Well I always admit when I’ve been corrected. So I’ll tentatively admitting that I was wrong on this one (at least as far as the systems that were mentioned in the side link in the article go). I’m not one-hundred percent convinced, but that’s mainly because of my inherent distrust in the way news organizations report on studies, especially when they’re being used by Governments.

Along that line, I read recently that Amsterdam is shutting down some of its brothels because of the organized crime that has been attracted to the city’s red light district.

Now I had just assumed that the crime had more to do with the hash bars/coffee shops that were allowed to sell illegally imported product was the main factor, but the fact that they are shutting down some brothels shows me that they also contributed to the increased crime.

I think it can work, but I haven’t seen a working model yet that protects the women (or men).

This is part of the story, but there was an interview with a woman who had looked at the studies. I’ll keep trying to find it.–Jill

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7735908.stm

I did recently hear a report from the BBC on just the issue you bring up. Evidently violence against women is quite high in places where prostitution has been legalized and prostitutes are not safer from violence. I will try to find you the link, as it’s been a few weeks since I heard this.

While I agree that human slavery in any form should never be tolerated, I wonder if it wouldn’t be easier to spot and punish in a well regulated industry. I’d be interested in seeing a comparison of the occurrence of what you talk about in countries where prostitution is legal versus those where it is illegal. I would think that after the stigma of being worthless criminals was removed, prostitutes would be more likely to report abuse to authorities. The things we all find abhorrent are all illegal regardless of the legal status of prostitution.

I don’t think that legalization by itself wouldn’t be a panacea. I think it certainly would allow the women involved more options like forming a union, working in more public and safer locations, etc. It might also help to end a societal tendency to view them as less than human.

Live Action TV

* An episode of Boston Legal had a university professor accused of soliciting prostitution under the guise of “research”. He had made a video of himself with the prostitute that the prosecution was going to use as evidence. But, taking advantage of the odd American legal rule, his own lawyers argue that he actually was creating pornography and was therefore protected under the First Amendment. If it’s porn, it’s not prostitution and therefore not a crime!
o So, in this case, it’s porn and art?
o And SCIENCE!

http://www.tv.com/boston-legal/spring-fever/episode/697127/summary.html

You make a great point. All too often people talk about legalizing prostitution as if it takes place is a vacuum, and that there are no other illegal factors involved. It’s a vicious self-sustaining circle of drugs, human trafficking and violence that hides behind the scenes. I personally would like to see it legalized (not out of personal preference…of course) but there remains significant hurdles to that process, mainly making sure that those involved are choosing to do so.

This article points out a small version of what I think would be a working system, that is successful people using “the trade” as a way to make a little cash on the side. Obviously getting rid of the madame would be a main priority too.

http://radaronline.com/from-the-magazine/2008/08/secrets_of_a_hipster_hooker_01.php

No doubt some people do choose prostitution as a job and I would not want that woman or man arrested. However I do not see many women who have lucrative careers in other fields chosing prostitution instead of say, being a CEO. I think it is fair to question why so many women who have the opportunity to work in lucrative fields do not choose such work. It is mostly the “choice” of the poor and that should tell us something.

http://www.toledocitypaper.com/view_article.php?id=2142&highlight=prostitution