Prostitution is illegal in the United States, except for some counties in Nevada. Nonetheless, prostitution is in most part of the United States, in spite of the fact that it has been legalized. Prostitution is an act whereby, one sells his/her body for sex. In the United States, Prostitution is divided into three broad categories; street, escort, and brothel prostitution. Brothel prostitution takes place in brothel houses, which are houses where prostitutes can sell sexual services. This kind of prostitution is illegal in all parts of America, except in some counties in Nevada for example; Douglas County, Clark County, Carson City, Washoe County, and Lincoln County. Another form of prostitution is escort prostitution. This is always considered as entertainment, and massage services. It is supposed to be heavily regulated, but unfortunately, it is not because, in many counties where it is practiced, the only difference between escort and street prostitution is a phone call away. The last category of prostitution is street prostitution. This is the most unaccepted, and illegal type of prostitution in the United States. Street prostitution involves scantily dressed up women, and men roaming the streets looking for client to sell their bodies. It is the most frowned kind of prostitution because it is done openly. The question is should prostitution be legalized in the US? The answer is yes; because, it will help eliminate all the vices related to prostitution.
The legalization of prostitution will help eliminate the spread of sexually transmitted disease. If legalized, it will be regulated and this means, those practicing it will be forced to undergo medical check ups regularly to certify that they are fit before indulging in prostitution. Opponents argue that, the prostitutes and their clients are subject to a number of sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, women prostitutes experience high levels of violence for instance rape, torture, beatings, and terror. Women who practice prostitution are always subjected to all types of humiliations, whereby they are physically, and sexually assaulted. According to Barry (45), there are a number of reported cases on violence against prostitutes. She writes, “Women in prostitution experience extremely high levels of violence such as beatings, rape, torture and terror” (Barry 46). This can only be done away with if prostitution is regulated by legalizing it (Weitzer 89). Moreover, if legalized, the cases of the police not respecting prostitutes, and not helping them while in danger will be minimized. Many police officers fail to help prostitutes by refusing to help investigating crimes reported by them, but if it is legal, it will help reduce humiliation, crime, and violence against prostitutes.
Opponent of legalization of prostitution argues that, prostitution is an evil institution because the prostitutes charges for the sell of their bodies. However, something should not be illegal, just because the parties involved charges for their services. The prostitutes charge for the services rendered to their clients, and if neither of the parties is put in danger in one way or another, and they both agree, and are okay to exchange, then there is no harm here. Everyday people are having sex with strangers, yet no fee is being charged. Therefore, there is nothing wrong for making the stranger to pay for the services rendered which is sex. Therefore, the illegalization of prostitution in the United States is unfair for the people who want it, and the clients who are ready to pay for it because it is on mutual consent. The people give their bodies at free will, and their clients are ready to pay, if these legalization of prostitution continues, there will be an increase in the number of rape cases.
In addition, opponents believe that, if prostitution is legalized, it will lead to the increase of violent crimes like rape, and homicide. They further contend that, prostitution is inherently commercially exploitative, immoral and promotes repression against women by men. However, the proponents have challenged this by arguing that, if legalized, it will help reduce crime, improve health, generate revenue, get prostitutes out of the streets and help reduce poverty(Weitzer 124). When legalized, all the crimes against prostitutes will be at reduced levels because the perpetrators will fear being prosecuted. An example is the case of Gary Ridgway, who confessed that, he killed prostitutes because he knew he would not be held accountable. He confessed to the murders of 48 women (Guillen 980), where the police did nothing about it. Such cases can be reduced if prostitution is legalized. In addition, the police will be able to investigate crimes against prostitutes, and the perpetrators brought to book compared to when it is not legal where the perpetrators are left off the hook.
Proponents of legalization of prostitution in the United States argue that, every human being has a right to whatever they want with their bodies. They argue that, as long one’s action does not hurt the other party; they have a right to act that way. This is considered a basic human right because it is provided for in the constitution, and they feel that the government is violating their rights, yet they deserve them because they are in the constitution. In addition, the opponents argue that, if prostitution is legalized in the United States, the government will be able to regulate it. If legalized, it will be more easier to supervise it, and it will help in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS, and other related diseases.
Both the opponents and proponents have genuine issues, but one thing that comes clearly out of the debate is that before the legalization of prostitution, certain policies have to be put in place (Farley 1090). Prostitution has shown permanent damage done to women around the globe, the question is, can it just be regulated, much like tobacco, and alcohol, in order to off-set the havoc being done because of its illegalization, or just be banned completely in all counties, just like hard drugs? The US has taken a strong stance on the illegalization of prostitution in most of its counties, but the question is, will the demand for prostitutes ever go away? Many people in the US are against it because of the health issues it poses, but these health issues can be reduced by legalizing, and regulating it because, the demand for prostitutes, will never go away.
If the US is against prostitution, then why some brothels legal, yet the prostitution as a whole are is illegal? Prostitution should not be a crime as the US takes it, because the prostitutes are not committing an inherently harmful act. While there is an argument that there will be spread of diseases, increase in criminal activities, and health effects, all these has been challenged by the proponents side and in fact if legalized, it will lead to a reduction of the above mentioned issues. If prostitution is legalized, it will be regulated and therefore, all these implications being mentioned will be eliminated.
Works Cited
Barry, Kathleen. The Prostitution of Sexuality: The Global Exploitation of Women. New York: New York University Press, 1996. Print.
Guillen, Tomas. Serial Killers: Issues Explored Through the Green River Murders. New York: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. Print.
Farley, Melissa, ‘Bad for the Body, Bad for the Heart: Prostitution Harms Women Even if Legalised or Decriminalised. Violence Against Women,10.10 (2004): 1087-1125.Print.
Weitzer, Ronald. Legalizing Prostitution: From Illicit Vice to Lawful Business. New York: New York University Press, 2011. Print.
