Made this thread, as the discussion in the low political content thread is getting a bit out of hand, and I also wanted to get a sense of what the general opinion on this is.

I tried to construct the poll as fairly as I could. Obviously it's not perfect, but try to vote as close as possible to where your opinions on prostitution lie.

I would choose option 2 but i'm not sure it's always harmful to women. It might, as a whole, be beneficial to women. Especially if legalized. They'd probably unionize. There have been times in history where prostitute strikes have changed government policy, for example (Athens before the Olympics). I don't have enough white knight, moral crusader in me to choose option 2. I think it's gross, but that's just a personal feeling.

You'll have to define what ethical means. I'm assuming you mean it in the broad definition of something to be frowned on or looked down up or something to be avoided, but not something necessarily illegal.

Other: It's not inherently unethical and not inherently harmful.

Well, yeah. For option two this is what I mean. Prostitution as unethical, but that it shouldn't be illegal. In the same way that cheating on your pregnant wife would be viewed as unethical, but not something that should be illegal

All right, just making sure.

I don't believe seeing a prostitute is inherently unethical (though it may be in certain specific situations), so I guess I would be closest to voting option 3. However, I don't quite like the way option 3 is worded; it makes it sound like I'm saying "coal mining is a dangerous profession, therefore legalize prostitution".

Eh, pole obv sucks (these things hardly ever work for non-simple questions). Just use as a containment thread then I guess.

I think it would be very interesting to see a bunch of females thoughts on this subject, I'm sure there would be some interesting insights we haven't considered or haven't done justice too. Shame this place is almost exclusively male.

Agree with this.

I voted option 3.
I think there are plenty of women who find nothing morally wrong with it, have not been "coersed" and enjoy it immensly such as Belle de Jour. But there are women who have been coersed, have issues, problems, etc. I imagine there is a Bell's curve between the two extremes.

As such I see nothing wrong with prostitution qua profession.

Your daughter shows an interest in__________(figure skating, gymnastics, tennis, etc) at an early age. You encourage her to be the best for either an olympic medal or professional career. Mega practice and no social life is the result. Feel free to replace the activity with anything, it fits your slide about the "possible" pandering act. Its all about coercing someone to do something YOU want. Outsiders will always pass judgement if they don't approve the decision.

The question then becomes, Is the sex act the degrading act, or the all day every day tennis game?

Good to know I'm not the only one at least

I'm not sure where I stand on the matter. I feel like I'm completely neutral. I don't often hear utilitarian arguments on the issue, and I think they would be fairly interesting. If prostitution were no longer outlawed, would there still be the same social stigma attached to it?

Would more women opt not to pursue other, more socially productive career paths if the state supported and protected a woman's decision to simply lay on her back to support herself?

Perhaps that has something to do with why pornography is legal while prostitution is not. Not every woman can find a substantial market in porn for what they have to offer, but I'd imagine that just about any woman could exchange sex for a living if they were willing to lower their standards enough. But I would also assume that that would lead to more instances of violence as well.

The TV show Firefly deals with the dynamic of prostitution as degrading vs uplifting in an interesting way. Random thought.

To people who think it's acceptable - most studies show that a significant proportion of women are coerced into prostitution, a majority of women in many studies, and this includes places where it is legalized.

Would you consider it unethical to pay for sex with someone who could very well be there through coercion without you knowing it? Would you find it moral to engage in an act in which there is a decent chance you unwittingly are engaging in rape?

I'd be willing to hear why things may be different in a more AC type society, if you don't think the sources on this in legalized situations are indicative.

"Would more women opt not to pursue other, more socially productive career paths if the state supported and protected a woman's decision to simply lay on her back to support herself?"


If Freud is right then they are performing the most socially productive career path as prostitutes.

Interesting study

Right on, sister

I will point out NIMN that this type of situation is not just limited to prostitution. For instance, in Latin America some families will send their children out in the streets to beg and will beat their children if they do not either get enough money or refuse to. I know this happens in other countries but I can speak of some places of Latin America from personal experience.

So this arguement needs to be extended out to other such circumstances as well, not just prostituition.

Well, yeah, of course that sort of abusive relationship is horrible. I don't see your point though really. My point is that by engaging in prostitution you may very well be raping someone. How does this apply to how I should view those people in Latin America? I shouldn't give to beggars any more?

many peolple are coerced into a job, not just prostitutes. Do you think a guy working in a factory likes puting in 60 hour weeks? Or is he coerced by thye idea of a bigger house for his family or a better school for his child. Why shouldn t a women be free to do what she wants with her body?

+1

Coercion typically means violence or threat of violence, not "liking the idea of wanting a bigger house." At least that's the way I always read it, and the way it is used on this forum.

In Amsterdam where prostitution is legal (or at least was the last time I checked) there is a massive amount of human trafficking

http://www.expatica.com/nl/news/loca...nds_49349.html

http://crossroadsmag.eu/2009/02/dutc...cking-victims/

Would it be ethical to use prostitutes in the legalized situation in Amsterdam based on this evidence?

Eliminate drug prohibition and then you don't get coke-addicted prostitutes who need to turn tricks for a fix. Prostitution of course can be shady because it is the one thing that young women can make good money at with no skills at all, so women who are in desperate situations will often turn to it as a least bad alternative. But I don't think that it is at all unethical for a John to hire a prostitute.

Is slavery legal in Amsterdam?

Obviously not. I don't see the point to your question