Should prostitution be illegal?

[McCulloch]

We typically only make things illegal when they present significant and immediate danger of harm to others.

Not always, prostitution for example.

Should prostitution be illegal? Why or why not? Are the objections to prostitution's legality only religious?

[McCulloch]

I think in light of the Gospel, the question ought to be - is it exploitative? Does it undermine the dignity and socioeconomic self-determination of the women involved? It is true that New Zealand's situation does sound very different from Europe's or Southeast Asia's, where prostitution is very closely tied to slavery and human trafficking.

Or perhaps the question should be about whether legalization would increase or reduce the level of exploitation of the sex-workers.

One big problem that I see here is mostly that this can be used as an excuse to defend other semi-legal or illegal systems in other countries in which women are exploited, and in which they have no choice the way 'Sophie' does. The second big problem is that it sounds like 'Sophie' was pushed into it by economic difficulties, rather than it truly being her choice.

Good thinking! X is exploitative and illegal in that country, therefore we should keep it legal here. 'Sophie' should not be allowed to choose a particular profession, if her motivations are merely to earn money.

[MagusYanam]

Or perhaps the question should be about whether legalization would increase or reduce the level of exploitation of the sex-workers.

That is a good question - but you have to ask the sociological questions first about the circumstances.

Good thinking! X is exploitative and illegal in that country, therefore we should keep it legal here. 'Sophie' should not be allowed to choose a particular profession, if her motivations are merely to earn money.

With respect, this sounds like a straw-man. I wasn't saying that money shouldn't be a motivation in choosing a career. I was saying that some job sectors take advantage of people who are economically distressed and financially insecure, and prostitution (historically and culturally) is one of those job sectors. There's a pretty profound difference. The question to be asked is, if she had the economic and social wherewithal to choose, would she have chosen prostitution as a profession?

[McCulloch]

Or perhaps the question should be about whether legalization would increase or reduce the level of exploitation of the sex-workers.

That is a good question - but you have to ask the sociological questions first about the circumstances.

Good thinking! X is exploitative and illegal in that country, therefore we should keep it legal here. 'Sophie' should not be allowed to choose a particular profession, if her motivations are merely to earn money.

With respect, this sounds like a straw-man. I wasn't saying that money shouldn't be a motivation in choosing a career. I was saying that some job sectors take advantage of people who are economically distressed and financially insecure, and prostitution (historically and culturally) is one of those job sectors. There's a pretty profound difference. The question to be asked is, if she had the economic and social wherewithal to choose, would she have chosen prostitution as a profession?

But if prostitution was a legal licensed regulated business, she would not be as badly exploited and she could more easily exit the trade when she wished.

Many women are exploited in the nanny business. Illegals are forced to work long hours for little pay. Should we deregulate the nanny business?

[MagusYanam]

Deregulate? No, that's not what I'm arguing. Heck, if prostitution is made legal, there should be guilds and unions for the workers, given the historical and cultural stigmas against them and the way they are generally mistreated in places where prostitution is illegal (and in some where it is legal, like Vegas).