorant populations.

Take Instagram for example, it is just like prostitution. Men and women all over are essentially selling their bodies and likeness to a major corporation. Now that Instagram is altering the "like" system it takes that notion even further. Before that change, at least there was an illusion where users could build some kind of social media brand.

I like how you brought up prizefighters. Because a great many social media users act one part gangster, one part UFC warrior. Of course, I hate to sound crass, but it's like no these fools are total hookers. And sure, In a way, I'm acting in the same fashion, like I got my pimp hand out ready to slap.

Of course, pimp slaps aren't my thing. My appearance is just too flawed to ever look like a proper hooker. Moreover, this isn't disrespecting, it's the reality of the two roles the "culture" has boxed us into. You are either the hooker or the pimp.

 

[TempestOfTempo]

The commodification of sexual assault has no place in civilized society.

 

[DavidSon]

There was another thread about this topic early in the year:

https://vigilantcitizenforums.com/threads/the-glamorization-and-sugar-coating-of-prostitution.5128/

I see there are varied opinions and I lean toward supporting the view CV takes:

All problems ultimately lead to economics and the answer to this and everything else is understanding that the "one true enemy" is Capitalism.

I find it impossible not to correlate the choice to sell your body and economic oppression. As was brought up before, if there was a type of universal income or humane distribution of wealth, how common would selling yourself for sex be?

The term "sex work" is repulsive and exemplifies how far a materialist, profit based society/economy had dragged down our standards of health and well-being. To me it's disturbing to read "Christians" who endorse what are basically cancers created by liberal, anti-christ laissez-faire economic theories.

Call this opinion "legislating morality," I don't really care. In no sane, healthy culture would we encourage our daughters, sisters, mothers, etc. to share access to their private parts in exchange for cash. This practice is a form of mental illness on the ends of both the abuser and the abused. Economic reforms and proper education could go a long way to eliminating this disease.

 

[Lisa]

Isn’t that always the incentive... to make illegal things legal..it will make it better and lower crime? Does that also mean if we make prostitution legal we should encourage our daughters into that profession?

 

[Noname]

There was another thread about this topic early in the year:

https://vigilantcitizenforums.com/threads/the-glamorization-and-sugar-coating-of-prostitution.5128/

I see there are varied opinions and I lean toward supporting the view CV takes:



I find it impossible not to correlate the choice to sell your body and economic oppression. As was brought up before, if there was a type of universal income or humane distribution of wealth, how common would selling yourself for sex be?

The term "sex work" is repulsive and exemplifies how far a materialist, profit based society/economy had dragged down our standards of health and well-being. To me it's disturbing to read "Christians" who endorse what are basically cancers created by liberal, anti-christ laissez-faire economic theories.

Call this opinion "legislating morality," I don't really care. In no sane, healthy culture would we encourage our daughters, sisters, mothers, etc. to share access to their private parts in exchange for cash. This practice is a form of mental illness on the ends of both the abuser and the abused. Economic reforms and proper education could go a long way to eliminating this disease.

There's a girl that went to the same private school as me that years later became nationally famous for being a proudly prostitute, she even used to have a blog where she shared her sex experiences. There were other girls in my school that became prostitutes too. None of them had financial problems, you may believe it or not but there are people who aren't suffering any kind of economic oppresion and yet choose to be prostitutes simply because they want. See the new trend going on, the self called "sugar babies", for example. Also, there are lots of people whom are drug addicts and sell themselves bc of said addiction. While it's true that many resort to prostitution due to poverty, and this is a very sad reality, I'm against the criminalization of people of age who do it on their free will. I don't agree with prostitution, but I think everyone should be allowed to do wathever they pleased with their own bodies if it didn't hurt or cause damage to the others.

