Prostitution is not Oppressive of Women
Prostitution is one of the oldest professions in the world. It can be traced back several centuries, before the Israelites went to Egypt. It remains one of the most controversial professions in the current society. Prostitution can be considered as being oppressive of women, or not, given the perspective taken.
When a woman who is over 21 years decides to earn her living through prostitution after graduating from campus, it would be wrong to consider the act as oppressive. However, when a minor who lacks something to eat is forced into the profession, then this would be considered as oppression. Some states have legalized prostitution while others have not (Spector 54). However, it is a clear fact that prostitution is rampant all over the world.
When a woman makes a decision that the best way to earn her living is through prostitution, then it should not be considered as oppression, and neither should it be considered as a criminal offence. When a mature man decides to pay a mature woman in order to be intimate with her, this should not be considered a crime, as long as the act does not hurt other individuals. The two have freedom on how to manage their lives.
Use of Pornographic Materials by Women
The use of pornography among women has been on the rise. This is because of a number of facts. The first reason why women use pornography is the need to satisfy men sexually. The percentage of men who use pornography is higher than that of women. When men watch pornography, they would expect their women to do what the actor do in order to enhance satisfaction.
When they fail to get this from their wives, they would look for it from other women, especially the prostitutes (Weitzer 42). For this reason, the prostitutes will use pornography in order to satisfy customers who come their way. On the other hand, wives will use it to prevent their husbands from getting involved in extra-marital affairs.
Prostitution as a Victimless Crime
In its broadest term, a crime is any action of an individual that causes harm, physically or psychologically, to another individual (Ringdal 76). Taken in this context, prostitution can be considered as a victimless crime or otherwise. When a mature man makes a conscious decision to visit a joint, and engages a prostitute in a deal related to her profession, none of the two will be considered a victim.
The man is not offending the prostitute in any way. In fact, his presence is a joy to the prostitute. Similarly, the prostitute is not offending the man. In any case, the man took his time to look for the prostitute, a sign that she was of importance to him. When the two engage in the act, there will be no victim. Both will be engaging in an act that they approve of, and most likely enjoy.
Taken from another perspective, prostitution may have a victim. When a married man leaves her wife and engages in an affair with a prostitute, the wife will be the victim. The wife will be the victim because, that is her right, and it should not be shared with anyone, much less a prostitute. When the man is sexually infected in the process, he will transfer the infection to the wife, confirming that she is victimized by the act.
Works Cited
Ringdal, Nils. Love for Sale: A World History of Prostitution. New York: Grove Press, 2005. Print.
Spector, Jessica. Prostitution and Pornography: Philosophical Debate about the Sex Industry. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2006. Print.
Weitzer, Ronald. Legalizing Prostitution: From Illicit Vice to Lawful Business. New York: New York University Press, 2012. Print.