Hello women friends,

I am wondering what you think about whether prostitution should be illegal? I have done quite a bit of research on the topic...including across different countries (U.S.A, Netherlands, Scandinavian countries) with different approaches and responses to prostitution. I am happy to share my view but first I'd like to hold back so as not to bias the thread.

All views welcome. I only ask that posters keep in mind that there could be readers or posters on PC who work in the sex industry or are related to folks who do. So let's discuss laws and policies and their effects on girls and women rather than judging individual life choices if you see what I mean.

I would also like to ask men what they think but I cannot post on the men's forum.

Peace to all.

[Mopey]

No, SilverTrees, I do not believe it should be illegal.

Best of luck with your survey.

[88Butterfly88]

Prostitution isn't my thing but I still think it should be legal.

[piggy momma]

I do support the decriminalization of the sex trade. I would like to see sex trade workers have protection and benefits like any other job.

Thank you for your responses folks. May I ask if each of you grew up in the U.S? If you'd rather not say, no problem

[Mopey]

Yes, born here, still here.

[Rive1976]

I am in the U.S. and think it should stay illegal.

[Raindropvampire]

From the U.S. and I think it should be legalized. Let's face it prostitution will always be an industry so why not decriminalize? Then they could have benefits, protection, pay taxes, pay into social security and other things that people in legalized professions take for granted.

Thanks to all of you for your sensitive and thoughtful responses. I'm going to leave this thread going a while before I weigh in with some research.

With regard to your comment RaindropVampire, I was going to add that they don't call it "the world's oldest profession" for nothing. You are right, prostitution is not new and it's not fading away. I believe as long as there are humans, there will be some form of prostitution. And yet, as a society, I feel we are only beginning to really step back from judgment and moralizing in order to analyze what is really the ethical or logical way to respond to prostitution. I will add that I recently changed my view on the legal implications based on some newer research I read from a country where I have never lived. I have found the issue to be even more complex than I previously realized. More to follow if folks are interested.

Keep posting if you feel like it. Thank you.

[amandalouise]

considering prostitution industry involves sex with minors (run aways, kidnapped children and teens, religious cults, human trafficking, ...) yes I believe prostitution should be illegal and am glad it is in most if not all USA states.

[saidso]

I think prostitution should be legal but pimping should not be: that's the situation in France. Pimping = procurement of sexual services: this could range all the way from human trafficking to just being a middleman.

The French police regularly prosecute international networks of organised prostitution, and I think that the police focus on this large-scale pimping - often linked to illegal drug running - which automatically incurs prison sentences.

Also French law (dating from 13 April 2016 I believe) deals severely with clients of underage or "vulnerable" prostitutes who risk 3 years of prison and a 45000 euro fine. In the same law there are resources to support sex workers who wish to get out of the business. There are also provisions for educating young students and the general public about sex work.

I believe that French sex workers often deal with their need for protection against male violence by sharing their income 50:50 with a pimp, however.

I'm known a few students who did sex work from their homes with no intermediaries. They saw it as a legitimate and profitable way to look after their financial circumstances, better than grafting as someone's cleaning lady.

[Rj1331]

I do not believe that Prostitution should be Illegal, however I believe that it should be a legitimate business with a safe place, and clean environment if it were legal.

[saidso]

However, DSK - Monsieur Strauss Khan - was acquitted in 2015 of aggravated pimping in France, which seems to indicate that a certain level of political figures can get away with activities that would incur 10 year prison sentences if done by anyone else - rant!

[romantic rose]

No I don't. It is a way of putting food on the table for some women, when they are unemployed or their wages are not high enough. If there is no other way of making money, it should be an option. At the end of the day prostitutes are providing a service, however if it were me in that situation I would make sure the client wore protection. And anyone can end up in that situation if they are desperate enough. There will always be men willing to pay for sex, wherever you live. It's not an ideal job but if needs must then it has to be done. As someone who always had sex purely to satisfy the other person's desires (as I always hated it) I can understand why some women end up feeling it is a viable 'career' option if they are stuck.

[Mopey]

Granted there should be severe restrictions on just who those prostitutes are. Definitely, no minors! It must be a personal choice.

[rebeka]

Whether or not one want to engage in prostitution is a personal choice. On a moral level, prostitution decreases the pleasure of sex by making sex readily available and easily accessible. It also removes the personal, emotional intimacy that sex should engender.

[downandlonely]

I think if it was legal, it would be safer. We could also tax it.

[saidso]

You have to be 18 to legally work as a sex worker in France although the legal age for consent for sex is 16.

The whole issue has nuances in my opinion. Taking an individual escort home for sex is different to bringing 13 young women from Eastern Europe for a group of politicians to act out violent and bestial sex. It depends how much the woman knows what she has consented to, and how far she has control over that.
It depends how much money is offered. DSK is reported to have offered that hotel maid one million to drop the assault case, and she chose money over retaliation. If a woman can earn more than she would otherwise earn in her lifetime... perhaps sometimes financial survival is just about chosing one trauma over another trauma.

Would it be different if women were usually the pimps and men the prostitutes? Is that role reversal conceivable? Some of what feels wrong to me is the acting out of traditional male hierachy, male disconnectedness issues?

[88Butterfly88]

I grew up in and live in the US.

[romantic rose]

I don't think it matters where one grew up or lives tbh, because men are willing to pay for sex in all parts of the world. There will always be a market for it, and the same rights and responsibilities towards worker and client should apply everywhere, whoever is buying and selling.

Personally I agree it would be safer if it was legal. It might not be an ideal job but it is a means to an end and therefore is every inch as valid as any job. Lots of people hate their job but they are still seen as valid jobs. It's providing a service and should be taken seriously.