Legalizing Prostitution

Brenda Myers of Chicago was nine years old when she first learned that prostitution existed. Surprisingly, despite her young age, the idea was not foreign. Myers had been molested for years by a family member. “...well, they’re already taking my panties off…” Myers said. “So, I’ll make them pay for it” (Lydersen). Now picture yourself in fourth grade. Nikki Williams, a case worker from a Portland, Oregon based organization met a jailed twenty year old woman, who at the age of ten, at the end of her fourth grade year, was a drug-addicted prostitute (Lydersen). Both of these stories highlight two prevalent causes of prostitution: sexual abuse and drugs. Prostitution should not be legalized in America because it is built on the very foundation

of criminal acts. Prostitution, as defined by the Missouri Statute 567-010, is committed when someone “...engages or offers or agrees to engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for something of value to be received by the person or by a third person…” (“Preface to ‘Defining Prostitution’”).

There are many causes of prostitution, but one of the most prominent causes is childhood sexual abuse. According to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault “...57 percent of women working as prostitutes in the state reported they were sexually abused as children” (Lydersen). Not only that, but as stated by a 1995 study performed by the National Criminal Justice Reference Center “...people who were sexually abused as children are... 27.7 times more likely than others to be arrested for prostitution” (Lydersen) In hearing these facts, one might argue that it is just a correlation; however, 70 percent of these Illinois women believe that “...being sexually abused as children influenced their decision to become prostitutes” (Lydersen). These women share the same mindset as Brenda Myers, that because sexual abuse is already happening to them they might as well make a career out of it. The abuse doesn’t end in childhood,

though. Angela White, an editor for a publication of American University’s Washington College of Law states that the most raped of any group of women are prostitutes, who are assaulted incessantly by pimps, clients, and even policemen (White). An American Study in Minneapolis reported that “...78% of prostituted people had been victims of rape by pimps and customers, on average, 49 times a year” (Poulin). This is the equivalent of being raped once a week for an entire year. Why should a career of this intense level of bodily detriment be allowed? Another cause of prostitution, drug use, enforces the fact that prostitution should not be legalized because it causes traumatic bodily harm. A study performed by the Center for Impact Research found that it is common for adults, especially those in extreme poverty, to force their children into prostitution to pay for drugs (Lydersen). A common cycle for prostitutes to fall into contains drug use. They are encouraged into prostitution by a need to buy drugs, but then to deal with the stress of the job, they use more drugs. It is a vicious cycle that ravages these women. According to an article “City Paper” “...more and more people… are finding themselves in a sex- and drug- induced crisis” (Tyehimba). This sentiment is also shared by Nikki Williams, the case worker from Portland, Oregon who said that “Prostitution and drug addiction go hand in hand… in the beginning, the drugs are taken to numb the effects of prostitution and in the end the drugs take” (Dunn). The causes of prostitution aren’t the only parts that are detrimental. By encouraging prostitution we are not only encouraging the sexual abuse and drug use, but we are encouraging sex trafficking. As stated in an article written by Richard Poulin, a professor of sociology at the University of Montreal, “In Denmark, where prostitution is… legal, the number of prostituted people of foreign origin who are victims of trafficking has increased ten-fold [sic] over the past decade” (Poulin). Also stated in that article is that 20,000 people were victims trafficking for prostitution in Austria during 2003 (Poulin).

Austria is another country where prostitution is legal. As shown by these statistics, the legalization of prostitution only encourages sex trafficking. Although, sex trafficking does not just affect foreigners trying to start a life in a new country. “Many politicians and activists argue that advertising venues that allow advertising of sexual services can create markets for sex trafficking” (“Preface to ‘How Does Legal Policy Toward Sex Work Affect Sex Trafficking?’”). This is especially concerning for male prostitutes because due to the social stigma surrounding homosexuality, they turn to the internet for a more anonymous way to sell themselves. According to the Humanity in Action program “Men who occasionally engage in male prostitution, and those who are coerced to work in illegal brothels find their clients on the internet” (Cheng). This is worrying because not only are these men endangering themselves by engaging in prostitution, but traffickers are using online prostitution services as tools in their vile crimes. As demonstrated by the three symptoms and effects of prostitution outlined, sexual abuse, drug use, and trafficking, prostitution is clearly an undesirable

action. It should not be legalized because it is caused by and causes other illegal activities. Thank you.