Reply to: Decriminalisation of sex workers

[d000hg]

Most legal prostitution happens behind closed doors with consenting adults and it does not impact anyone.

It doesn't follow that it has no impact simply because it's behind closed doors between consenting adults. People are impacted by things they consent to all the time!

[Jolie]

We shouldn't legalise things because we can't stop them happening, but because they're not wrong. Pedophilia, theft, GBH, murder...

Agreed. The issue isn't about what's not wrong, prostitution is not illegal, it's the way it's carried out that's illegal. Some will say that prostitution is morally wrong, but that doesn't make it illegal.

You could argue that the basis of something being wrong and therefore should be illegal needs to be based on some simple logic. Does it harm someone, is there a victim and does it directly affect you?

Most legal prostitution happens behind closed doors with consenting adults and it does not impact anyone. The same can't be said for street prostitution.

[Jolie]

Prostitutes don’t have to work together to be safe. A prostitute could hire a body guard.

Not possible for those who are most vulnerable and on the lowest incomes. Again, a number of women working together are more likely to be able to afford protection.

[rossb2]

I do know the sex industry well yes, at many different levels.


Sorry, but wildy wrong! I am a more liberal center rightie.


Prostitution is not illegal in the UK, soliciting and running a brothel is illegal, and because of this, not being able to work together is what puts them at increased riisk. There will always be a criminal element in any business, whether legal or not. However, I would argue that the criminal element is not sex work, it's people trafficking and slavery, fueled by drug addiction, which is a different issue.


+1 this.

Prostitutes don’t have to work together to be safe. A prostitute could hire a body guard.


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[d000hg]

Criminalise the Johns. Simple.

Always strikes me as odd when it's legal to provide a service but illegal to purchase it, or vice versa.

[NotAllThere]

We shouldn't legalise things because we can't stop them happening, but because they're not wrong. Pedophilia, theft, GBH, murder...

Criminalise the Johns. Simple.

[d000hg]

What do CUKers think of this one:

International Women’s Day: This is why sex workers are striking in London | The Independent

All in favour meself. This is never going to go away and making so many aspects illegal is forcing women to work in unsafe conditions. Recognise it as a job, like any other service, and it can be monitored and checked just as cafes, shops etc are to prevent exploitation. Someone can contact police if necessary without feeling they are liable to be arrested themselves.

We shouldn't legalise things because we can't stop them happening, but because they're not wrong. Pedophilia, theft, GBH, murder...

[Jolie]

Do you?

I do know the sex industry well yes, at many different levels.

It does. Jolie is begin to sound like one of those young lefties who think opposition to prostitution is anti-feminist.

Sorry, but wildy wrong! I am a more liberal center rightie.

I live in a country where prostitution is legal. It's still not safe and there's a lot of criminal involvement and activity. Many foreign women are, by virtue of Schengen, rotated every three months into a new country. Their pimps have their passports. For those who have more choice in the matter, many still feel trapped as the alternative is poverty. Source: I know a doctor who during her free time tries to help and support women in prostitution - sexual health advice, as well as counselling and should they want to, support in getting out.

Prostitution is not illegal in the UK, soliciting and running a brothel is illegal, and because of this, not being able to work together is what puts them at increased riisk. There will always be a criminal element in any business, whether legal or not. However, I would argue that the criminal element is not sex work, it's people trafficking and slavery, fueled by drug addiction, which is a different issue.

Decriminalisation of prostitution will make prostitution will less unsafe and perhaps not quite so violent and controlling. Therefore it should be done. At least in the UK, the semi-legal trafficking won't be such an issue.

+1 this.

[LondonManc]

The title of this post is misleading. “Decriminalisation” of what? It’s legal in the UK for women to work at home or a hotel. The only illegal things are brothels, pimping, and kerb crawling.

Very knowledgeable.....

[rossb2]

The title of this post is misleading. “Decriminalisation” of what? It’s legal in the UK for women to work at home or a hotel. The only illegal things are brothels, pimping, and kerb crawling.


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[LondonManc]

I'm sure it's an effort with you...

I thought I was good in bed until I found out she has asthma.

[Mordac]

Just asked the enemy; sex is an effort, ergo work. So you're wrong.

I'm sure it's an effort with you...

[LondonManc]

Sex work is NOT work; it is exploitation of women that perpetuated by a patriarchal society.

The woke Left will never admit this, but they abdicated their legitimacy years ago.

Just asked the enemy; sex is an effort, ergo work. So you're wrong.

[wattaj]

Not suggesting those are not significant problems but, since she was a support worker, it would only be women like that she was likely to be aware of. Are they necessarily representative of those in the whole sector?

There's a different view here:

Understanding Sex Work in an Open Society - Open Society Foundations

I note, with some interest, that you have chosen to ignore the contributions from Dutch health and social care workers. But, yes, you are correct, one half of this third-hand experience is from a narrowly selected population. I recognise this, but that does not change my view.

I shall leave you to Google around in order to support the other side of this debate: that women can continue to be allowed to be exploited by men.

I'm not sure that this is the right side of history that one should be arguing for TBH, but each to their own.

[NotAllThere]

So you know the sex industry well? You know the majority of the girls?

Do you?

It's takes a particular attitude to take a comment about "less able" to mean "dumb".

It does. Jolie is begin to sound like one of those young lefties who think opposition to prostitution is anti-feminist.

I live in a country where prostitution is legal. It's still not safe and there's a lot of criminal involvement and activity. Many foreign women are, by virtue of Schengen, rotated every three months into a new country. Their pimps have their passports. For those who have more choice in the matter, many still feel trapped as the alternative is poverty. Source: I know a doctor who during her free time tries to help and support women in prostitution - sexual health advice, as well as counselling and should they want to, support in getting out.

Decriminalisation of prostitution will make prostitution will less unsafe and perhaps not quite so violent and controlling. Therefore it should be done. At least in the UK, the semi-legal trafficking won't be such an issue.