Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Debate The Legalization Of Prostitution

People Debate The Legalization Of Prostitution
Richard Jaimes on Unsplash
Make us preferred on Google

Many countries have not legalized prositution. In fact, many have criminalized it for ages, acts that have created environments that victimize sex workers and endanger them on the job.

Thanks to the efforts of human rights groups like Amnesty International and mobilization of sex workers themselves, conversations about sex work–and protecting the people who engage in that work–have found a larger audience in many nations around the world.

But prostitution is still a very divisive topic.


People shared their thoughts after Redditor TGYHJFGH asked the online community:

"What is your stance on prostitution? Should it be legal?"

"Any black market..."

"Any black market will always have greater instances of violence, abuse, and unsafe conditions compared to a well regulated legal market."

seaturkee

See Churchill and other counties in Nevada: regular testing, condoms required, and violent customers are immediately barred, which gets communicated to everybody!

"Why is it legal..."

"Why is it legal to have sex with strangers for money on camera but illegal off camera?"

MovingtoVANCITY

If I remember correctly it’s because pornography is considered a performing art so you aren’t getting paid for sex but being paid as an actor.

You also need a business license and have to meet a host of other logistical requirements.

"Like abortion..."

"Like abortion, it's going to happen regardless of legality. Legalization makes it safer for everyone involved."

TheDukedArgyll

Good point. No idea how the people in "charge" can't see this.

"I've worked as an escort..."

"Yes. I've worked as an escort in countries where it is both legal and illegal. It is noticeably more dangerous when it is illegal. There will always be people turning to sex work in society. Why not allow them to be safe?"

"Regulated work allows for rights and safety to be adhered to, and help to be sought when necessary, as in any industry. Criminalized work allows people to be abused and taken advantage of."

"When I was working legally, the police would come in and give us weekly talks, check people's ID to make sure no one was being trafficked, tell us where we can get sexual health check up, mental health advice, and routes to leave the industry should we wish to."

"Anyway, some people really do enjoy it as a way to fund an expensive lifestyle, so let them. As someone from a poor background I traveled the world thanks to just a few years of being in sex work and met some cool AF girls."

"And for the people who get into it for darker reasons like addiction or childhood trauma, those are not criminals, they need our help and support."

justaproletariat

It sounds like you had a good experience! It's important for everyone to listen to the people who actually have experience in this field.

"Legalized and taxed..."

"Legalized and taxed with the taxes going towards helping abused women and schools."

[deleted]

This would ideal – and would hopefully contribute to solving a lot of these problems.

"They should have the same..."

"Sex workers are still human. They should have the same, if not more, protections as any other person does. Legalizing it would allow for it to be regulated and have the people in the industry protected."

BruhIdk666

Legalization does not always lead to protection but that's why laws are always tweaked.

"Hard to say."

"Hard to say. You can’t address prostitution without addressing human trafficking."

[deleted]

This is true. But I've always thought decriminalizing it and regulating was a step in the right direction for dealing with human trafficking.

"Yes..."

"Yes, I think it should be. All other 'moral' reasons aside, legalizing prostitution would drastically reduce sex trafficking. I think that is enough of a reason alone."

DancingJupiter

Countries with legalized prostitution are associated with higher human trafficking inflows than countries where prostitution is prohibited so this will need to be addressed.

"Yes, but only under the condition..."

"Yes but only under the condition that the workers have a healthy work space. No pimps, strict contracts about their safety and comfort, etc."

Roguewalker72

Unionization of sex workers would truly change the game!

Criminalizing prositution is what makes the practice so bad for sex workers in the first place. Prostitution is a profession that has existed since the dawn of civilization. You are never going to get rid of it. Making it illegal is just promoting the dark side and harming everyone involved.

Solving this issue seems easy on the surface, but like many things in life, it is anything but.

Have some opinions of your own? Tell us more in the comments below!

Have some thoughts of your own? Tell us more in the comments below!

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Cher and Bob Mackie
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

Cher Leads Poignant Tributes To Iconic Fashion Designer Bob Mackie After His Death At 87

On September 14, designer Bob Mackie passed away. While he did design clothing collections and accessories available to the masses, Mackie was best known as an icon who designed for icons.

Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, Bette Midler, Elton John, and Diana Ross were among the legendary names Mackie designed for.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Trump Epically Fact-Checked After Claiming More People Watched His GOP Midterm Convention Than NFL Opener

President Donald Trump was swiftly fact-checked after he claimed that his recent midterm convention "beat the NFL" in viewership, referring to the 2025-26 season kickoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.

Trump spoke for nearly two hours that night, with his address airing live on Fox News as well as the Nielsen-rated cable networks Newsmax and NewsNation.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kash Patel; Cory Booker
Win McNamee/Getty Images (left and right)

Cory Booker Compares 'Disgrace' Kash Patel To Failed Frat Boy In Epic Rant During Heated Senate Hearing

New Jersey Democratic Senator Cory Booker lost his patience with FBI Director Kash Patel during his testimony in the Senate on Tuesday and called him a "disgrace" while also reserving other pointed criticism toward Republicans as a whole.

Booker accused Patel of overseeing the "generational destruction of the nation's premier law enforcement agency" during testimony in which Patel claimed there is "no credible information" to prove the late financer, sex trafficker, and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein trafficked victims to anyone other than himself.

Keep ReadingShow less
Katie Dippold at Apple TV's Primetime Emmy Party Red Carpet held at Nya Studios West.
JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images

Emmy-Winning 'Widow's Bay' Creator Went Viral Years Ago With Hilarious Halloween Photo—And Fans Are Obsessed

Forget lifting the curse on Widow’s Bay. After its night at the Emmys, Katie Dippold and company might want to keep whatever supernatural forces are working in their favor.

Apple TV’s horror-comedy premiered in April and stars Matthew Rhys as Tom Loftis, the mayor of a small island town off the coast of New England. Determined to transform Widow’s Bay into a tourist destination, Loftis presses ahead despite locals warning that its sleepy seaside charm comes with some decidedly sinister baggage.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gavin Newsom; screenshot from 60 Minutes
Sean Rayford/Getty Images; 60 Minutes/CBS

'60 Minutes' Caught 'Pardon Brokers' Offering Trump Pardons To Felons For A Hefty Fee—And Gavin Newsom's Reaction Is All Of Us

Presidential pardoning power has been part of the United States government since the first president. While most pardons are vetted through the Department of Justice, there is no set process required.

Friends, political allies, and family members have been pardoned by past presidential administrations. Many pardons have been controversial.

Keep ReadingShow less