When sex is a job...

[shadesofgold]

Literally.

ICYMI: Human rights group Amnesty International recently adopted a policy position on prostitution that has been causing great debate. Their new stance is that sex between consenting adults isn't a criminal matter, until it involves coercion, abuse, minors, etc. They hope that decriminalizing selling sex will empower sex workers to negotiate terms with customers and report abuse without fear of the financial, legal or safety ramifications. It is also hoped that sex workers would be able to unionize or access benefits. But some people have a hard time buying that prostitution is ever non-coercive. Others fear that legalization efforts only increase demand and increase trafficking. There is a lot of uproar.

Here is a quick summary of the debate by BBC. What do you think? 

Personally, I believe that there are some people out there who willingly sell sex because they choose the job, not out of desperation or coercion or addiction or victimization. But I also believe they are the minority. I imagine that even if they go into it healthy, it is incredibly risky. Even if you don't believe prostitution is degrading, it is incredibly dangerous. So I support the harm reduction models that support sex workers to mitigate their risks, help them protect themselves and each other, and get them out of the profession if they want to. But I am torn about how best to do that. I think the data out of Germany shows that decriminalization can actually harm the people it is trying to help. I am really undecided and interested in how others are thinking!


ETA: I hope nobody hates me for going there with my title. I missed the FFFC thread (which I just read) and I couldn't resist the pun.

[rablissful]

They should look at Nevada. Don't sex workers there get regular health check ups, work in actual houses, and make great money?

If it's done right and the workers are safe, who am I to judge?

[samanthasays]

I can see both sides. I am all for providing more protection and services for sex workers, and decriminalizing is a step in that direction. But at the same time I know that there is so much risk of abuse and sex trafficking, it makes me hesitant to support anything that might increase that.

I absolutely think sex workers should never be punished, they need services, not jail time. The John's and the pimps are the ass holes that need to be flogged in the town square.

[rablissful]

The bottom line for me is that prostitution will never go away. It will always be part of society. Why not make it safe, both for the workers and the consumers?

[mrsjene]

Oh thank god this has nothing to do with the discussion from last week.

[requiressnacks]

Hmm....honestly, I don't know what my opinion is on this. Of course, I would like sex workers to be protected and have access to medical benefits and the same general safety that other employees receive. But I'm not sure if decriminalizing the act itself will actually achieve that and actually eliminate the problem.

For example, prostitution is legal in Nevada in strictly controlled brothels. This doesn't stop illegal sex workers from soliciting on the Vegas strip.

I think that even if a legal brothel option is available, there will always be a seedy "black market" of cheap, desperate, forced prostitution. And I don't know how that will ever be stopped.

[mrsjene]

Aug 26, 2015 10:09:45 GMT -5 rablissful said:

The bottom line for me is that prostitution will never go away. It will always be part of society. Why not make it safe, both for the workers and the consumers?

I agree.

#oldestprofession

[shadesofgold]

Aug 26, 2015 10:41:40 GMT -5 mrsjene said:

Oh thank god this has nothing to do with the discussion from last week.

It was a cheap pun to get you all in... (And based on how many views this thread has and how few replies, it seemed to work almost too well.)

[pismoduo]

Aug 26, 2015 10:42:46 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

Hmm....honestly, I don't know what my opinion is on this. Of course, I would like sex workers to be protected and have access to medical benefits and the same general safety that other employees receive. But I'm not sure if decriminalizing the act itself will actually achieve that and actually eliminate the problem.

For example, prostitution is legal in Nevada in strictly controlled brothels. This doesn't stop illegal sex workers from soliciting on the Vegas strip.

I think that even if a legal brothel option is available, there will always be a seedy "black market" of cheap, desperate, forced prostitution. And I don't know how that will ever be stopped.

I work in an industry (information security) that pretty much acknowledges that we will never 100% "win". There will always be a need for us to build a better mouse trap, because there will always be people coming up with new ways to screw us over.

So when I get into conversations like this, I have a hard time with the "we'll never stop it" concept. Like, of course not. Smoking is legal except in some cases, and people still break that law. Driving is legal, but people still break all sorts of laws around that.

The idea, to me, is always risk mitigation. If prostitution is legal (except in the case of minors, coercion, etc) then it's safe for someone who is being abused or coerced to come forward and get help - because what the sex worker is doing isn't illegal, so there's no punishment for them. Right now, if a sex worker is in a bad position and tries to seek legal remedies, they could receive jail time.

You may never stop the entire black market, but you might make it smaller.

[k3am]

Aug 26, 2015 10:42:46 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

I think that even if a legal brothel option is available, there will always be a seedy "black market" of cheap, desperate, forced prostitution. And I don't know how that will ever be stopped.

But at least they'd have options, right?

[requiressnacks]

You're totally right, pismoduo! I guess any steps, even if they are small, are all working towards minimizing the risk.

[easilyunamused]

I think it should be legalized and regulated. I also think the same for drugs. I think that most people will do what they will do without the governments input on what is legal and what isn't.

So like what pismoduo, maybe if someone is being forced into it, they will have a better chance at seeking help, if they don't have to worry about being charged with a crime. If a woman decided that she'd like to get a job working at a bank, lets say, and she has to put on her application that she was picked up for prostitution, her odds are pretty low to get the job. So then they are in a cycle where they can't really get out of it.