Legalizing Prostitution
As I was traveling through Arizona a couple of weeks ago I ran across the February 2009 issue of Arizona Highways. In it was an article by Sally Beford entitled “Territorial Trollops.” In the story Sally made the statement that these “Ladies of the evening played a major role settling the West.” You can look it up and read the whole article, but the message it conveys is these “soiled doves” and “shady ladies” were instrumental in western expansion. Their “profession” contributed to economics and stability, “keeping a lid on the powder keg” atmosphere and environment of an 1800’s mining town. They were the first ambassadors of culture, bringing fine pianos and “fancy furnishings” to the towns they settled in. Sounds romantic doesn’t it?
Here is the unfortunate turn in the unfolding story. If a mining town went under the shady ladies would just pack up and go to another boom town. If the towns became stable the women would eventually be moved to the “tenderloin” or “red light” district. Finally laws against prostitution were enacted and the profession went underground.
Fast forward to 2008-2009. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is in this present time period that we have noticed the news articles citing our mayor extolling the possibilities of legalizing prostitution in Clark county and Las Vegas. One of the reasons he gives is the taxation will help support our educational system that is undergoing massive funding cuts in these troubled economic times.
A quick side note. One only need to travel 50 miles to the west to enter Pahrump in Nye county were prostitution is legal. More on this later in the blog.
An article in the February 12th Las Vegas Sun reports on the Legislature will pass on taxing prostitution this year but will almost assuredly have it on a future session. Then on the front page of the February 15th Las Vegas Review-Journal we have an article complete with full colored pictures of the 25 most hounded prostitutes that work the strip. The article merely reported on the revolving door policy of “catch and release” of these women and in the process giving another excuse to debase the so called “undesirables” of our society. Spokes person for the police said, “If they get the message that Las Vegas is not going to ignore their subsequent arrests, then maybe they will take their lifestyle to a different city.” Sound familiar?
Gary Peck of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada responded by saying, “It would be troubling if this list was being used as a substitute for sound police judgment.” The mayor wondered if the pimps should really be the ones to go after because they are the real “exploiters” of these women?
I began questioning everyone I could on their position on legalizing prostitution. Of all the people I interviewed only one was against legalization and they admitted that if a person had a debilitating illness that did not curtail their libido and had no prospects of marriage or a girlfriend it would be appropriate for them to visit legal prostitutes. In fact just last year the paper ran an article on a house of prostitution where some of the working ladies echoed that this was definitely part of their clients.
A female friend of mine who works for the United Methodist Global Board of Health and just returned from Tanzania doing AIDS education, told me that where prostitution was legal there was very little concern for AIDS or other STD’s because of the close screening and health care. Where prostitution was not legal, as in some of the townships she had recently been to, AIDS was epidemic.
So what I am putting forth here is possibly prostitution should be legalized and taxation should go to educational funds for the prostitutes to get vocational training. This could also include mandatory psychological evaluations and counseling to help in the rehabilitation of the many cultural and social situations (poverty, abuse, slavery) that brought them to prostitution in the first place.
My main concern and one that was echoed by just about everyone was the dark underbelly of human sex slave trafficking which is a worldwide cancer. If prostitution is legal will it help to eradicate this affront to human dignity or will it just open a legal opportunity for this kind of action??
I watched the HBO series “Cathouse” about the Moonlight Bunny Ranch, a legal house of prostitution in Nye County Nevada, to see what it might reveal. On the surface there were the prostitutes seemingly having the party of a lifetime. Professional lawyers, truckers and fathers bringing their sons and all were just having a wonderful time. But in the scenes that showed the owner, a man, interacting with the women it appeared to be more a form of slavery. If you were to believe what is presented on the show, these women only leave the premises to have their weekly health checkup and to go on fabulous shopping sprees, with the owner, to buy feathered boas!
No easy answers here.
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Bob, interesting and well-researched posting. You raise many ethical issues. Your post suggests that legislating the women or eliminating the pimps might solve a number of problems. I would posit that neither would be a true solution. The real and underlying problem is johns that see these women as less than human beings. These men feel free to use a woman's body for their own pleasure with no commitment or caring or consideration that she is a person with a soul. It's supposedly the oldest profession and perhaps there is no answer. But I would suggest that if our culture stopped viewing women as sexual beings first and humans a distant second, everyone (men and women) would be better off. OK, there's a little feminist theology for you....fullness of humanity for everyone, I say!!
