Factors to Be Considered in Legalization of Prostitution

In this modern society, prostitution is considered a plague to morality rather than a socially accepted occupation. Women who are involved in this industry are to be condemned as women of no dignity and are treated as objects to satisfy the desire of men. However, this industry is expanding at a rate exceeding most people’s expectation; it is booming and is not anticipated to cease in the near future. Thus, it has become a serious issue to be taken into consideration whether this industry should be legalized or criminalized. In the judgment of legalization of prostitution, values to be taken into consideration are dignity and safety of prostitutes and women in general. Is legalization of prostitution helpful to prostitutes themselves and women in general? Or is it destructive to them? This is the most important factor that should be considered. Because a society where women are dignified through improvements of prostitute’s treatment, as mostly women involved in prostitution, provides harmony to the whole society.

Prostitution, different than other professions, has been a controversial occupation facing stigmatization from society. This profession offers services of one’s sexual or reproductive capacities. It is argued that such trade is demeaning to women and as involving a damaging commodification and market alienation of women’s sexual and reproductive capacities . Thus, these capacities are turned into a commodity controlled by men, deprived of the sacred reproductive value they posses. Moreover, social culture, which proposes that female body should be covered and not displayed because it would be a shame if one’s body is to be displayed to strangers, has been developed and enrooted deeply in society. As such, prostitutes who display their bodies to strangers are considered shameful and disgraceful to society- a damaging blow to the moral perspective that nonreproductivity and extramarital sex are genuinely bad, in which society upholds and values much. Consequently, society announces that prostitutes deserve disrespect; they are deemed as people with no dignity. As women, they will only denounce the morale of the society and affect the dignity of all women in general.

As long as stigmatization of prostitution exists, real injury is casted on dignity and self-respect of prostitutes. And it can be dealt not by legal strictures against them but of other ways such as taking measure to promote their dignity. Due to the nature of prostitution where most prostitutes are women, it affects the dignity and safety of all women if this profession is not protected. It is when the dignity and safety of prostitutes are fortified that they can start to carry on in their lives with more self-esteem and self-assurance. And it is when this happens that women are more empowered, raising their importance in society compared to men. Thus, women, in general, gain comparable dignity and safety with men, generating a balanced harmonious society where men and women share equal amount of power and burden.