Pro-Choice & Prostitution?

Meghan - posted on 07/08/2010

Nevada is the only U.S. state to allow some legal prostitution, in the form of heavily regulated brothels. Therefore there is no precident set for Canada and North America and therefore no comparisons I can offer...I am going on facts based on countries that HAVE legalized it or like I said SOME COUNTRIES WHO HAVEN'T but just take a more relaxed stance on the issue...And there where some facts on New Zealand, Australia and the Netherlands when to my knowledge aren't that much different culturally.
But I looked into it and here you go
Child prostitution is also a problem in Nevada.[28][29][30] Las Vegas was identified by the FBI as one of 14 cities around the country with high rates of child prostitution.[31] Las Vegas Metro Police say "roughly 400 children are picked off the streets from prostitution each year."[32]

The U.S. Justice Department has also named Las Vegas among the 17 most likely destinations for human trafficking
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitutio...

Krista - posted on 07/08/2010

Am I off-base, or is prostitution still legal in Nevada? If that's the case, then we should be looking at the cases of child prostitution there. Comparing illegal prostitution in North America with legal prostitution in India or Thailand...well, we also have to factor in the cultural differences, no? You're comparing apples to oranges. That is why I think it would be more productive to compare different states within the same country -- it's a reduction in your variables.

Meghan - posted on 07/08/2010

http://www.rapereliefshelter.bc.ca/issue...

"Regarding the prostitution of children the laws on prostitution as well as those on sex with a child apply. If prostitution in general is legal there is usually a minimum age requirement for legal prostitution that is higher than the general age of consent (see above for some examples). Although some countries do not single out patronage of child prostitution as a separate crime, the same act is punishable as sex with an underage person.

In India, the federal police say that around 1.2 million children are believed to be involved in prostitution. A CBI statement said that studies and surveys sponsored by the ministry of women and child development estimated that about 40% of all India's prostitutes are children.

Thailand’s Health System Research Institute reported that children in prostitution make up 40% of prostitutes in Thailand.

Some adults travel to other countries to have access to sex with children, which is unavailable in their home country. Cambodia has become a notorious destination for sex with children. Thailand is also a destination for child sex tourism. Several western countries have recently enacted laws with extraterritorial reach, punishing citizens who engage in sex with minors in other countries. As the crime usually goes undiscovered, these laws are rarely enforced. (I realize that most of those countries don't have legalized prostitution but I think we can agree that their laws are lax and almost non-exsistant)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitutio...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitutio...

That is just a few (sorry it's such a big post). A lot of it is just information. Whether for or against. There are blurbs for both sides. I included it all (not just things I found supporting my own stance) becuase I do agree that there needs to be more information provided regardless of your opinon. And alot of the info is about foreign countries...not too much info for North America.
Glad we cleared things up Lesli! I apologize if anything that upset you and I agree totally that it is VERY hard to understand context over the computer! And if there are other mom's that agree with me- HELP A SISTA OUT!!! LOL!

Lesli - posted on 07/08/2010

oh ok :) that's the way i saw it ( i was one of the two who commented on the whole government thing so i thought it was directed at me)
it just came across to me like you were getting personal to me O.0 but if that's not what you meant, i totally take back what i said abut being rude!

i would love to see those statistics :) and i'm sure a lot of mom here would too, it would be extreamly informative :)

i was really not twisting your words around, it's just hard to see how you mean things when you are typing it because there is really no tone :/ ( or at least imo) and i'm sorry if it seemed like that :) i really do respect your opinions and you are not the black sheep here, in fact i bet there are more moms that agree with you than you think.