ReplyDeleteOn further reflection, I have come to the conclusion that there is a deeper, underlying ethical issue in this socio-political question about whether or not to legalize prostitution. Miguel A. De La Torre (Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, 33)writing about the patients in the madhouse says that, “In the minds of those with power and privilege, marginalization is self-imposed . . . “ This means, the patients and by extension the prostitutes choose to be victimized, abused, and marginalized.
ReplyDeleteBecause prostitution is seen as a natural part of the need for males to use females (oldest profession, fathers taking sons to “houses” etc.) it becomes necessary to normalize the activity or make it legal. De La Torre writes (32), “. . . power is used to normalize what the dominant culture determines to be ethical; it does so by harnessing the exiting forces to which it has access,” in other words, legalization.
Like Bob, I have seen television shows about prostitution in which some women claim to enjoy their life. Others, perhaps with more courage, reveal the gritty realities of their victimization, mental, and very real physical abuse. These are people who are at the bottom of the food chain with few, if any, options.
But even scarier, De La Torre explains (33) that the idea that Johns and the dominant culture are free to use these marginalized women as they wish without regard to their humanness is then taught as truth to the oppressed and the power to subjugate becomes normalized by the dominant culture. Power to legalize prostitution, then, becomes positive, producing reality, and creating truth (De La Torre, 32).
To me, this is far worse than the idea that our dominant (male-centered) culture continues to see women as a whole as sexual beings to be used for pleasure without thought or regard for their humanness. Women who are part of the dominant culture have (limited) tools with which to fight that cultural perspective. The prostitutes, however, have no resources and are clearly seen as less than human similar to the women in the “slave markets’ that Traci C. West writes about in Disruptive Christian Ethics, When Racism and Women’s Lives Matter. And women in the dominant culture actually participate in that marginalization. Yikes! I’m becoming a liberationist!
Wow! What a great ethical topic. I remember when you brought this to our attention, Bob, and I remember wondering to myself...which side of this debate am I going to take? It's not an easy choice. On the one hand, not only as Christians but as humans who believe in the ethical treatment of other humans, we abhor prostitution because of how it demeans women. On the other hand, after looking at some of the research on legalization of prostitution, in many ways it makes sense (somewhat like the discussion on legalization of certain street drugs, but that's another topic). So I did what I often do when I'm looking for answers...google it! I found a site called politicalbase.com that has an entire page devoted to this debate. Here is part of what is on that site:
ReplyDeleteOn the "Pro" side:
"Supporters of legalizing prostitution believe that doing so is in the best interest of the prostitutes and the public, as well as recognizing that prostitution will exist in society. In countries where prostitution is regulated, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), is reduced through the encouragement of safer sex practices and regular STD testing. In developing countries, where this regulation does not occur, prostitutes serve as an active vector for all STDs, including HIV/AIDS. (Source: PubMed)" This actually makes a lot of sense. If the industry itself is regulated, then it can be better controlled, thus hopefully slowing the spread of STDs, and especially HIV/AIDS. Here's another one:
"Proponents of legalized prostitution argue that the number of rapes and sexual assault may decline in the U.S. by up to 25% (Source: Prostitution ProCon). Their views of prostitution are not just an exchange of sexual favors, but as a financial exchange and an extension of the free market." OK...while I'm not so sure I like the "extension of the free market" comment, one has to admit that reducing the number of rapes and sexual assualt is very attractive. And another:
"Others see prostitution as part of a "sex industry" that is for better or worse, part of society, and which should have the right to exist, but should have to do so under regulations similar to the way the pornography industry currently operates." I think the key here are the words "for better or worse". Yes, I think we all can agree that the sex industry is out of control, but is it better to continue to fight a losing battle, or make some concessions (such as better health care for the prostitutes through legalization of the industry) toward a more positive end...not a perfect end, mind you, but a more positive one.
On the "Con" side:
"Opponents of legalized prostitution cite that prostitution is immoral and that the prostitutes, as well as their customers, should be persecuted to eventually eradicate prostitution." Well, yeah...but unfortunately we're not all on the same side of the morality coin, so while this argument may fly in religious circles, I'm not so sure it would make a difference to those not-so-religious folks.
