Posted on 10/19/2007 7:00:45 PM PDT by Lorianne
Countries debating whether or not to legalize prostitution could learn from what occurred in the Australian state of Victoria. The state government legalized prostitution in 1984 and since then, the sex industry has flourished. With over 20 years of experience, many of the promised benefits of legalizing prostitution have not, however, materialized, according to a book published earlier this year.
A detailed examination of the situation in Victoria was authored by self-declared “feminist activist” Mary Lucille Sullivan, in her book “Making Sex Work: A Failed Experiment With Legalised Prostitution,” (Spinifex Press).
“Victoria’s legalized prostitution system assists in maintaining male dominance, the sexual objectification of women, and the cultural approval of violence against women,” is her thesis.
Normalizing prostitution, as if it were merely some kind of employment, has also undermined women’s workplace equality and contradicts other government policies aimed at protecting women’s rights, accused Sullivan.
Legalization in Victoria, Sullivan explained, was also defended under the guise of minimizing the harm to the women involved, by bringing about formal regulation and legal protections in the sex industry.
This has not occurred
Moreover, legalization itself has introduced a new series of damaging consequences for women, Sullivan argues. Among these is, ironically, a further expansion of the illegal side of prostitution. In fact, the phenomenon of curbside prostitution, far from disappearing with legalization, has continued to grow in Victoria.
Likewise, legalization, far from removing the influence of organized crime, has instead fueled the role of illegality by introducing greater economic incentives for trafficking in women and girls for both legal and illegal brothels. Sullivan also quoted experts in organized crime who allege that the legalized prostitution industry in Victoria still has strong links to underground criminality.
With regard to this human trafficking, Sullivan draws attention to international studies that put at billions the profits made from this modern form slavery. Estimates of the numbers of women and girls who are trafficked range from 700,000 to 2 million each year.
At least after 25 years some feminists have come up with the right answer.
Don't get me wrong, as a young man I saw nothing wrong with prostitution or pornography. But it was not until my lovely daughter was born in 1986 (as compared to legalization in Vicotoria in 1984) that I appreciated the harm of porn and prostitution on women. Not so much harm on the men, except self-gratification that my grandmother always told me when I was 10-12 years old, would drive me insane. God Bless My Grandmother, may she rest in peace.
For you young men out there, I suggest you keep your hands above the sheets.
I didn't know that, now I know why my nephew went down there on vacation.
I didn't know that, now I know why my nephew went down there on vacation.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1472612/posts
Sex Tourism: Addressing the Demand for Trafficking
bump thread
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1530000/posts
Illegal Immigration, Human Trafficking, and Organized Crime
http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/originals/humantrafficking.html
Human Trafficking
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1797973/posts
Women for sale in the Gatwick (England) slave auctions
Similar results would probably follow legalization of drugs, although libertarians who advocate legalization claim it would reduce crime.
Regarding the legalization of drugs, I used to think Amsterdam would be a good test case study, but the present data would be greatly confounded by the demographic shifts that have occurred there along with the corresponding crime increases from the new inhabitants.
Why? Because your grandmother pushed some loony old myth on her grandson? What could have ever brought up the topic? "By the way, Sport. Don't be whacking yourself, lest you go nuts. Now, how about some milk and cookies?"
There you go. That’s the way at it.
By legalizing it, you take the pimps and the street-walking prostitution aspect of it out of the picture. Underage girls wouldn't be enticed to participate.
If women want to advertise discreetly on websites or in alternative newspapers, then I don't see what the big deal is. It's no different than picking up a chick at a bar.
It’s impossible to pretend it’s illegal to sell it when it’s not illegal to give it away. It’s really that simple.
That isn’t the case and the article makes this point.
Legalizing or decriminalizing prostitution doesn’t stop the criminal element. This is true in Amsterdam, Nevada, etc. You still get the underage girls, street walkers, etc.
There are good arguments for legalizing/decriminalizing prostitution but less crime is not one of them.
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