Meghan - posted on 07/08/2010

But I have also stated a few times that this is all my opinon as well as stated that I do see where everyone is coming from so really I didn't need you to explain anything.. And actually my comment was "SO go ahead, legalize it then we teach young girls..." never called YOU out...talk about twisting words and taking things out of context.
And technically my cheeky comment about regulating and legailzing drugs was directed at everyone who is for it...not just you. You where just the first to respond to ME and then I replied. I haven't judge anyone...why would I judge...like I have also said I apparently am the black sheep in this one. I was actually going to add to my last post that I thanked you all for the debate and giving me different things to think about...but I had to get to work
Oh and as far as the children "wanting to be prostitutes" I don't know they they would actually aspire to it...but in a few countries where prostitution is legal there has been a huge upsrise of Child prostitute as well as immigrants in illegal sex trades- which would imply to me that the education and protection isn't there.. I have some stats and numbers but I will sit on them for a bit

Chatty - posted on 07/08/2010

I really don't think she's judging you or patronizing you but that's just my opinion! "You go ahead and legalize and see..." wasn't directed specifically at you.....the you was general! And I think when she says, " I don't get it! " she just means, "I can't imagine" or "I don't agree".

Anyhow, I shouldn't be speaking for someone else.....maybe she doesn't agree with me either?! ;)

Lesli - posted on 07/08/2010

i know that, but if you read everything i said and the way she responded, she took it to a completely different place that i was coming from and got a bit personal :) i am really not patronizing anyone, she just kept on saying she "didn't get it" and the more i try to explain it the more she nitpicked everything i said... the omg was a bit of exasperation... i even agree with her in a lot of things... i was just trying to explain in detail what most mothers already said in a way that I thought was easy to understand... i am not trying to change ANYONE's opinion, but this it hot topics and debates so i thought i was able to debate without getting personal and personally judgmental like her last comment was "you go ahead and legalize" ( really who's patronizing?) . in fact, she is the one who started asking me questions in the fist place, i didn't just rudely jumped her like i can see my last comment can appear... i thought debating wasn't a form of judging.

Chatty - posted on 07/08/2010

Lesli, I don't think Meghan A. is being rude at all.....she just doesn't agree with you. You sound patronizing when you say things like, " OMG i think you totally missed everything i said Meghan...please don't start being rude, and you don't need to argue just to be right." OR, " I was just trying to explain where me and most people are coming from with different examples i thought you could understand."

I think she understands.....perhaps I shouldn't speak for her though?!! I just don't think she agrees with you....she's not being rude!

Jasmine - posted on 07/08/2010

i'm pro-choice, i could never have an abortion but i don't think it's my place to tell other people how to live their lives. and the same with prostitution. it's not gonna stop so it would be safer if it was legalized and could be regulated

Jess - posted on 07/08/2010

I am Pro Choice BEFORE you get into bed.... after that, suck it up princess and wear the consequences of your actions ! Being put up for adoption may not be the greatest way to start your life but at least's its a life. People keep focusing on how its the mothers body... but its a tiny baby's body that she is having destroyed.

As for prostitution.... well if thats how you choose to make a living. Perhaps rather than legalising it, just decriminalise it. That way the government isn't saying they are OK with it, they're just saying they won't put women in jail for it. That would allow women who were attacked etc to go to the police to get help. I think thats a fair compromise.

Toni - posted on 07/08/2010

Meghan, I agree with Krista just because it becomes a legal profession children are not going to just want to be a prostitute! Although if they do we need to remember that when they grow up they may not turn out to be one many children do not turn out to be what they wanted.

Also IMO being a prostitute is not the 'easy option' - it only works if the girls enjoy sex and want to use it to make money if they do not like what they are doing it is the hardest job in the world!

Lesli - posted on 07/07/2010

OMG i think you totally missed everything i said Meghan...please don't start being rude, and you don't need to argue just to be right. If you go back and read everything i said and apply it to the context of your responses, i am not contradicting myself and i think i am being pretty clear. I was just trying to explain where me and most people are coming from with different examples i thought you could understand.

Amber - posted on 07/07/2010

Personally, I don't agree with either. But that only means that I won't do it with MY body. If you want to do it with your body, go for it :) haha
I agree that if it were legal, the government could regulate it better. Illegal doesn't mean that it doesn't happen, it just means that it happens under the table in dangerous conditions.

Meghan - posted on 07/07/2010

I was seriously confused...I didn't realize there was another Meghan with an "h" lol...I thought everyone was talking to me!!!!

LaCi - posted on 07/07/2010

By that logic shouldn't all young girls aspire to be strippers now?

Krista - posted on 07/07/2010

Meghan, call me crazy, but I'm guessing that if prostitution became legal, you wouldn't suddenly see this tidal wave of little girls wanting to be hookers when they grew up.

