Feminism wins. Prostitutes are fine, but can't have clients The idea is that prostitutes are, normally, in an extremely vulnerable position. They are often coerced into the trade and, sometimes in Australia and very often in Europe, they are effectively slaves. It is common to see African prostitutes in Italy, who are commonly lured to the country with promises of a respectable job. Criminalising their work can be counter-productive in that it adds a criminal record to their already difficult circumstances. The mugs who patronise prostitutes, however, are able to make free decisions about their liaisons, and are likely to be dissuaded by criminalisation. France and Germany are two countries with roughly the same population; France has a long history of discouraging prostitution, whereas Germany has gone down the path of destigmatising the trade. Germany has ten times (400,000 v. 40,000) the number of women working as prostitutes as France. Community expectations as reflected in the law can have an enormous impact on the trade. Prostitution is inherently exploitative. I don't say that lightly, or from a sense of prim moralism; it is a soul destroying trade. I have enormous sympathy for the men and women who, through whatever chain of events, are reduced to selling their bodies, and want to see them helped out of that situation, not further marginalised through criminal conviction. That's not to excuse the poor decisions that may have led an individual to where she is today, but her present circumstances are a greater punishment than anything that the law can impose. I have formed these views as I have become acquainted with women who have spent time in the trade; previously, I would have been more libertarian in my views. I know that there are some prostitutes who enjoy their job. They are rare, and usually at the top end of the market. The human experience is infinitely variable, but benign condition of the more fortunate prostitutes should not blind us to the reality for the great mass of their peers. Roman replied to Bruce Wed 04 Dec 13 (02:14pm) That all sounds really nice. But this last paragraph is so typical of the leftard: How the hell do you know who does and who doesn't enjoy their job as a prostitute? Where's your documented proof that "the great mass of their peers" are miserable? Plenty of female uni students CHOOSE to enter prostitution as a way to fund their studies and lifestyle, presumably for the money, which is probably more than your casual $20 an hour working in retail or food services. Plenty of other women choose it as a profession - mature adults making a conscious decision, but of course The International Leftard Society decides that their decision is wrong and they are acting in their best interests to interfere in their lives. It is so typical of leftards the world over - to intrude into the lives of people and decide what they can and can't do. What's next - ban people from joining the army because they might get killed, as the army is well known for exploiting testosterone-fuelled young males who don't understand the risks associated with the job? And might I point out the hypocrisy in all of this - weren't we told by the feminists that it is a woman's right to do what she wants with her body? Peter the Lawyer replied to Bruce Wed 04 Dec 13 (02:17pm) Bruce That was a very enlightening post. I agree that if the trade of sex for money is to be made illegal, it should be done by prosecuting the buyer and not the seller. However, the real question is whether the trading of sex for money should be made illegal. I think your argument is that the trade should be made illegal because it is inherently exploitative. One could say that about a lot of trades and transactions. But I do see that it is easier for the State to regulate those, because sex isn't involved and people tend to be secretive about sex. I think what all us would like to see is a respectable sex trade where no-one is exploited and men's obvious need to obtain sexual relief is satisfied. I suspect that if prostituion was ever banned, the incidence of sexual assault would increase enormously.