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[Emperor_Uriel]

With the movement to legalize marijuana finally making some headway over the last decade, you'd think that legalizing prostitution would be gaining traction as well.

Just off the top of my head, pro-legalization logic seems pretty strong. Anti-prostitution law:

-Is almost entirely based around largely outdated morals rather than facts or science.
-Forces the practice to remain unregulated, increasing the spread of STDs between prostitutes and johns.
-Prolongs the suffering of sex workers at the hands of the pimps who manage them.
-Infringes on the basic right to do as one pleases with one's own body.
-Discourages prostitutes from pursuing police protection and/or reporting their own victimization.
-(As with drugs) Is an issue where the poor face the brunt of the punishment from law enforcement.
-*May* increase the likelihood of a person utilizing underhanded/non-consensual means to obtain sexual gratification.
-*May* increase the prevalence and profitability of truly immoral and reprehensible sex trafficking.

I'm sure there are dozens of other positives that could be listed. All of the reasons against legalization amount to the same sort of nonsense people levied during the war on drugs.

The sad thing is, certain parts of the world seem to be moving in the opposite direction. The French National Assembly voted in April 2016 to begin fining johns €1500 for accepting the services of a prostitute, with France joining Sweden, Canada, Norway, Iceland, and Northern Ireland before it. There are very few developed nations where prostitution is 100% legal (the UK, Germany and Australia are among them).

Why is this not a bigger issue? It seems like common sense that more consensual sex is good for everyone, especially in this antisocial era of every thirsty idiot sending/requesting nudes over social media.

 

[LordKasual]

because it's political suicide to stand in favor of it

i can think of no other logical explanation

 

[stryker1138]

America's Puritan heritage runs deep.

 

[Count Dookkake]

Because most people are hypocrites.

 

[Fulminator]

Because americans love to hate sex

 

[Platy]

Feminists are doing this ... but not even abortion is getting close =/

 

[liquidtmd]

Why is this not a bigger issue? It seems like common sense that more consensual sex is good for everyone, especially in this antisocial era of every thirsty idiot sending/requesting nudes over social media.

There are murky parts of the prostitution world where it's not consensual.

That's a different argument though. I'm all for truly bringing large parts of this world into the legalised age.

 

[lush]

Blonde haired blue eyed Jesus actually forbid prostitution some 2000 years ago. As it is written, so shall it be done.

 

[Sulik2]

America's Puritan heritage runs deep.

Ding Ding Ding.

 

[Transhuman]

Genitals are dirty.

 

[OceanBlue]

America's Puritan heritage runs deep.

How is prostitution handled in other parts of the world?

 

[bigkrev]

Feminism in the United States has a very divided opinion on it, and the evangelical part of the country wants nothing to do with it

 

[Like the hat?]

Because men in power don't want women having power over their own bodies.

 

[Volimar]

Wasn't there a study that said that places that legalize prostitution see an increase in human trafficking, especially child trafficking?

 

[Bleepey]

Feminists are doing this ... but not even abortion is getting close =/

Let's not pretend there aren't sex wars

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminist_sex_wars

Some women support prostitution, others oppose it very strongly.

 

[Izuna]

One of the main left wing policies I won't ever agree with.

 

[VeryGooster]

America's Puritan heritage runs deep.

.

 

[Laiza]

Feminists are doing this ... but not even abortion is getting close =/

Yeah, sex-positive feminists have been campaigning for legalized prostitution for ages. It just never gains any traction, for reasons that are pretty obvious to anyone who lives here.

One of the main left wing policies I won't ever agree with.

Why?

 

[Dali]

Not many people are aware of the incredible influence of the pimp lobby.

 

[Transistor]

America's Puritan heritage runs deep.

Bingo

 

[Acyl]

First post nails it. Logically it makes sense. One can look at areas where it is legal and judge its success, but it's probably career suicide to advocate it because that person will just get smeared to hell.

 

[VendettaRed07]

The only argument I've really commonly read against it that isn't about "family values" etc is that it would increase human trafficking.

