Prostitution: the oldest profession. The debate over prostitution’s legality is controversial. As a feminist, I object to the degradation of women and am aware that the sex industry can involve immense abuse, both physically and mentally. Despite this, prostitution’s illegality only contributes to harmful concepts of female sexuality. A ban on prostitution only makes the work more dangerous for male and female prostitutes alike.
From a feminist perspective, legalizing prostitution benefits women because, typically, women are the prostitutes while men are the clientele. The stigma surrounding prostitution causes women to suffer from police brutality, rape, sexual assault and sexually transmitted diseases. Because prostitution is illegal, these women are unable to seek redress for the crimes committed against them.
The stigma against prostitution, however, goes further. It perpetuates harmful constructions of female sexuality. Kate Heartfield, a Canadian journalist, makes an excellent argument that deconstructs our perspective on prostitution. She asks the reader, “Are women selling a service, or are they selling themselves, as a commodity?” When we think of female prostitutes as selling themselves rather than offering the service of sex, we are essentially saying that when a woman has sex with a man she is giving him her body, as opposed to engaging in a mutual act.
The stigma of prostitution is one of the most subtle ways that society oppresses female sexuality. Most of the slang words to degrade women mean prostitute. Sexually “deviant” women are “sluts” and “whores.” Sex should be irrelevant when valuing women. A sex worker should be viewed as selling a service, not their personhood.
Since prostitution is not going away, regardless of its legality, it would be better to make it healthier for everyone involved. Legalization of prostitution could help combat the horrendous sex trafficking industry. The government could regulate and investigate brothels, ensuring that the women and men working as prostitutes are willing participants.
If prostitution were legalized, regulators could require mandatory STD testing and birth control options for prostitutes. Should they suffer abuse, sex workers could seek the help of authorities. Legality could provide sex workers with increased agency and protection from those seeking to exploit.
Legalizing prostitution would benefit those involved in the industry and cause prostitution to lose its stigma over time. Since this stigma has demeaned women for their sexuality, its loss would allow women to take ownership of their sexuality without fear of criticism. A woman having sex for money is not the same as a a woman giving up her body and humanity.