Prostitution

Physical labor is a very common and basic way for people to earn money. Movers, builders, miners, ditch diggers, etc...there are many ways a person uses their body to earn money.

Why is sex different?

In the past sex may have been a major issue. Pregnancy and STDs where a major problem. In modern times those things wouldn't seem to be as much of an issue as it was before education, condoms and modern medicine.

I'm assuming that those that choose to use their body sexually would take precautions to protect themselves...much as a mover will use a back brace.

Why isn't a man or a woman selling their physical services (sexually) legal everywhere? Should it be?

Yes, it should be legal. Its a draconian law, based on outdated religious beliefs most likely. It's like drugs being illegal, ridiculous.

Are you married?

If you are married, and your wife decided to earn some extra money for the family, or money for herself, by providing sexual services for pay, you would be ok with that?

Not married, don't believe in marriage. Long term relationship though. I would not be OK with my partner being a prostitute, that certainly doesn't mean I think it should be illegal.

I think that the sex industry is sick twisted and vile..... just the way it should be really.... if it's done right.... wives are by and large prostitutes FFS.... No sex, if you haven't emptied the bins, washed the windows, bought the new shiny kitchen.....Men look at a girls ass to see if she's sexy, girls look at a mans ass to check out the size of his wallet,,,

@zoomer, do you see the legalisation of sex work as the start of a slippery slope towards the destruction of stable families?

What's with you and your slippery slopes.... sounds a bit rude

No, not really. I am more trying to explore why it's OK for someone to rent out their bodies for some forms of physical labor but not others. Why isn't prostitution a universally legal and acceptable form of physical labor?

Dickensian laws designed to humiliate, subjugate, oppress and manipulate... Personally I never have and probably never will go with a prostitute... I don't understand why anyone would want to pay for sex... But to criminalise it is like making it illegal to charge for car valeting....

Dickensian laws? I don't know what you mean. Was that a pun?

The whole "would you like your wife to be a prostitute" argument is pretty lame really, isn't it.

I mean... I have no problem with professional boxing being legal, but I wouldn't want my wife to get her ears bitten off by Mike Tyson... does that make me a hypocrite? I think not.

@zoomer: an English expression, referring to the prudish late Victorian era in the UK, when women did not have the vote, yet were harshly treated in English law - often written about by the English author Charles Dickens

HTH

Religious based morality for teh win!

Legalise it and while you're doing it allow me to buy recreational drugs over the counter at the local chemist!

Everybody wins IMFO

I think it is misguided to "blame" prostitution laws on religion. AFAIK, both the Q'ran and the Bible have an equivocal attitude towards it.

There are valid social reasons for disallowing unregulated street prostitutes, as well as STD risks. Regulation is the key, of course; and there are practical problems in formulating and implementing it. The state approval of sex workers also carries implications over other family policies.

All very vague, I know - but the thread is becoming a nodding shop, and I think the issue deserves better exploration here.

To give prostitution the simple label "physical labour" is to ignore particular and important evolutionary, social, emotional - even economic issues about sex work almost entirely IMO. Also, it is not a women-only issue (though I would not include paedophilia in this discussion)

This post has been edited by torrenter: Oct 18 2008, 01:44 PM

As I stated earlier I really don't get paying for sex..... Not even porn FFS when you've got P2P.... But to moralise about my opinion on sex workers (prostitutes male or female) would be hypocritical as I do enjoy the odd adult movie....

IMO all sex workers have a dysfunctional attitude to sex and relationships, but to outlaw it is akin to banning alcohol, recreational drugs, extreme sports, anything in fact that may harm the participant.... The nanny state in action.....

Here is an example of one state in the US that has legalized prostitution: