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Sociology The Dilemma Of Prostitution: Term Paper

Thus the argument over whether prostitution should remain illegal or whether it should be decriminalized or made lawful, focuses principally on ethical and realistic considerations. Those opposed to legalized prostitution tend to underscore the horrors associated with the profession. They point to the trafficking in women and children, and the physical, sexual, and economic abuse of these same individuals. Prostitutes are thought to engage in a profession so reprehensible that no person would possibly choose to participate in it unless forced to do so by the most extremely adverse of circumstances. Law enforcement has failed to make much of a dent in prostitution despite an enormous amount of time, effort, and money. In fact, high-ranking officials, such as Governor Eliot Spitzer of New York have made their names breaking up prostitution rings while at the same time patronizing prostitutes themselves. The conflict reveals the very real conflict between desire and reality. Prostitution if it is decriminalized and kept apart from other obviously criminal activity is a consensual and victimless act. The automatic status of "victim" that is accorded to prostitutes by many is based almost wholly on moral arguments that may or may not be applicable to all individual's and belief systems. If an individual does not see anything wrong with the act, and their conduct does not otherwise result in real injury to others, how can it be argued that there are any victims? The idea of the "bad example" does not justify wasting resources on arresting and imprisoning prostitutes and those who patronize them. People can make their own moral decisions without creating arguments that render their every choice as a thing that somehow impinges on the rights of others. Prostitution should be de-criminalized.

Works Cited

http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=34631011

Davis, Nanette J., ed. Prostitution an International Handbook on Trends, Problems, and Policies. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1993.

A www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=34631016

Farley, Melissa; and Malarek, Victor. "The Myth of the Victimless Crime." New York Times. 12 March 2008. www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=113069928

Barri. Runaway Kids and Teenage Prostitution: America's Lost, Abandoned, and Sexually Exploited Children. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2001.
A www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001051675

Moser, Sandra L. "Anti-Prostitution Zones: Justifications for Abolition." Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology 91.4 (2001): 1101+.

A www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000806024

Nelson, Kathryn E. "Sex Trafficking and Forced Prostitution: Comprehensive New Legal Approaches." Houston Journal of International Law 24.3 (2002): 551+.

Prostitution Can Be Turned into Victimless Crime." Chicago Sun-Times. 4 September 1995.

A www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002512023

Kimberly Klinger, "Prostitution Humanism and a Woman's Choice," the Humanist Jan.-Feb. 2003. http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000806024

Kathryn E. Nelson, "Sex Trafficking and Forced Prostitution: Comprehensive New Legal Approaches," Houston Journal of International Law 24.3 (2002). http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=113070091

R. Barri Flowers, Runaway Kids and Teenage Prostitution: America's Lost, Abandoned, and Sexually Exploited Children (Westport, CT: Praeger, 2001) 125. http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002512023

Kimberly Klinger, "Prostitution Humanism and a Woman's Choice," the Humanist Jan.-Feb. 2003. http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=34631016

Nanette J. Davis, ed., Prostitution an International Handbook on Trends, Problems, and Policies (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1993) viii. http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=34631016

Prostitution Can Be Turned into Victimless Crime," Chicago Sun-Times (4 September 1995). http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=34631016

Melissa Farley and Victor Malarek, "The Myth of the Victimless Crime," New York Times (12 March 2008). http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001051675

Sandra L. Moser, "Anti-Prostitution Zones: Justifications for Abolition," Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology 91.4 (2001).

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=34631011

Davis, Nanette J., ed. Prostitution an International Handbook on Trends, Problems, and Policies. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1993.

A www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=34631016

Farley, Melissa; and Malarek, Victor. "The Myth of the Victimless Crime." New York Times. 12 March 2008. www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=113069928
Kimberly Klinger, "Prostitution Humanism and a Woman's Choice," the Humanist Jan.-Feb. 2003. http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000806024
Kathryn E. Nelson, "Sex Trafficking and Forced Prostitution: Comprehensive New Legal Approaches," Houston Journal of International Law 24.3 (2002). http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=113070091
R. Barri Flowers, Runaway Kids and Teenage Prostitution: America's Lost, Abandoned, and Sexually Exploited Children (Westport, CT: Praeger, 2001) 125. http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002512023
Kimberly Klinger, "Prostitution Humanism and a Woman's Choice," the Humanist Jan.-Feb. 2003. http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=34631016
Nanette J. Davis, ed., Prostitution an International Handbook on Trends, Problems, and Policies (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1993) viii. http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=34631016
Prostitution Can Be Turned into Victimless Crime," Chicago Sun-Times (4 September 1995). http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=34631016
Melissa Farley and Victor Malarek, "The Myth of the Victimless Crime," New York Times (12 March 2008). http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001051675
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