Would fully legalizing prostitution actually reduce trafficking and abuse?

Question

Prostitution should be fully legalized and regulated.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth most people don’t want to hear: Keeping prostitution illegal doesn’t protect women and children — it actually puts them in greater danger.

Because the industry is driven underground, it’s controlled by pimps and criminals. This creates the perfect environment for human trafficking. When adult prostitution is illegal, it becomes much easier to traffic minors into the same system. The women and girls have no protection, can’t report abuse, and live in constant fear.

If prostitution were legal and properly regulated, it would be much harder for traffickers and pimps to operate. Sex workers could work in safe, legal environments, get regular health checks, screen clients, and have actual legal rights. The black market would shrink significantly.

We already legalize alcohol, tobacco, and gambling — all of which cause enormous harm to society. The moral argument against legalizing prostitution doesn’t hold up when the current system is actively making the exploitation of vulnerable women and minors worse.

Legalization isn’t about saying prostitution is a great job. It’s about facing reality: the demand isn’t going away. The only question is whether we continue letting criminals control it, or whether we regulate it to make it safer and reduce the trafficking of minors.

Lliam · Accepted Answer

I agree with everything you said. I think legalizing it and subjecting it to regulation like alcohol, tobacco, gambling and sex shops would remove a source of profit from sex traffickers and make it easier for law enforcement to track down human traffickers.

If prostitutes had to be licensed, minors could be easily identified.

It would make it possible for prostitutes to report abuse to police.

The thing is, prostitution isn't going away. That service is in high demand and always has been. Trying to prohibit alcoholic beverages led to the creation of organized crime and the prohibition of prostitution does the same thing.

I think sex work is a service just like any other. Why can't it be regulated like hair and nail salons, restaurants, and every other public service to insure cleanliness and safety, and protect workers and clients.

A lot of income tax could be collected from prostitutes. They could also pay into Social Security and 401(k) s or IRAs.

I can't see a downside. I think the main argument against legalized prostitution is based on traditional religious beliefs just like anti-abortion fanaticism. But people with traditional values do not have to get abortions, consume drugs or alcohol, have extramarital sex, or engage in prostitution. At the same time, they have no right to impose their morals on others.

MrChinaski · Accepted Answer

Brothels and escorts are legal here (Australia). Soliciting/street walking is legal in some states subject to local government zoning (e. g. not around schools, etc) and still illegal in others.

Seems to work fine... or at least I can't remember the last time there was a news story about a problem.

emeraldsaphire · Accepted Answer

Well, it depends on how you "legalize" it. Let's say you legalize it, but you require escorts to get a license and take a mandatary sex education course. Then you require escorts to get mandatory STD testing at approved STD test sites and make them pay extra taxes. Well, prostitution is technically legal considering that most escorts do this as an emergency "I need money" thing (that's why I did it) Most sex workers won't be able to afford the cost to be a "legit" provider. So most will still be illegal. Meaning you won't see much of a change.

It's also important to realize that many sex trafficking victims are minors. So legalizing it won't affect them at all. I still think it should be legalized, but sex trafficking is complicated, and it needs to be addressed through multiple angles. Like the death penalty for child traffickers.

lilBigPotato · Accepted Answer

You cannot prohibit prostitution. It's the oldest business in the world for a reason. All you do is making life for people working in it more difficult.

Regulating it will help people in need and bring in extra tax money.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Don’t forget the tax revenues that legalizing prostitution would generate.

Yes, there’s literally no good reason to criminalize prostitution. All of the prevailing research on the matter suggests that legalizing it is the best path forward. Only ideological arguments persist to the contrary, with zero actual evidence to support them.

purplepoppy · Answer

I'd generally agree with what you say but my concern is would the government force unemployed women into prostitution? We often hear politicians badmouthing the unemployed and saying they need to be forced to work, usually nothing happens because they often don't have skills employers want. But anyone could work as a prostitute. It's not hard to imagine the employment service stopping your welfare if you don't go on the game.

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

I think it's time to have red light districts in America. The infustructure for it is basically in place.

Prostitution devalues sex to a point where women have to offer something besides their body to be valuable in the dating scene. It will force society to ask a lot of questions people have been avoiding for a little too long.

OneViewpoint · Answer

Logic tends to make me think you’re right. But I honestly haven’t seen any research on it.