"Many in favor of prostitution claim that it is a victimless crime in that prostitutes are not committing an inherently harmful act. Opponents see that being a prostitute will likely involve abuse, exploitation, harassment, and possibly forced participation in "sadomasochistic sex scenes." (Source: Prostitution ProCon)" I agree, but again, if it's legalized, wouldn't it make sense that as part of the legalization this exploitation and forcible acts can be reduced or even eliminated?
"Opponents of prostitution sometimes claim that it is a means of oppression, and a cause of the trafficking and exploitation of women. They also use the argument that it can take up to 12 weeks for an HIV infected person to produce enough antibodies for a test to find them HIV-positive. Even if testing for STDs is mandatory and often, this delay puts unacceptable numbers of people at risk if prostitution was legal and practiced freely." OK...but as Bob indicated in his original comment above, in areas where prostitution IS legal, the instances of infection are decreased, so I'm not sure I agree with this argument.
So...
As a woman, a feminist, and a Christian, I abhor prostitution. But I also think it is one of those horrible realities that we unfortunately have to deal with in our imperfect world. Do I like the idea of legalizing prostitution? Not really. But would I support it if it came on the ballot here in Arizona...that depends on how it was worded and what it offered those women who have chosen this life for themselves (now, I know a lot of you are going to jump on me for that last comment...yes, I realize there are a lot of young women who have not chosen this for their lives, but I think that's yet another debate...so be kind if you do disagree with me here.). If, by legalizing prostitution, we would be able to assure that the money would be put to good use - toward education for the prostitutes, decent health care and regular health check-ups, and toward monitoring and regulating the profession, then yes, I would probably vote in favor.
Jody, thanks for looking thoughtfully at the issues involved! There is much here to both agree and disagree with. I'd like to comment on the statement that rapes and sexual assaults will decrease if prostitution is legal. I can't imagine how the people in this position figure that unless they mean that rape will be confined to prostitutes as victims. Rape is about power, not sex. Prostitutes are powerless people. Prostitutes are routinely raped and yet, rapists still seek out children, the elderly, and others in society. Somehow, I don't imagine that rapists will choose to rape prostitutes because it's easier.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about that old Christian concept, mostly forgotten today even among Christians, that our bodies are temples. Part of loving our neighbors as ourselves is surely treating our, and each others', bodies with care and respect. Prostitution is not about respect, on the part of the workers or the clients.
ReplyDeleteFrom a medical perspective: As noted above, tests for sexually transmitted diseases are not foolproof. And who’s testing the clientele?? The workers are very vulnerable to disease spread by their customers, and vice versa. One case of AIDS is one too many.
From a sociological perspective, I think this is one more instance of defining deviancy down. I think legalization is a form of affirmation that encourages rather than contains the legalized behavior.
Bob, you can include another person in your survey who does not support legalized prostitution: me.
Partially just to take a stance on the other side, and partially because of my own personal beliefs and experiences (NO, not THOSE kinds of experiences) I'll throw my hat into the 'Legalize It' corner. As a foster parent, unfortunately, I have become acquaintances with several prostitutes. Sadly, this often turns out to be a reason for women losing their children, either because they are arrested or because of the connected nature of the lifestyle and drug abuse. I think rather than it being an issue involving sexuality, the 'slave' nature of the profession is one that is shared by all marginalized workers. Does an immigrant roofer or a dish washer at a restaurant really feel any less enslaved by their employer than a prostitute working the streets downtown? Is it really the issues related to male-female dominance or the 'woman as sexual object' issue that we should be objecting to instead of the 'less than person' status that many people in completely legal professions share?
ReplyDeleteThere are so many arguments to make on each side, but for me it boils down to this: Does criminalization of prostitution make society a safer place? Does it protect women and does it preserve the fabric of society. I would argue that it does not; the facts of the matter seem to be that prostitution happens regardless of its legal status. Can legalization benefit society as a whole? Studies seem to indicate that it does (at least in regard to public health and taxation). Could legalization improve the lives of those affected? As a Christian I might argue an emphatic 'NO', but as an American who has come face to face with women (and men, let's not forget that it works both ways) in the profession I would have to say, yes, I think it would.