Meghan - posted on 07/07/2010

I get it Lesli! You are saying that it's not about making money off of it then you follow that up by saying that women who do it, do it for the quick money. And can you honestly tell me that the government would legalize it because they care about the safety of these woman?? No it's ALL about making money. SO go ahead, legalize it then we teach young girls that you don't need to work hard and get an education and it's acceptable to take the easy road and lay on your back for money..how about we encouarge young girls to use their heads and be strong independent woman and not set them back 200 years? Yes it will happen regardless of what we teach them and it would be great to make it a little safer, but doing so imo would make it easy for them! Woman are beautiful and intelligent- they can do more than pleasure a man and have dinner ready for him! And as far as prostitutes being religious...fine ok then. But I don't know how God would feel about that...doesn't he condem pre maritial sex?

Lesli - posted on 07/07/2010

i don't thin you get it meghan, it's not about making money off it. It's about teaching kids how to deal with the existing situation. i don't think teaching utopianism or offering counseling to prostitutes would stop the problem AT ALL. women who do it, they do it for the quick money. some women are religious! i think that, like you say, since it's the oldest profession of all it would be SMART to control it. I do believe in waiting until you love someone, but not everyone does it. I didn't it, and it would be hypocritical to teach my daughter that's the only way to go. I want her to not go that road, but's more important to me to PREPARE her so that, when she is in the position to do so, to say no.

to me it's not bad to want your kids to think that prostitution is bad, but those are yours and my opinions and when they are out alone in the world, what if that's way they decide to go? even with all the years we told them that it's not right, they do have a mind of it's own. in 20 years, all the adults might think that's the way to go. it's our duty to provide a society that is more protected. If legalizing prostitution would make even a little bit safer for my kids, i would do it.i would do ANYTHING that can help them get out of harm's way. remember those prostitutes have mothers that told them that it wasn't ok to be a prostitute, not all of them come from poor abused backgrounds.

Meghan - posted on 07/07/2010

I'm not against sex before marriage...I just believe that it should be saved for a managamous and comitted relationship. Sleeping around for free isn't right imo either. Of course you wanna test the car before you buy it...but you don't put a down payment on the car before you do so. That's why I said LOVE and marriage. I don't think it is a responsible thing to teach children that it is ok to be a prostitute or go to a prostitute because it's legal. Same as if they legalized drugs...just because it's legal doesn't mean it's ok. It means that the government found a way to make money off of it. There will still be a black market-there are going to be prostitutes that don't want to pay taxes on the oldest profession in the world. There will still be PIMPS who don't care about their girls and just want to make a buck, there will still be married men paying for sex and hurting their families. Like I said I do understand that legallizing it WOULD make it more safe. I just don't think it should be. Again also like I said, obviously my opinon isn't going to change things. If it does get legalized I will still tell my son that it is imo wrong. I am all for women's rights...and that includes a woman's right to have some dignity or self respect. Maybe they should offer councilling and career training rather than making money off of it

Krista - posted on 07/07/2010

I'm pro-choice and also think that prostitution should be legalized. Get rid of the pimps -- let these women work for themselves, or if they wish to work for an escort service, then they should be protected by the same workers' rights legislation as the rest of us.

LaCi - posted on 07/07/2010

Pro legalization of drugs as well. Cocaine, Meth, heroin, its all available in some form via prescription anyway. Technically it is legalized to an extent and heavily regulated.

Toni - posted on 07/07/2010

Meghan the legalisation of drugs is different because drugs cause harm the taking of them kills people and has serious knock-on effects to others as well - if a woman enjoys sex and wants to get money for it then how is she harming anybody (inc. herself)? Yes there will always be the 'dark' side to prostitution BUT legalising it will make it safer and reduce this side - it will never kill the black market because even legal items have black markets just limit it!

I can understand what you are saying with having children but porn stars have children and they have to tell them what they do - if prostitution is legalised some of the stigma will be removed from it (not all I know) and so make it less embarrassing to the children. As for sex being part of marriage I think that is a very out dated opinion because people have realised now that sex is about enjoyment as well as having kids, and people realise that having a good sex life with your life long partner is really important so 'try before they buy' this does not mean they are devalueing themselves.