(EDITED)

 

[TempestOfTempo]

There's a girl that went to the same private school as me that years later became nationally famous for being a proudly prostitute, she even used to have a blog where she shared her sex experiences. There were other girls in my school that became prostitutes too. None of them had financial problems, you may believe it or not but there are people who aren't suffering any kind of economic oppresion and yet choose to be prostitutes simply because they want. See the new trend going on, the self called "sugar babies", for example. Also, there are lots of people whom are drug addicts and sell themselves bc of said addiction. While it's true that many resort to prostitution due to poverty, and this is a very sad reality, I'm not against the criminalization of people of age who do it on their free will. I don't agree with prostitution, but I think everyone should be allowed to do wathever they pleased with their own bodies if it didn't hurt or cause damage to the others.

Regardless if they are corralled into the sex industry out of financial desperation or not, there is no way whatsoever that this can be a positive or healthy option.

 

[DavidSon]

There's a girl that went to the same private school as me that years later became nationally famous for being a proudly prostitute, she even used to have a blog where she shared her sex experiences. There were other girls in my school that became prostitutes too. None of them had financial problems, you may believe it or not but there are people who aren't suffering any kind of economic oppresion and yet choose to be prostitutes simply because they want. See the new trend going on, the self called "sugar babies", for example. Also, there are lots of people whom are drug addicts and sell themselves bc of said addiction. While it's true that many resort to prostitution due to poverty, and this is a very sad reality, I'm not against the criminalization of people of age who do it on their free will. I don't agree with prostitution, but I think everyone should be allowed to do wathever they pleased with their own bodies if it didn't hurt or cause damage to the others.

I understand your point of view. I'm sure the majority of Americans would agree. One correction is that MOST resort to prostitution due to poverty, not just "many." I think too we have to take the global situation of exploitation into account.

As you've been at the VC forum you know there is a bit of a moralistic/religious attitude displayed by many of us. Whether the subject of sexualizing children, the lies within our religions, gay marriage, the corruption of our media and entertainment industries, etc., I appreciate the intention to break down the walls of lies to build a better world. Again my personal belief is prostitution fully corresponds to the dark, corrupt, sinister elements of humanity being pushed into the mainstream that authors like VC are working to expose. I naturally assume this is part of why we're all here.

In poverty or not the girls you mentioned are still victims of a materialist, godless society. Prostitution may have existed for a long time (there's even a Biblical account of one of the sons of Jacob visiting a whore) but it's always been shunned as a sinful act, kind of hidden away at the fringes of society. These girls are ill, and we have to talk about it. Every woman who engages in prostitution (or adult films) is someone's daughter, think of that fact. I will continue to express my concern over our collective conscience being subverted by the normalization of corruption. Peace.

 

[Thunderian]

To me it's disturbing to read "Christians" who endorse what are basically cancers created by liberal, anti-christ laissez-faire economic theories.

Where do you see Christians endorsing prostitution?

 

[morita]

There was another thread about this topic early in the year:https://vigilantcitizenforums.com/threads/the-glamorization-and-sugar-coating-of-prostitution.5128/

I see there are varied opinions and I lean toward supporting the view CV takes

No one is talking about glamourizing or legalizing prostitution. I'm not making a statement about whether I'm for or against sex work, however criminalization just prevents sex workers from having access to basic human rights wich I've delved into in my initial post.

Call this opinion "legislating morality," I don't really care. In no sane, healthy culture would we encourage our daughters, sisters, mothers, etc. to share access to their private parts in exchange for cash.

But you do realise that men also sell their bodies in exchange for money? Fact that you're assuming only women are out here doing sex work just tells me your argument is based on controlling women's bodily autonomy.

Furthermore what about the sons, brothers and fathers, etc who fill up their bank accounts? Where is the accountability for the clients? For the pimps? If sex work is a crime, they're just as guilty. Prostitution wouldn't be called the oldest pofession on earth if it wasn't for them.

In poverty or not the girls you mentioned are still victims of a materialist, godless society. Prostitution may have existed for a long time (there's even a Biblical account of one of the sons of Jacob visiting a whore) but it's always been shunned as a sinful act, kind of hidden away at the fringes of society. These girls are ill, and we have to talk about it.

When it comes to women's choices about their bodies, more projection is usually done than actually listening to women. Religion has perpetuated the idea that every woman should be striving twrds being chaste and pure and that if they stray from those things they're mentally ill.