The biggest flaw I can see in it is let’s say the USA legalizes prostitution. That doesn’t stop sex trafficking in Eastern Europe or the Middle East. As long as one market exists, the criminals will be there to serve it.

RingOfFire · Answer

I think any kind of sexual relationship between consenting adults is their business and no one else's. I have always been in favor of legalizing prostitution for adults. For those involved in prostitution of kids under 18, I think the death penalty is appropriate.

Jackblue · Answer

Yes, feminists say they want the Swedish model, but prostitutes themselves don't like that. The Swedish model scares decent clients away and doesn't deter violent ones. Instead prostitution should be fully legalized and in lieu of police having a Vice squad a squad should be established for the protection of sex workers.

jshm2 · Answer

Lol, your ass wouldn't be worth much if you were to put it on sale, sunny...

Legalization is nothing to do with reducing trafficking or abuse, it's about taxing profits and keeping the industry in line.

Kelly6 · Answer

@andrewsmith14 yes it will reduce as done in most European countries. i have a legal license as well, which is well regulated and safety management

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Apparently it has not, at least not in my country. Our politicians are thinking of switching to a Swedish legislative model (punish pimps and johns, not the prostitutes).

RavVid · Answer

There will always be prostitution. Women are willing to sell sex and men are willing to buy sex.

AviatorTom · Answer

Most likely, yes. Look at Amsterdam, The Netherlands, with its red light district and well-managed and regulated sex workers.

Pieter_Rabbit · Answer

I agree with your opinion. It is very unlikely we will ever be able to take away the demand for prostitution, so that leaves managing the supply. Setting up a regular circuit next to the black market will not prevent all abuse, but at least you create a regulated framework that can help regulate prostitution and creates opportunities for a less exploitative business model (leaving in the middle for a moment whether or not prostitution can ever be non-exploitative).

goaded · Answer

Germany has, you can look up how it went. I honestly don't know, although I agree with you that it should have. It's possible it just pushed prices lower!

molonski2 · Answer

It's legal where I come from.. Made little difference quite frankly , you just need a license.

katiesmuff · Answer

I think the answer given by emeraldsaphire is very accurate and what the issues would be if legalized.

Anonymous · Answer

No it wouldn't. That would continue though it would on the surface have the appearance of legitimacy.

My wife worked in the industry from a young age but then she was a very high end escort and had no real problems.

Alex-Snow · Answer

I think it would help. Also by legalizing it the govt could get some income tax from the workers.

indissoluble · Answer

Nope. It's part of Islamic culture

Sevenpointfive · Answer

prostitution leads to pimping. which leads to violence and drugs and possible gang wars if it gets that far.

Staglioni · Answer

Nothing has ever stopped prostitution or drugs anyway so it might as well be regulated to keep people as safe as possible.

Ariesman81Nshiiit · Answer

Legalized prostitution increases the number of exploited and vulnerable women. All legalizing it does is remove the social stigma associated with it.

FreyaRed · Answer

Yes, if it's paired with brothels and pimping criminalization.

Marissa4 · Answer

Yes have so people can be protected, get health screening etc.

msc545 · Answer

Multiple studies have shown that legalizing prostitution reduces the incidence of forcible rape, trafficking, and abuse significantly. It's a good thing to do for your community.

FrodoSkywalker007 · Answer

I think you will always have bad faith actors regardless if something is legal or not

najekim · Answer

May as will legalize it in the USA. Many cultures have in the past and a few in the present. They don't call it the world's oldest profession because no one wants to utilize the services.

Anonymous · Answer

How are you mixing kids into this argument? You’re saying children prostitutes should be legal? Because how would making sex work legal for adults protect children?

blackeagle007 · Answer

The world’s oldest occupation. It’ll never go away, so may as well regulate it

Anonymous · Answer

Reduced, yes. Stopped, no. You're always going to have the sickos who seek underage prostitution.

Twalli · Answer

The same argument can be made for most drugs that are illegal.

strateguy632 · Answer

the evil would still do it.

_Jenny_ · Answer

@andrewsmith14  I’m for regulation

SaoirseS · Answer

I doubt it.

Letsdothisthing1234 · Answer

Never would so by any mean at all.

Would fully legalizing prostitution actually reduce trafficking and abuse?

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