Johnny - posted on 07/06/2010

I am pro-choice and I believe that prostitution should be legalized. Women should have the right to choose what to do with their own bodies. In fact, humans should have the right to choose what to do with their own bodies.

And no, I don't think sex needs to be reserved for marriage and love. I had plenty of sex before my marriage and sometimes, it had nothing to do with love. I do not regret it, I do not feel guilty about it, in fact, most are good memories. If for some unfortunate reason I was to become unmarried, I would most likely engage in non-marital sex quite happily and freely again. Not all people ascribe the same moral requirements to sexual activities. If someone feels that they just want to have sex within the confines of a marriage, that is their right and it should be supported. But I do not feel anyone has any right to dictate the who's, where's and why's of other people's sexual or reproductive choices.

The legalization of prostitution and abortion both protect women from violence and abuse. When a human being has the ability to freely make their own choices, with the support of the legal establishment, it becomes much harder to exploit that person. Prostitutes are currently easy prey for predators of all sorts, because they have little legal recourse. And if women were unable to obtain legal abortions, they also would be victims of unscrupulous illegal abortion providers.

Lesli - posted on 07/06/2010

to answer your question, Ideally it should saved for marriage and love. But in reality ( and that's where we live) it's not. Did you wait until you where married to have sex? how many people did here? like two? Let's be real about this, i didn't and i'm sure my daughter won't... not even my mother did it, and she is like 48! how many women got married after they got pregnant? how many people under 30 did so? you got to be blind not to see it.



teaching your kids it should only be that way will make them end up like Sarah Palin's stupid 17 year old, with a 2 year old baby and "now" becoming celibate! it's just the way society is now. i don't agree with it either, but wishing it was back to what it was 60 years ago is not gonna help my children. and neither yours.



by the way, pot should be legal because the state of California ( and others) voted it should be. How many people buy fake medical licences to use it? how many adults use it? SOOOO many! it';s not crack, that's like saying we should allow mothers to keep abusing their kids! The horrors of heavy drugs are our moral duty to eliminate, but even those are still around... why should be put pot in the same level? it's not as addictive, it can be safely done and some people (like people who don't wanna be in 100 antidepressants who are even worse for you than pot) need it... even cancer patients do it, it doesn't even interfere with the chemo radiation..It's not very bad for you, it does the same amount of damage that alcohol! should that be banned too?



Parents should prepare their kids for the horrors of the world they will get thrown in when they become adults, not cuddle then until they go to college and become drug addicts. I know so many people my age like that.



And tell me, the girls at the bunny ranch, are they really hurting anyone? they are tested ( so no STD spreading) and they charge so much, i KNOW only really desperate man would go there ( who has 2 grand to pay for sex?!?!?) they are controlled, and pay taxes...they should get some dignity on what they do, seriously people working at McDonald are . doing more harm, handing people heart attacks on a bun! it's not the escorts what's the problem, there is much more to it.



tell me, you think one night stands are better because they are free?!?!

Meghan - posted on 07/06/2010

So if you are going to regulate and legalize pot, why not legailze and regulate heroin and cocaine? want to talk about a person's right...how is it anyone elses's priblem if a woman buys and shoots herself up? Because she may become violent or die?...guess what, violence and death occurs AND will occur whether prostitution is legalized or not...drug use will also continue because a lot of the "escorts" I have known use heavy amounts of drugs/alcohol becuase they HATE what they do and have ZERO self respect.
"And punch the parents who don't teach the kids of the dangers of it."
sorry I am going to steal that quote and use it towards the prositution aspect. Obviously thus far I am the only person who seems to be against it...and this is fine with me.
I am not trying to change anyone's mind on the issue. I do see where everyone is coming from. I just personally do not think it is appropriate to condone or legalize a woman or man selling themselves. Shouldn't sex be saved for marriage and love?