There you go, now come get me!!!
I'm not sure what to say, trying to give a response to the effect of saying "no, because from a christian perspective..."
ReplyDeleteThat is what I thought initially. My utilitarian view tells me that it may actually benefit society. I've heard similar arguments regarding casinos and the degredation of the community, hearing arguments and supporting evidence for and against. Could prostitution be considered as a way of sacrificing yourself for the benefit of the entire community?
Private sector...not really. Public sector with taxation...maybe?
If I was on the receiving end of the taxation benefits, I don't think I would feel comfortable in all honesty, if i were to have a child being educated by a system funded by prostitution. It feels like I am benefitting from another's sin.
Maybe violence and STDs will drop but other issues will arise, many of which cannot be foretold until we cross that line.
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ReplyDeleteI also watched a part of the program on the Moonlight Bunny Ranch and the woman that was being interviewed looked classy and would not have been mistaken as a prostitute anywhere. She spoke of her “occupation” as that of entertaining her guests, might it be through an intellectual conversation, or otherwise. Most of the women at the Ranch are highly educated and most are able to retire before the age of 30. I also watched a documentary on porn stars in a cultural psychology class. The documentary followed and interviewed famous porn stars. Both the Bunny Ranch and porn star women speak of how happy they are with their lives and that they wouldn’t give up their occupation for anything else.
ReplyDeleteWhile watching these women speak of their lives, I don’t think anyone was completely convinced that they were completely happy. Something just didn’t seem right, and just like the previous comments have suggested, they seem to be enslaved to this way of life. What really bothers me about the issue of prostitution is that the women are blamed and arrested while those who are enjoying their services really are left alone. Even in the times of the Bible, we see women being stoned for adultery. The first time I read this, I asked, where’s the guy who paid her to sleep with her? I don’t think any girl decides one day, “I’m going to be a prostitute when I grow up so I can manipulate men and become rich while selling my body.” But society makes it seem like this is what these women are up to.
I don’t believe that legalizing prostitution is the answer to solving this problem. It may seem like there are benefits to this, but it seems that in the long run, more souls will be crushed and more lives oppressed. I watched another program about this pastor who works to eradicate pornography and reaches out to the porn stars to give them the good news. The Bibles he passes out and the shirts that he and his team members wear says, “Jesus loves porn stars,” and they go to conventions and elsewhere to hand out Bibles and deliver God’s message. I believe that legalizing prostitution, although tempting in its benefits, is not the answer, but from a Christian standpoint, we should think of ways to deliver these women out of prostitution just like the pastor above is doing. And not only to stop there but to help the consumers of prostitution as well. Because not only are the women being enslaved, but the people who are paying for this service seem to be enslaved to their sins as well.
I think Jennifer raises an important point by referencing who was featured in these documentaries. They are not your run of the mill prostitutes/porn stars. I can find other documentaries that demonstrate how horrible the life of some are, and are much more compelling in my opinion. The average, everyday prostitute in Pomona, CA (the city where I serve the homeless) is drug-addicted, homeless, abused, extremely poor and living in fear. Some may argue that legalization would change this, but I believe they are wrong. There will still need to be a "cheap" market for prostitutes (most people don't pay the lavish prices the ladies at the Bunny Ranch make), and they will still be exploited. It is a part of the drug culture. Generally speaking prostitution demonstrates how horrible poverty is by driving God's beautiful children to a life of degradation.
ReplyDeleteTry as I may, I could not come to the conclusion that making prostitution legal is a good idea because of all the good to society that could come about by it. I'd prefer to support other programs that would heal and care for individuals which would result in the same outcomes but through a different means.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that many of the arguments against legalized prostitution argue that somehow legalization will make things worse. My main point is that whether or not it is legal doesn't seem to have any affect on whether or not people engage in prostitution. The main issue for me is whether or not legalization will cause an improvement or decline in the quality of life for people who are already engaged in this activity. It seems that studies have shown that it will cause an improvement in quality of life for many. As a Christian I find it abhorrent to consider the state legalizing and taxing this industry, but I feel the same way about alcohol and tobacco. Is the war on prostitution working? Are we making society a better place by criminalizing a transaction between consenting adults? You may say that for the women it is not necessarily a question of consent because they are trapped but I feel that this is merely a product of the illegal nature of the industry. Bring it out into the open and you can begin to disassociate prostitution from pimping and drug abuse.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post.
ReplyDeleteI also think that this is very controversial issue.
In light of human rights of women, prostitution has to be banned legally, but in actuality, it is very hard because for women who engage in prostitution it is a means of living. Most of prostitution women do not have enough opportunity of education due to their poverty. This circumstance leads them into prostitution. I saw some documentary dealing with prostitution women’s lives, in which they said that they decided to prostitute themselves to escape from poverty.
Some people might support legalizing prostitution since prostitution women can be protected by the law officially, and women have the right to choose their job without any interference.
However, I disagree with legalizing prostitution for the following reasons. Contrary to expectation of those who support legalizing prostitution, I think that to legalize prostitution, rather, compromises women’s human rights more because the law may support the vicious pimp, and also legalizing prostitution would make people regard women as just the means to satisfy one’s sexual desire. For these reasons, I think that government should not legalize prostitution. Instead of that, it has to try to offer equal opportunity of education for all to cease a vicious circle of poverty which makes women sell their body. Also, Christians have to practice Jesus’ teaching to take care the poor.
There is a strip club down the street that is packed 24/7. The Christmas decorated sign says, “Stimulus Packages Here.” Well, with the economy in its current situation I laughed the first time I read it, but never did I think about how women objectifying themselves could make a contribution to society. The idea that prostitution can help fund the education system is just disturbing. But what is more disturbing is what I saw on a clip from Utube, a woman from the Bunny Ranch openly (smiling) advocating for prostitution, but in the next breadth when asked about her goals she says, “ my goal is honestly to be successful in music and happy in life.” If prostitution leads to the diminishment of life it probably should not be used for the enrichment of others.
ReplyDeleteWhere to begin? First, I must admit I like the idea of regulating sex and STD's. However, I think that it would come at too great a cost if it meant prostitution had to be legalized. Now, I am not a Christian but I do think that the intensity and inherent nature of the pleasure of sex proves that sex is on a different level than some of life's great indulgences. I think that it should be shared willingly among two consenting adults, but I also think it should be shared in a loving relationship. I realize that it not realistic to impose that on everyone but I think if the standards were lowered and sex was made that readily available for anyone who wanted it, these principles would be much harder to instill in our children. I feel that the line must be drawn somewhere and with the amount of STD's, teenage pregnancies, "sexting", etc., I think it is evident we have a problem with sex being so prevalent in society today, especially with our youth. Everyone blames the media for selling sex, so how is selling sex literally a good ethical idea? I am also curious how many clients that visit legal prostitutes are married or in a serious relationship. While I don't think that fidelity is something we can control for others, I would imagine that infidelity would increase if prostitution were legal. I mean, with the exception of those men or women who are charming enough to have people throwing themselves at himself or herself, a fairly good amount of work must be done before one finds himself/herself in a precarious situation. I would have to imagine that serves as a deterrent for some at least. In terms of using prostitution as a means to escape poverty, I hate to say it but I know plenty of women who are married to men that they have no real interest in except for their wallets and the men have very little interest in them except for their looks. I'm sure this can be found in any type of sexual relationship regardless of gender or preference. While I don't condone this behavior, and am in fact against it, I would argue that that is a form of legal prostitution. While it won't generate any tax money and cannot be regulated, it can help the marginalized escape poverty without changing the law for everyone, while hopefully keeping them in a much less dangerous situation.
ReplyDeleteThis just in
ReplyDeleteLas Vegas Review Journal Wednesday, March 25,2008
by Brendan Riley
" A State Lawmaker has proposed a $5.00 tax on acts of prostitution in Nevavda,...and a counseling agency for sex workers that would be funded in part by the tax revenue."
This legislation may or may not come even close to legislation. It must be signed by the Govenor who will not sign it without public support.
What we see is the glimmer of hope for those trapped in the industry and a way out through counseling, training and hope.
