A Red Light District on Every Corner

Throughout human history, most civilizations have considered prostitution an illegal trade. However, that does not necessarily mean that making prostitution illegal is the best choice. Many countries, including the United States, have begun to debate the merit of legalizing prostitution. Before making such an important decision, we must address certain questions. Would legalizing prostitution reduce some of the inequalities and abuse suffered by the men and women involved? Would society lose decades of progress in human rights and improving the status of women by legalizing prostitution? The answers to both questions lead to the ultimate answer that if prostitution became a legal and regulated industry overseen by the government, both society and the prostitutes would benefit. In most states, prostitution laws, which vary by state, make it a crime to offer, agree to, or engage in a sexual act for compensation. A sexual act, as defined by the law, is contact between the genitals with any foreign object, however slight, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person. No longer is the debate about prostitution focused on questioning the morality of the trade. The debate instead has shifted into the question of perceiving prostitution as a form of exploitation to be eradicated or an occupation to be regulated. When being completely honest with ourselves, it is obvious that prostitution exploits poverty and those who are at their last resort. Although that is not necessarily grounds to stamp out prostitution because, in some way, every business exploits their workers and customers. For centuries, societies have been trying to banish prostitution with their only result being pu... (citation incomplete).