Lesli - posted on 07/06/2010

they should, do to the mild recreational ones, like pot. it's like the abolition of alcohol, it just didn't work. i think they should tax it so they can regulate it, and it would stop the desire for heavier drugs. Everything can be controlled if cleaned up, it's just that the government decides that it's more important to go to war with an random country and put their nose in other countries affairs than to repair and regulate what's wrong with here. instead of sending our men to die they should sacrifice the tax money for a cleaner country... in the end is up to the parents to teach how to say no to drugs ( even the legal ones like prescription and alcohol) to their kids. I learned from them, so will my kids and in my family, both sides, NO ONE is a drug addict or an alcoholic, and i'm proud to announce that. I talk to my 10 year old and he know what to expect, how people will offer it to him and he has seen what horrible damage it can do to the brain by meeting drug addicts in the street.

even if drugs are illegal, they are still circulating and children are still consuming it. Who's fault is it? the parents that don't teach their own kids how to say no. so i say legalize pot, control it, and tax the heck out of it so that it's expensive and almost unreachable to kids... And punch the parents who don't teach the kids of the dangers of it. We all got offered drugs, and only the ones that saw what it does to people were smart to say no. My kids will be those people.

Meghan - posted on 07/06/2010

so should the government regulate and legalize drugs? It is after all, a person's choice to put toxins into their body...

Tanya - posted on 07/06/2010

I am all for both!

Stephanie Jo - posted on 07/06/2010

I am against abortion, you are killing an innocent child.....its also against God. Its not the babys fault.Prostitution......its not right and they get hurt.

Lesli - posted on 07/06/2010

i think so too, specially the government. They can regulate it, if they are telling you, they have too much power and it's not a free society anymore

Lesli - posted on 07/06/2010

I am extreamly pro choice.In fact, i think that we should introduce birth control as early as in middle school to kids, and teach them about STDs and how to prevent instead of teaching abstinence. I am all for preventing, i come from a country with a very low teen pregnancy rate compared to the US (6.7 %) and i remember being in middle school and talking about birth control and safe sex. At the same time, i do believe teenagers are not mature enough to take care of babies, and i DO NOT believe that it's even REMOTELY fair for kids to be slammed into the horror of foster care and orphanage because of a mistake an immature girl did. Adoption is a serious thing, not like the stupid movie Juno ( and other tv shows )try to make it look like. What about the emotional repercussions putting your child for adoption would have? think about the guilt you would feel? I would rather them have an abortion than mess up some innocent child life, who had nothing to do with the drunken one night stand they had.



at the same time, i don't think the government should have a say on what you do with your body. I think prostitution should be legal, and it should be controlled. women should be tested to stop the spread of STDs and, let's be real, there are still gonna be women who are prostitutes so WHY NOT HAVE THEM PAY TAXES? we can eliminate a big portion of organized crime and reduce abuse to those women. I think it's immoral, but we can at least have those women keep their some dignity if they do decide to do it.

Veronica - posted on 07/06/2010

I am like most of the women that have posted. I am pro-choice and for leagized prostitution. Since prostitution is the oldest trade in the world, I don't understand why people state that "it's immoral." Does that mean that people in the past were "immoral?" I know that doesn't say much for abortion considering that the new medical technology assists with the act but there are worst things that can happen. For example, a mother that dumps her baby in a garbage bin.

Jen - posted on 07/06/2010

"We've got a generation now who were born with semiequality. They don't know how it was before, so they think, this isn't too bad. We're working. We have our attache cases and our three-piece suits. I get very disgusted with the younger generation of women. We had a torch to pass, and they are just sitting there. They don't realize it can be taken away. Thiings are going to have to get worse before they join in fighting the battle" - Erma Bombeck.

Meghan - posted on 07/06/2010

well...I that is her call. Obviously my opinon isn't going to change anything. It's just how I feel. I know a few "escorts" and I tell them the exact same thing. I personally just can't understand feeling "empowered" by it. I also look at the situation from a child's point of view. What happens when little Johnny is 7 and asks his mommy what she does for a living...do you tell him you are a hooker, or lie to him? Then 15 years down the road he finds out what you actually did to feed him...I don't know. I DO respect a woman's choice but I really just can't wrap my mind around this one.

Chatty - posted on 07/06/2010

But Megs, what if that woman feels empowered by selling her body?