I am reminded that Jesus ate with, among other marginalized people, prostitutes. He saw and loved them as people, which is what we also must do. I cannot endorse the legalization of prostitution because I do not believe it is a “victimless” crime/business. I believe it reduces a human being to a commodity and an act that was meant to build relationship and family to a business transaction—like buying a bag of potato chips in a store.
ReplyDeleteOn a practical level, considering the woman’s dignity, can you see a prostitute in the documentary trying to give two weeks’ notice if she wishes to quit. Many prostitutes are at the mercy of pimps. Many of these “ranches” are in remote areas of the desert. How do we really know that if a woman wants to leave she is really able to do so? If prostitution is legalized, can the whole country be policed to ensure that each one is really an independent entrepreneur who isn’t being exploited? What about benefits such as employees in many companies can receive? Do or will prostitutes such as those at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch receive these or be able to unionize? Furthermore, what about retirement? Since, for the most part, these women are being used for their looks, and youth is highly valued as a component of beauty in our society, what happens to these women as they age? In all seriousness, it’s highly unlikely that any woman (given a willingness to even do so) would be able retire from such a profession. Once clients decides a woman does look pleasing enough anymore, what becomes of her?
Finally, again emphasizing human dignity and the right to work, does any woman who feels she really has a selection from which to freely choose, say, “I would like to be a prostitute”? Of all the things I have heard girls say they want to be when they grow up, I have never heard one, as a child or teen, say, “I want to be a prostitute”. I think legalizing prostitution will make women more vulnerable, not less. Again, I think efforts need to be aimed at the problem’s root; at liberating women from the sex trade and helping them heal from the things that get them into it and keep them in it.
I also agree that this is a matter of use and abuse of females. People like to use women for fun, for their own pleasure with no commitment. Once the Iranian President Khomeinee said in West women are the playing dolls and playing toy for their men. I think part of it is true. Some women enjoy doing that. Some of them are single mothers, who need a jobs. I have had classmates who were working as stripers to pay off their school tuition…. Shouldn’t we just take a look at our sociopolitical and the governmental system?
ReplyDeleteAn excellent approach Robert. I do appreciate your posting.
ReplyDeleteOne of the episodes of Tyra Banks show was dedicated to young porn stars.
During the show they have been interviewed one of the famous porn stars 18 years old S. Grey, who regardless to her age, she already shooted her 80th adult film.
One of Grey’s expressions for doing sex was “it feels good” or “I’m in my own element” etc.
She is one of those thousands who are involved in this type of life.
On the other hand there are other girls, who nominatively do not work as prostitutes, but they change their boy-friends like their underwear, and they assume by saying “we are living and enjoying our lives”, “we are free” and they let their boy-friends to spend thousands of dollars for buying gifts, jewelry etc.
I had the chance to talk with few of above mentioned “heroes”. One of them told me that “it’s my chance of life, I’m still young I will make a big amount of many, then get in to another business”. Another one said “as sportsmen make their fortune during the beginning few years of their lives, me too I will do the same”
Finally I came to the conclusion, that secretly or evidently whoever wants to be involved in prostitution affairs, nothing can stop them.
In France prostitution is not legal, but if you go to the neighbor countries of France like Nederland or Belgium, you can obviously see the high percentage of French tourists who attend to “Red light district” in Amsterdam or “Gare du Nord” in Brussels without hesitating to do huge travel expenses.
I would ask you, which is better, encouraging those travelers to go abroad or in to another state, or it’s better to encourage those girls who change boy-friends like their underwear and break their heart , or it’s better to legalize the prostitution and profiting the taxes of prostitution??
Don't you just wish there were some way to gaurantee companionship for the lonely; encouragement to the young seeking self-validation; money, food and safety to the runaways; a hand to hold, a ear to hear, an arm to hug, and intimacy for those who so yearn for it that they find themselves resorting to prostitution of some kind? If all the emptiness in the world were filled, people wouldn't have to sell themselves to fill their pockets and their hearts and others wouldn't have to buy a few minutes alone with another person to fulfill a human need.
ReplyDeleteI've got no answers; just this thought. "Go and sin no more," said Jesus to the adultress. Go, and no longer be without. Oh, to know Jesus so well that one always remembers that our bodies are the temples of the Spirit and to feel so filled with that Spirit that the emptiness becomes but a memory.