I know you have all heard the term or saying that "sex work is real work", so why are we treating it like otherwise despite this being such a popular belief? Many like to associate prostitution as a form of lack of respect for one's self or simply as dirty. But, I want to highlight how it is just like any other job in a capitalistic society, and how much our society as a whole would benefit from the legalization of proposition, and how legalization means that the industry would become safer for all those who participate.
BODY
Legalizing Prostitution helps lower crime rates for non-harmful crimes
Because prositituiton is illegal, many police officers spend a lot of their time arresting prostitutes depsite their being larger and worser crimes commited
For example, in Las Vegas, where is there is high prostitution rate, there are many other illegal, violent, and dangerous activites being made, such as distribution of drugs, weapons, and something as minimal as fraud, theift, or something as extreme as murder and assult.
Many times, prositiuion is an act of free will. When sex workers are arresed for these it is in other ways saying that they are committing a crime as serious as possible murder, theift, and drug distribution.
Prostitution is nor harmful if done correctly adn safely, and in order for those things to be ensured, it needs to be legalized and destigmaitzed so when a crime is commited towards them, they feel safe enough to report it and get the help they deserve.
In CA for a prostitution misdemenour you can fined up to $1000 or 6 months in jail, and the same charges are given for drug possesion and distribution. This is alarming because we are criminalizing those who choose to use their bodies to make a living and comparing them to those who sell or harm themselves with illegal drugs.
According to LAWS.com around 80,000 people are arrested per year for soliciting sex, meaning that a lot of resoruces such as holding sells, public lawyers, and court jurys are being spent on a "crime" which can be done out fo free will
Legalizing Prostitution means fewer HIV diagnoses
HIV scientist gathered togathered together to prove that legalization of prostitution means fewer HIV diagnosis, spreads, and overall deaths
They stated that, "laws that prohibit prostitution are hampering efforts to control the global HIV epidemic"
Sandra Ka Hon Chu, a Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Networker pointed out how in the palces where the decriminalization occurs, "rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infection are very, very low"
Preventing the legalization of protistution inabilitates sex workers ability to get tested and protect themselves and their customers from HIV and other sexually transimited diseases
By legalizing prostitution, we can help further reduce the high rates of HIV and move foward with helping and supporitng sex workers rather than villianizing them
3. Counter Arguement
Many will try and refute the decriminalization of prostituiotn because of the amount of children working within the field.
A shocking statistic that they (LAWS.com) found is that as they stated men and those who participate in prostituon, feel safer with children and those who are under age becasue they are usually clean of sexually tansmitted diseases
If we allowed for prostitutes to regualrly and safely get cleaned and treated, there would be less need for children to work in the industry
And by ensruign that those of age can work legally and safely in the field, our resources such as law enforcement can focus on detecting those who have forced children into the feild and those who do it out their free will, and help them get out of it and into a better and safer path of life, until they reach the age where they can legally and responsibly make decisions for themselves.
CONCLUSION
Sex work has and will continue to be a part of our society, culture, and future. This is someone's livelihood, someone's way of putting food on their table or roof over their head, whether that be for a family, pet, or themselves. Criminalizing someone choosing to use their body to survive, is in a way more of a crime itself. What someone chooses to do with their lives and bodies should not be controlled and criminalized by our government, especially when our government has allowed for far worse ways of work to occur within our country. Prosotituion is a job, and a way of life, and by decriminalizing it we can ensure that everyone who participates can participate safely, which should be the main concern when addressing prositution and sex work.
