lexie's site! <3

“Should Prostitution Be Legalized?”

Engaging in sexual activity with another person in exchange for compensation, such as money or other valuable goods; that is the definition of prostitution according to en.wiktionary.org/wiki/prostitution. A lot of people argue that it would not be a wise idea to legalize these acts, but it would not actually be as horrible as some may think. "Prostitution should not be a crime. Prostitutes are not committing an inherently harmful act. While the spread of disease and other detriments are possible in the practice of prostitution, criminalization is a sure way of exacerbating rather than addressing such effects. We saw this quite clearly in the time of alcohol prohibition in this country. ...What makes prostitution a 'victimless crime' in the sense that no one is necessarily harmed by it is that there are consenting adults involved." -- Sherry F. Colb, JD Judge Frederick Lacey Scholar at Rutgers Law School E-mail to ProCon.org Dec. 17, 2006. My thought is that prostitution should be legalized; if you want to sell your body for money that should be your own choice. It is just another profession that could help another person out of debt, or make a little extra money on the side. Should they really be denied that right?

This page is for an assignment we have in my English 1101 class. We were told to pick a topic of our chosing, pick a side to argue for, and debate about it. This page is to help organize what we have accomplished so far. The topic I am debating is "should prostitution be legalized?" I am for it being legalized. I feel that if a woman wants to sell her self and her body for money, she should be able to do so. She should not be thrown in jail because someone else finds it immoral. It could just be her way of making a living. Also, if men want to risk getting deseases from prostitutes, that should also be their choice. After all, it is that way when a man decides to have sex with a woman whom he is not paying.

should be legalized

http://prostitution.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=115 (site that lists the top ten pros and cons of legalizing prostitution)

http://www.unesco.org/courier/1998_12/uk/ethique/txt1.htm (site about prostitution in other countries and how women in those countries use prostitution to make a living)

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/227393/should_prostitution_be_legal_legal.html (site about the history of prostitution and how it became to be thought of as slavery)

http://www.fff.org/freedom/1293e.asp (a site on statistics about prostitution in the U.S.)

List of items for presentational aid:

1 charts of statistics on percentage of prostitutes with or without STIs when its legal and when its not

2 Pictures of prostitutes in jail for just trying to make a living

3 South Park clip on why prostitutes are good :)

4 interview prostitutes

5 clips of prostitution in other countries and in the past

shouldnt be legalized

http://prostitution.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=115 (site that lists the top ten pros and cons of legalizing prostitution)

http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/mhvlegal.htm (how prstitution oppresses women)

http://instructors.cwrl.utexas.edu/bailey/?q=node/150 (why prostitution is not safe or a good role model for American women)

http://sisyphe.org/spip.php?article691 (top 10 reasons for not legalizing prostitution)