Controversy of Prostitution the Purpose

¶ … Controversy of Prostitution

The purpose of the present paper is to present a brief history of prostitution where prostitution is regarded as being part of the category of victimless crimes. In addition to presenting the social factors which allowed for the development of the phenomenon, we will also be presenting pro and cons regarding its very existence.

It is fair to say that societies favored the existence of prostitution ever since the beginning of the world. There are Sumerian records dating from 2400 BC stating that prostitution was on the list of the professions. Male prostitutes and transvestites also existed. The Hammurabi Code dating from 1700 BC includes writings referring to the rights of the prostitute and her children. Prostitutes are distinguished from women with other professions by means of a dress code according to the Code of Assura dating from1075 BC. In the seventh century BC brothels become legal in China. The same happens in Ancient Greece in the fifth century BC. Here we encounter high level prostitutes which accompany even the city's leaders. The Roman legislation in 180 BC allowed girls to become prostitutes if that was their wish. The Codex Theodosianus in 438 AD made sure that the state did not impose taxes upon the profession under discussion. (Prostitution. Procon.org)

As far as the Middle Ages are concerned, emperor Justinian banned brothels in the capital ans also sex in the public bath houses. In the late 500s the Visigoths take measures through which prostitution becomes illegal. By 1158 the Roman emperor Frederick Barbarossa attempted to put an end to prostitution by inflicting physical mutilations to both the woman and her client if caught in the act. In 1161 Henry II allows prostitution to become legal again. In addition he installs measures to punish forced prostitution. In the 1200s Castile also regulates prostitution. In France however the phenomenon is subject to abolition in 1254. however, in 1350 municipal brothels are installed. By 1459 the punishments against men who engaged in pimping acts become harsher and harsher. These measures make us realize that if in ancient times most prostitutes became what they were because this was their desire, during the Middle Ages more and more women are forced into it. (Prostitution. Procon.org)

In the modern era, we have the elite renaissance courtesans in Italy a while in England prostitution is considered illegal by 1546. In 1560 France abolishes brothels. The pope's efforts to erase the phenomenon become stronger and stronger. Measures such as the death penalty are taken into consideration. However, in Japan the red light districts are created in 1600. As far as America is concerned, prostitution is punished as an act belonging to the category of adultery or fornication. Empress Maria Teresa tries to abolish prostitution and all fornication with it, but her attempts will not be successful. The phenomenon flourishes in New York between 1600 and 1700. In France the situation was interesting because the police tolerated prostitutes even if their existence was not legal. (Prostitution. Procon.org)

Important data from the nineteenth century includes the Bureau des Moeurs of Paris which legalizes prostitution, Us forbidding prostitution immigration. Numerous episodes such as the Mann act in 1910 prove that America was against prostitution. As sexually transmitted diseases become a social phenomenon, the legislation fights against the causes which might provoke it (such as the U.S. Chamberlian Kahn Act). Times must be changing because Russia chooses to re-educate prostitutes, Germany decriminalizes prostitution and Japan speaks about comfort women. Speaking of the present day, it must be mentioned that in 1999 Sweden declared that the only criminal is the client. Taiwan does not consider prostitution to be against the law, while the majority of other countries does. (Prostitution. Procon.org)

It is obvious that the varying attitudes that societies have had towards the phenomenon under discussion were closely connected with the political and historical circumstances which most weighed upon people. While it is considered to be a victimless crime, reality suggests things are somewhat different. Women and girls are often forced into practicing this profession. Not only do they have to give the majority of their earnings to the men who force them to do it, but they often get abused by clients, "protectors" and corrupt members of the police.

It is true that a person ought to be free to dispose of her own body according to her wishes and that ethics should not have anything to do with this. Nevertheless, saying that a woman is allowed to become a prostitute if this is what she really wants encourages the phenomenon. It is safe to believe that the overwhelming women do this because they need the money and not because they like sex with strangers. Making a legal profession out of prostitution is a means of pushing women from poor environments in this direction.

Bluntly speaking, the act of selling one's body is degrading and steals dignity away from the person. The law which is meant to protect this integrity ought to forbid the existence of such practices. Making prostitution a legal profession implies that the state earns from it. The issue becomes absurd at this point if we are to take into account the data regrading the phenomenon. A real job would imply benefits such as a pension, but also safety measures. This would mean legalizing brothels and eliminating prostitution on the streets. Unfortunately the phenomenon can not be controlled in this manner and the only people who get hurt are the very "professionals."

Bibliography:

Hickenbottom, I.L., Prostitution, then and now. Women's issues then and now. A feminist overview of the past 2 centuries. Retrieved October 3, 2010 from http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~ulrich/femhist/sex_work.shtml