Every woman who engages in prostitution (or adult films) is someone's daughter, think of that fact.

I've heard the same argument used many times to humanize r*pe victims "she's someone's daughter!" but interestingly it's also rooted in patriarchy and the concept of women's bodies as properties. The fact that women's bodies belong to their fathers and to their husband once they get married. Sexual assault was considered for a long time a crime, not on the women who were assaulted but on the fathers and husbands of said women. Two wrongs don't make a right.

 

[morita]

But you do realise that men also sell their bodies in exchange for money?

Furthermore what about the sons, brothers and fathers, etc who fill up their bank accounts? Where is the accountability for the clients? For the pimps? If sex work is a crime, they're just as guilty. Prostitution wouldn't be called the oldest pofession on earth if it wasn't for them.

So no one is gonna respond to that? Yall were mad loud when it comes to shaming sex workers but talk about incriminating the clients and crickets...lol

 

[TempestOfTempo]

So no one is gonna respond to that? Yall were mad loud when it comes to shaming sex workers but talk about incriminating the clients and crickets...lol

What do you mean? Its a supply and demand industry.... therefore the tricks, johns and pimps are the real criminals whom should be prosecuted. The prostitutes are usually victims who deserve care and protection.

 

[Thunderian]

What do you mean? Its a supply and demand industry.... therefore the tricks, johns and pimps are the real criminals whom should be prosecuted. The prostitutes are usually victims who deserve care and protection.

If the prostitute is conducting business of his or her own free will, on what grounds would johns be prosecuted?

 

[Artful Revealer]

Prostitution should be illegal. Selling your flesh for money, or paying money for flesh, to satisfy your physical lusts, that's as antithetical to Christianity as it can get. What Christian wants to legalize that which Christ explicitly called sin to the sinful woman at Bethany?

Typical liberal-libertarian sophistry by HRW, conveniently using the individual's right to autonomy to promote vice instead of trying to rid vice from the world.

 

[Infinityloop]

My religious views are different from my political views on the matter. Personally I believe politically that sex work (as in that which does not contradict human rights standards) is no more moral or amoral than regular work, it's just a specified field of labor.

I fail to see any difference between paying a person $20 an hour for working groceries or building houses, or working at a hospital or being a politician, than a person lawfully and consentually seeking out clients for specified personal labor (being sexual acts).
Both are ultimately prostitution because they are a person doing some form of work for money, there is no difference. It's all trade and selling of products of some form.
Both have different boundaries, one is intimate and the other restricts intimacy as being allowed on work property. Both however are required by law to be discreet and personal details of both types of jobs are only lawfully allowed to be shared between the worker and the head-boss.

I think as human beings we ARE objectified by the capitalist system and our lives are valued far less than those of sex workers (who are rather glamorized, both by themselves and their clients).
The difference here is that sex workers choose their industry of work, whereas we have to work regular jobs whether we choose to or not (with exception of those who have disabilities who are usually financially aided by a countries' welfare system).

This is one of those topics where your religious views (obviously as a Muslim it would be very obvious that my views on modesty and adultery inform my religious views on it, in which I do not support it religiously) do not really matter. Moralistic reasons for opposing it ARE as irrelevant as moralistic reasons for opposing being a dentist, surgeon or a dairy cashier.
Is it moral for us to be required to even work to be able to afford the most basic things like water, food, electricity and a house to live under? I think that's more immoral than a woman or man choosing to go out and make money of their body.

We are already more objectified than the sex workers are, I can't see why someone would turn a blind-eye to that and play stupid.

 

[Infinityloop]

In accordance with what I said in the above post...

Call this opinion "legislating morality," I don't really care. In no sane, healthy culture would we encourage our daughters, sisters, mothers, etc. to share access to their private parts in exchange for cash. This practice is a form of mental illness on the ends of both the abuser and the abused. Economic reforms and proper education could go a long way to eliminating this disease.

I fully agree with this and as applied to regular work as well. All you need to do is ask the question "Why should it be compulsory to work a job?" or "Why should employment be necessary for basic living necessities?" and then sit back and watch the Stockholm syndrome in effect. It is completely irrational.