Prostitution is generally referred to as the world’s oldest profession. However, prostitution is illegal in many areas the United States for numerous reasons. It is illegal because it puts the lives of those who are prostitutes and those who are receiving sexual benefits in great danger. Weitzer stated that escorts are a vital risk of violence from procurers, customers, and drugs (Weitzer). It can put other people at harm through sexually transmitted diseases, drugs, and physical violence or abuse. However, upscale prostitution escorts are mostly free of risk. That is because there services have restrictions and policies. If the U.S government can garner specific policies and restrictions regarding legalizing prostitution, it could become a well regulated task.
Legalizing prostitution could allow for the regulation and safeguard toward the practice of safe sex. Ensuring that escorts practice safe sex and take periodic STD tests, could decrease the spread of STDs. According to Weitzer, a big determinant of the success of legalization is the cooperation of prostitutes to comply with the rules and laws (Weitzer 88). Legalizing prostitution would provide regulations regarding the use of condoms when engaging in sexual intercourse with a prostitute. Through continuous STI, STD, and HIV/AIDS testing, it would prove if the prostitute were abiding by the regulations and practicing safe sex.
If test results are positive, the prostitute put more than one life at risk, and could be prosecuted for his/her actions. Considering prostitution is legal in parts of Nevada, “prostitutes are required to be tested weekly for STDs and monthly for HIV and syphilis. Since 1988, condoms became mandatory for oral sex and intercourse with all sex workers. Brothel owners are liable if a customer becomes infected with HIV after visiting one of their prostitutes. Since 1986, no full-time commercial sex worker has been tested positive for HIV” (Giang). Safe sex isn’t the only benefit of the legalization of prostitution.
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Legalizing prostitution would protect escorts and decrease violence. If a prostitute becomes assaulted or raped he/she is highly unlikely to report such an incident to authorities. “Prostitutes are unlikely to report abuses to the police, they say, because they themselves are engaged in illegal activity” (“Legalizing Prostitution”). If prostitution was legal, prostitutes would feel more comfortable telling law enforcement acts of violence and abuse. This could aid authorities in numerous investigations. According to Ronald Weitzer, Department of Sociology, George Washington University, “A survey of 200 street prostitutes in San Francisco found that two thirds had been assaulted by customers and pimps and 70% had been raped by customers” (Weitzer 84). If prostitution were regulated by the government acts of violence such as this would not happen often because of the legal consequences that would follow.
Legalizing prostitution could create thousands of jobs. In a novel by Alexa Albert, “Mustang Ranch was Storey County’s third largest employer, after Kal Kan dog food factory and the school district, and had an annual payroll of 1.3 million, employing seventy-five people in positions ranging from floor maids to maintenance helpers” (Albert 172). Imagine how many jobs this would account for if prostitution were legalized nationwide. Electricians for power, maids to clean, accountants to do balance sheets, and many more. This would help the economy grow. The governement would have more money going into the system and less money being used to aid the investigations of prostitution cases.
Additionally, with the support of prostitutes, he/she could now help in the aid of investigations and feel comfortable informing law enforcement of illicit acts against such workers. No longer would prostitutes have to defend their procurers. They could feel safe in their own work environment and no longer have to worry about any “what if this or that happens” scenarios during working hours. Many prostitutes, in fact, don’t mind being a prostitute, and actually enjoy the job. According to McClelland, “In 2012, 38 percent of Americans thought sex work should be legalized: in 2015, amid growing support for legalized marijuana and increased personal freedom, that number went up to 44 percent.” This provides evidence that an increasing amount of Americans agree upon making prostitution legal.
The argument to make prostitution legal is not arguing that prostitution is right, in any way. However, it is designed to show the positive effects legalizing prostitution would have in the United States. If statistics are compared in the United States with legal brothels like Nevada and Connecticut, clearly these states are improving the quality of life. The safety of people and ourselves should be the primary concern when deciding if a law should be passed.
If prostitution were deemed legal, the governement could regulate and ensure the practice of safe sex with condom usage and STI, STD and HIV/AIDS testing amongst prostitution workers. Failure to comply to these regulations could result in arrest for putting other lives and your own at risk. Brothels could ensure condom usage, as well as law enforcement. Continual health screenings of sexually transmitted diseases would make it easier to regulate the spread and control of such diseases. Legalizing prostitution could protect escorts and decrease violence.
Considering prostitution is currently illegal in many parts of the United States, escorts feel intimidated by law enforcement and do not like to aid in investigations. Through legalization, workers could feel safe aiding investigators in ongoing misconducts. Furthermore, prostitution would create thousands of jobs. Not by becoming prostitutes, however but working within a brothel. Jobs ranging from floor maids to maintenance helpers would open many opportunities for work. Therefore, instead of prostitution negatively affecting the economy, it will be helping. Overall, prostitution should be legal and will improve the quality of life for many Americans.
Works Cited
- Albert, Alexa. Brothel: Mustang Ranch and It’s Women. Random House Group, 2001.
- Giang, Vivian. “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Prostitution In Nevada.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 14 Dec. 2011, www.businessinsider.com/prostitution-legal-nevada-prostitutes-brothels-sex-2011-12.
- “Legalizing Prostitution: Should Prostitution Be Legal?” 23 Jan 2009, pg. 1-7. Issues & Controversies.
- Mcclelland, Mac. “Criminals? Victims? Freelancers?” New York Media, 21 Mar 2016, pp. 1-10. General OneFile.
- Weitzer, Ronald. “Prostitution Control in America: Rethinking Public Policy.” Crimes, Law, and Social Change. 1999, pg. 83-100. ProQuest Central.