Which Id have to read more on to understand how that happens. Because my assumption was always that is going on now already and a more standardized, regularated sex work industry would make it safer for women because if it's legal people would be more likely to come forward and report illegal activity/crime if they see something like that. Or if they are abused/sexually assaulted.

 

[Vincent Grayson]

There are murky parts of the prostitution world where it's not consensual.

That's a different argument though. I'm all for truly bringing large parts of this world into the legalised age.

Those murky parts would be served better in a world where prostitution is legal and well-regulated and people who are abused can more easily go to authorities.

 

[jts]

Because it's dirty and imoral... unless it's on camera. Then baby jesus always it.

 

[benicillin]

I don't know nearly enough about it and the massively complicated issue around it to have a real informed opinion on whether or not it should be totally legalized.

That being said I do think that something needs to be done to protect the people who are in the sex industry because what little I do know is that it's current legal status makes it extremely difficult and dangerous for prostitutes to seek help from law enforcement and things like that.

 

[liquidtmd]

First post nails it. Logically it makes sense. One can look at areas where it is legal and judge its success, but it's probably career suicide to advocate it because that person will just get smeared to hell.

It's political suicide to stand for prostitution, but we live in a time where some republican politicians are saying 'hey it's ok to run into hoardes of protestors'

Fuck this timeline

 

[O Canada Our Home and Native Land]

Have you seen Bayonetta threads? Sexuality is frowned upon. A game was recently removed from Steam because of sexual content.

 

[LeroyPantwether]

First post nails it. Logically it makes sense. One can look at areas where it is legal and judge its success, but it's probably career suicide to advocate it because that person will just get smeared to hell.

Yea , but i think OP wants to know why thats the case. Why would the politician get smeared ? Why does this hypocritical and puritanical disposition still exist among the general populace?

 

[Ferrio]

Wasn't there a study that said that places that legalize prostitution see an increase in human trafficking, especially child trafficking?

This is the only thing that worries me about legalization. Any other arguments against it are bullshit.

 

[modernmalady]

I honestly feel like most people can't stand the idea of a person being able to make money off their sexuality. I imagine if it was legal there would still be a big taboo against being a prostitute.

"Get a real job."

I also feel like most people aren't really aware of how much shit a sex worker currently goes through. Like i'm sure the general public knows that most sex workers are probably "not in a good place" but how many know about cops treating them badly and all that jazz. Most people probably think something like "if they want to get out why don't they just go to the cops."

 

[capitalCORN]

Wasn't there a study that said that places that legalize prostitution see an increase in human trafficking, especially child trafficking?

Then regulate like you mean it.

 

[Dynasty]

It does have benefits but the dangers are worse, increase in human trafficking, grooming etc

 

[Peltz]

First post nails it. Logically it makes sense. One can look at areas where it is legal and judge its success, but it's probably career suicide to advocate it because that person will just get smeared to hell.

Also, how would you even build public support for such a bill? I'd assume customers and providers of prostitution generally don't want to talk publicly about it.

Marijuana doesn't carry the same negative stigma or level of embarrassment as paying for/selling sex.

 

[Laiza]

Have you seen Bayonetta threads? Sexuality is frowned upon. A game was recently removed from Steam because of sexual content.

Sexualization is frowned upon because it goes hand-in-hand with objectification, which by dint of its very nature reduces people to sex objects.

Prostitution is a different matter as it is a person deigning to use their body to make money in the most direct way possible.

These are completely different issues.

 

[Foffy]

Sex is taboo because Jay-Zus or something in America.

 

[Peltz]

I honestly feel like most people can't stand the idea of a person being able to make money off their sexuality. I imagine if it was legal there would still be a big taboo against being a prostitute.

"Get a real job."

I also feel like most people aren't really aware of how much shit a sex worker currently goes through. Like i'm sure the general public knows that most sex workers are probably "not in a good place" but how many know about cops treating them badly and all that jazz. Most people probably think something like "if they want to get out why don't they just go to the cops."

