Prostitution

Known as the world's oldest profession, prostitution is still one of the most controversial issues in our modern day society. We are able to trace the career all the way back to the ancient Sumerians, one of the earliest civilizations, that is dated as far back as 5500 BC. Prostitution has been present in nearly all cultures and eras and, in a large portion of them, it was not a profession that was controversial or disrespected for either gender. In today's day and age however, it is rarely considered a proper occupation. Lena Edlund discusses this idea with a more business-oriented approach of prostitution in the Journal of Political Economy when she stated, “Prostitution has an unusual feature: it is well paid despite being low-skill, labor intensive and, one might add, female dominated. Earnings even in the worst paid type, street-walking, may be several multiples of full time earnings in professions with comparable skill requirements.” (Edlund, "A Theory of Prostitution") If everyone were to address the idea of prostitution in the same way that Edlund did, perhaps more people would begin to view it as an occupation rather than a disgrace. So why is it that today prostitution is criminalized, those who take part in sex work are extremely ostracized, and the rights and safety of those working in the business are not better addressed or carried out?

There are many argument that people use to dispute prostitution from religion, to prudence, and even personal experience. However, the most widely used argument against it brings up the idea of trafficking and those forced into the industry by abusive boyfriends and pimps, or simply those who feel that they have no other option; and rightly so! These issues are huge problems and ...

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...dependence, freedom and dignity. If you can't understand the last word, dignity, then you are mired in a viewpoint about sex in general, and sex and women in particular, that this patriarchal society wants you to buy." (Monet, "Sex Worker: A Healthy Choice?")

German philosopher Fredriech Nietzsche would have an issue with these prior ideas. Nietzsche believed that we as humans should have enough strength and self control to go out and do what we want to do or what we think is best, without having to be told what we can and can't do. He would have strongly opposed one person attempting to set a "moral code" for an entire population. "Morality is neither rational nor absolute..." (Nietzsche, 1887) Judging by this, I think it's safe to assume that Nietzsche would have been maddened by someone telling a group of people how and when they are able to use their body's.