Meghan - posted on 07/06/2010

I am pro-choice but totally against legal prostitution. While I understand that legalizing it would clean it up (drug testing, STD testing, funding for proper protection etc). While prostitution IS a woman's choice I believe it is the wrong choice-esp if you have children. I never in a million years would sell myself to feed my son...I'd work at 4 different mcdonalds flipping burgers before I would advocate a man and woman dispespecting her body. I used to not really care but ever since becoming a mom I have just realized that a woman's body is a beatuiful thing and it should be treated with respect!

Rosie - posted on 07/06/2010

well said dana, i feel exactly the same way!

Chatty - posted on 07/06/2010

If someone wants to prostitute THEIR body then go ahead. I just personally wouldn't do it AND I personally wouldn't have an abortion BUT I am a pro-choice advocate.....no one should be able to tell ANYONE, man or woman, what they can or cannot do with THEIR bodies.

Amy - posted on 07/06/2010

I'm pro-choice, but get annoyed when people use it as a form of birth control.

As for Prostitution, I agree with the first poster that it should be legalized. I also think they should have more testing in place to make it safer for those who engage in it. Personally I think it's wrong, however I can't tell people how to live there life. I just wish they had more regulations in place to make it safer.

Lyndsay - posted on 07/06/2010

Personally, I have nothing against prostitution. I think that if a woman wants to sell her body, its her perogative. It's just like any other service or commodity. I think that if it were legal, it could be regulated... like if you want to work in a brothel, you have to go for regular STD checks and that kind of thing. As for the crackwhores standing on the corner... well.. I don't really know why anyone would even consider the thought of hopping in bed with them, they're disgusting! Like if you can't take care of your mouth well enough to keep some teeth in it, just imagine what their lower areas are like. Urgh..

Jocelyn - posted on 07/06/2010

I am pro choice and for legal prostitution as well.

Toni - posted on 07/06/2010

I think that prostitution where the woman decides she is good at sex and so wants to sell it is fine and should be her choice. I see no difference from pornography because ultimately they are all getting paid to have sex!

I think that legalising it would be the safest thing as the dark side of prostitution comes from it being illegal - such as pimps etc, the only way to remove this is to bring brothels into the public domain (not on the high street but you know what I mean) that way they can be policed correctly and will become safer.

My issue with prostitution comes from the bad stuff - men scouring back streets for girls (who are often underage and hooked on drugs) who don't want to be doing what they are doing but feel they have no choice - this is wrong. As I said above though I feel that legalising prostitution should help remove this (or at least significantly reduce it).

Ultimately I am all for choice your body your choice!

LaCi - posted on 07/06/2010

yay hookers! and I'm "pro-choice"

I appreciate what the feminists did in the past, but I'd really like it if they'd shut up right about now.

Meghan - posted on 07/06/2010

Ill go for Legalized prostitution...just like I go for Legal forms of abortion.

Jen - posted on 07/06/2010

I don't think prostitution should be illegal and don't think the act itself is necessarily immoral. It's how the women are treated both by clients, law enforcement and society that smacks of immorality. I think it being illegal is what causes the problems it faces. Regulating it and taxing it makes it safer for all involved imo. Naturally I do not refer to anyone under the legal age of consent.

I dont' think you can make a blanket statement that all those who are in favor of women being able to choose their reproductive rights one way or the other also are against prostitution.

I myself am also pro-life in all situations. I just am more in favorof the mother's life in certain circumstances. Both before, during and after pregnancy.

Jennifer - posted on 07/06/2010

I only agree with abortion for medical reasons. I am against prostitution but I think peoples' opinions depend on where they live and what is acceptable there. In the UK prostitution is illegal and I agree that it should be.

Stephanie - posted on 07/06/2010

Thanks girls, for the input -- I've always been a bit curious about that...

Charlie - posted on 07/06/2010

Im pro choice and support legalized prostitution , its legal in my country so i guess im no help here *shrugs*

Jenny - posted on 07/05/2010

I'm pro-choice and for legalised prostitution for that very reason. Your body, your choice. Also, prostitution is a victimless crime. I realise there is exploitation that occurs in some cases and I would hope legalising could reduce that. I feel I have no place telling consenting adults what to do.