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According to the Miami Herald, this is how the story goes: Earlier this month, a 47 year old prostitute was approached by an undercover detective. She asked for two double cheeseburgers off the Mc Donald's dollar menu.
The detective took her into his car and told her he would also tip her $40. The detective drove to a vacant lot and then arrested her for prostitution.
Read the full story, here.
It may seem odd for some of you, that an anti-pornography feminist as myself, would be in favor of decriminalizing prostitution. Wanting to decriminalizing prostitution does not mean that I am an advocate of prostitution. Sex trafficking, sex slavery, child prostitution, and plain ol' (not so plain actually) street walkin' in the US. All of it is dangerous or certainly has the potential for harm.
Some sex workers actually love what they do. I do have my opinions about that. The sex industry need not be void of criticism even when participants are happily willing.
In addition, it is important to acknowledge that there are many sex workers who are suffering. There are many who are in the game and want out. If a woman simply wants two cheeseburgers (and isn't asking for money), she is obviously in a state of desperation.
Prostitution is not only physically dangerous but it can affect a person's psyche. A person's self worth, a person's ability to trust and feel emotionally safe, is in jeopardy. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
I do not shame women who involve themselves in prostitution but I do take issue with the sex industry. The sex industry is misogynistic and perpetuates patriarchy. That being said, I very much advocate for health and safety resources for sex workers.
If the goal is to end prostitution; criminalizing them is not the solution. If the goal is to simply allow a woman to choose her own path; criminalizing isn't going to benefit her either. I can shout from the rooftops that I disagree with prostitution, but sticking a woman in jail isn't necessarily a deterrent. It also violates her free will. And yes, I believe that a woman's free choice to enter the sex industry is influenced by patriarchy; but that makes little difference. You can't necessarily change a woman's desire through criminalization.
It is commonly said that prostitution is the oldest profession. Anything that has been around that long will never be legislated out of existence. The illegal status of the sex trade - as with the drug trade - creates a middle man between the buyer and seller that creates the majority of the violence in both industries. While dealers aren't the only problem with the drug trade and pimps aren't the only problem with the sex trade, legalization would eliminate the need for these opportunistic middle-men and go a long way towards improving the safety of both industries.
ReplyDeleteAgreed BB! Thanks for stopping by.
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