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Around the world, there's a growing movement to decriminalize sex work. Last year, Amnesty International, the largest human rights group in the world, came out with a recommendation that governments should decriminalize consensual sex work and develop laws that ensure workers are "protected from harm, exploitation and coercion." A United Nations commission has also come out in support of legalizing prostitution.
But the idea is a divisive one, stirring impassioned debates and concerns about the ways varying approaches could harm sex workers. Amnesty's recent policy drew strong support from public health advocates and intense backlash from those aiming to end prostitution completely.
Understanding the scope, harms and public health implications of policies addressing the world's oldest profession is really tricky. While prostitution - the buying and selling of sex - is a multibillion dollar industry, the sex trade is clandestine by nature. It's taboo. That makes it really hard to study, especially in the United States.
That's most often the case, except in this one part of the country, where the laws of prostitution were totally upended. It's a peculiar story that's largely left out of the current discussion. The place in question is not Nevada, where there's a small number of regulated brothels in certain rural counties.
It's a whole state - Rhode Island.
For several years, ending in 2009, indoor prostitution such as in massage parlors, strip clubs and through online escorts, was not a crime in this tiny New England State.
The whole thing happened somewhat unintentionally. But at the time, it fueled a heated public debate about sex, crime and health.
Years later, some are revisiting the lessons learned.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 09 2017, @06:21PM
In the USA (and many other countries) I don't think you're allowed to sell your kidney. This is what you are allowed to sell: http://www.therichest.com/rich-list/10-body-parts-you-can-legally-sell-for-big-bucks/ [therichest.com]
So if you're in the USA the State owns you. You don't own yourself. Boohoo.
Seriously though, prostitution is NOT selling your body. It's more like services or at most renting. If you buy a car, the you can rip the doors off etc. But if you rent a car there are far more limits on what you are allowed to do. Usually the rented car has to be returned in decent working condition, full tank etc ;).
As for my opinion on prostitution as a job. You can talk about exploitation all you want but zillions of people in the world have crappy jobs they don't like, few/zero alternatives and those jobs don't pay as well as sucking dick.
Prostitution is a higher paying but mostly crappy job. Would you as a straight guy suck someone else's dick for money or take it up your butt? Given enough money maybe you would, but it's not going to be a task you enjoy. That's how most prostitutes probably feel about most customers after a while. Don't go flatter yourself that the hooker really finds you attractive etc. Maybe the naive noobs might, but after a while most get hardened. Say she likes you but you're mainly using her even if you treat her well and make it clear you aren't going to marry her etc, so what happens to her after a few cycles of this?
There will be those who are genuinely OK with that and if they are lucky they might have a few customers they actually like. But how many hookers can earn enough just servicing only the few she likes? Only a few lucky courtesans. Not most hookers.
If you really want to reduce prostitution (legal/illegal) and make it less "exploitative" provide this:
1) Universal healthcare
2) Basic Income or better job opportunities
3) Free/subsidized education
4) Availability of birth control
In poorer countries there are indeed sex slaves and trafficked victims, but in many cases many of the girls are _voluntarily_ doing it. Why? Because some beloved relative has cancer or whatever and the USD200/month job at the factory isn't going to pay for treatment. Or the girl for some unfortunate reason needs to support a bunch of people (grandparents, parents etc).
Once you have all that then we can say those going into prostitution are doing it not because they were born unlucky into a shitty life but they really want the job. And even then would-be prostitutes should be required to attend courses first so that they know the full disgusting bits of what it entails (there are plenty of stupid ignorant people out there). Better for them to know before they've taken out a mortgage etc. I just had a masseuse complained about a customer who smoked - said he was really smelly etc (she's fine with me, because I shower etc first). Now imagine a hooker having to fuck and suck some customer with BO, poor hygiene etc (yeah maybe you can reject customers but what if you've taken out a big mortgage and the Brothel Boss says your "acceptance rate" is too low?).