No I think most people do have a grasp on what sex workers probably go through. And that grasp makes them not want to legalize it.

Bad conditions vs illegality is a bit of a chicken Vs. egg scenario.

 

[Volimar]

Then regulate like you mean it.

Absolutely, if you're going to do it, do it right and ramp up enforcement and investigation into traffickers.

 

[Kurita]

Because it's dirty and imoral... unless it's on camera. Then baby jesus always it.

Not sure pornography and prostitution are really the same

 

[Temeculan3000]

Also, how would you even build public support for such a bill? I'd assume customers and providers of prostitution generally don't want to talk publicly about it.

I think the push would need to come from the Feminist movement, men can't call for it without being portrayed as immoral sex fiends who want to treat women as objects.

However, the feminist community is divided on the issue.

 

[Peltz]

Sexualization is frowned upon because it goes hand-in-hand with objectification, which by dint of its very nature reduces people to sex objects.

Prostitution is a different matter as it is a person deigning to use their body to make money in the most direct way possible.

These are completely different issues.

Completely? You don't think a prostitute is objectified?

 

[Crossing Eden]

How is prostitution handled in other parts of the world?

It's legal in Amsterdam, they even have their own union and regulations in place to protect the workers. As a result it's considered a "normal" job instead of something that has a stigma.

 

[Damaniel]

Is almost entirely based around largely outdated morals rather than facts or science.

Those morals are (sadly) not as outdated as you might think. America is still pretty damn religious in many places, which would make legalizing prostitution pretty much a non-starter.

Personally I have to agree with you. Creating a legal framework would go a long way toward eliminating some of the problem. Another thing that would help would be ensuring that any sex worker could receive help without fear of retribution from the legal system - too many sex workers are victims of crime (rape, physical abuse, trafficking) but refuse to report due to fear of arrest. However, some of the underlying issues that cause people to push to keep prostitution illegal (trafficking, drug use) won't go away even under a legal framework. All that legalization can do there is provide an option that reduces demand for service from the less savory parts of the business.

 

[slit]

America's Puritan heritage runs deep.

Is that why it's illegal in much of the rest of the world too? America's Puritan Heritage?

 

[Primethius]

Wasn't there a study that said that places that legalize prostitution see an increase in human trafficking, especially child trafficking?

Yes.

Legalization of prostitution doesn't lead to an increase in female workers that can remotely match the increased demand. This results in an often significant increase in human & sex trafficking to make up for that increased demand.

There are plenty of reasons to be against legalized prostitution, precisely because you can see the implementation of said policies world wofe and how ineggevtive they are at protecting the women they seek to.

 

[Darryl M R]

I was fortunate to have a conversation about this topic with a colleague that worked with victims of human trafficking in the US.

She shared with me that when ti comes to policy supporting legalization people are concerned that individuals still would not have actual agency of their decision. The argument is that a student graduating from a good state school will probably not consider going into the line of work but if they do they have the resources to leave.

A single parent of two or a low skilled worker would have less resources to leave once working and would have higher pressure getting into that line of work to provide for themselves since there is really no skill needed or barrier of entry.

 

[Familienoberhauptvogel]

America's Puritan heritage runs deep.

funny considering the catholic church tolerated prostitution at the height of their power to reduce sexual violence.

 

[capitalCORN]

Is that why it's illegal in much of the rest of the world too? America's Puritan Heritage?

Collectively, humans have too much shame, and all too large of a daddy issue.

 

[Guevara]

I think we are more likely to re-criminalize abortion than we are to decriminalize prostitution, honestly.

 

[yuoke]

Absolutely, if you're going to do it, do it right and ramp up enforcement and investigation into traffickers.

When you have places like the south and west side of chicago that are basically warzones, adding this into the mix couldn't help at all.

 

[mrklaw]

Puritanical America has a huge porn industry yet people still pretend not to watch any porn. So while logical, I can’t see it happening.

For some reason cannabis seems to slip under the radar of conservative America.