Introduction
There are a variety of perspectives on the issue of legalizing prostitution. Legalization supporters know this kind of divisiveness will continue despite all sorts of prohibitions. The existence of shadow business will always be present in any country, despite a number of adopted laws. Therefore, supporters of legalization propose to establish legal protection for people working in prostitution officially. This approach can significantly reduce the number of sexually transmitted diseases. Moreover, with the establishment of taxation, as a result, workers in the field of prostitution will receive social guarantees. Furthermore, recognizing prostitution as a commercial form of life adjusts state intervention. In other words, control over the sale of sexual slavery can improve. Thus, legalizing prostitution is a good option to improve people’s livelihood and prevent human trafficking and sexual slavery. The plan for developing this concept includes legalizing prostitution and prohibiting sexual slavery or incitement.
Argument
One of the main advantages of legalizing prostitution is the possibility of an official medical examination of workers. Medical control of such enterprises at the official level makes it possible to establish a higher standard of living for workers. This is due to the taxation that arises from the legalization of prostitution (Geo, 2019). Medical insurance and other social guarantees appear. In other words, the possibility of promoting sexual slavery is greatly reduced. This is due to medical and state control over the activities and sales of organizations providing sex services.
Another reason why the legalization of prostitution becomes the optimal solution is the decriminalization of business. In countries that ban prostitution entirely, buying and selling sex services occurs at the underworld level. Researchers believe that bringing this business out of the shadows excludes the participation of criminal groups from it (Joulaei et al., 2021). Accordingly, such changes reduce the number of opportunities for people to be sold into sex slavery.
The third reason why the legalization of prostitution is practical is the increase in the social status of people. According to recent studies, people’s experience in sexual slavery shows that money prevented them from leaving the sphere (Joulaei et al., 2021). Good pay and being in shadow conditions made it possible to exist in society without exposing the proper type of activity. People were afraid of social condemnation and problems with the law. Such people are often shoved into a corner and do not see other alternatives. Therefore, the recognition of prostitution as a profession by the state can change the social perception of prostitutes by society. This can help many people who are in sex slavery to seek help from the state or people around them. The barrier of social humiliation will be minimized.
Opposition
One of the main arguments against legalizing prostitution is a significant increase in workers. As the Netherlands’ experience in the legalization issue shows, the number of sex workers has increased significantly with the adoption of laws (Janssen, 2021). However, this problem did not affect the government of the Netherlands at all. In fact, by legalizing prostitution, the state recognizes the importance and contribution of sex workers. As a result, the overall growth of representatives of this profession should not be in doubt. In the Netherlands, on the contrary, they are trying to support sex workers and get rid of their stigmatization (Janssen, 2021). Thus, this argument is not relevant to preventing the legalization of prostitution.
Another counterargument is the position that the legalization of prostitution will contribute to the growth of sex slavery. The legalization of prostitution automatically increases the demand for such services (Ham, 2018). Those people who were afraid to break the law cease to be afraid of legal prosecution. Traffickers in prostitutes can more easily lure people under the pretext of official work and the provision of social guarantees. There may attract people from poorer countries (Ham, 2018). Undoubtedly, this topic is a severe consequence of legalizing prostitution. However, it is worth noting that such effects can be minimized by closer state control. With a complete ban on prostitution, the problem does not change at all. The attraction of people from poorer countries will be present regardless of the adoption of the law on legalization (Ham, 2018). In this situation, the state should address the decriminalization of criminal associations. As mentioned above, as part of the legalization of prostitution, a decrease in the level of influence of criminal groups can be achieved. Thus, sexual slavery will exist regardless of the legalization of prostitution. Therefore, the counterargument is also not relevant.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is worth noting that the issue of legalizing prostitution is complex and requires the collaborative work of the state in various fields. The problem of sex slavery will not be solved only by adopting a law legalizing prostitution. Efforts are also needed toward the decriminalization of criminal organizations. However, the decision to recognize prostitution indirectly reduces the risks of sex abuse through medical, governmental, and social factors. Protection and support for sex workers should be provided by the state, which results in a higher standard of living. Because of this, people with more excellent stability will be more likely to avoid falling into sex slavery.
Works Cited
Freeman, Joelle. “Legalization of Sex Work in the United States: An HIV Reduction Strategy.” Legal Ethics, vol. 32, 2019, pp. 597–613.
Ham, Juile. “Using difference in intersectional research with im/migrant and racialized sex workers.” Theoretical Criminology, vol. 24, no. 4, 2018.
Janssen, Marie-Lousie. “Sex work activism and intersectionality.” Reconfiguring Stigma in Studies of Sex for Sale, edited by Jeanett Bjonness, Lorraine Nencel, & May-Len Skilbrei, Routledge, 2021, pp. 81–99.
Joulaei, Hassan, Keshavarzian, Amir, Khorsandian, Mohammadali, and Zarei, Nooshin. “Legalization, decriminalization or criminalization; could we introduce a global prescription for prostitution?” International Journal High Risk Behaviors & Addiction, vol. 10, no. 3, 2021, pp. 2–8.