Comments on: Prostitution! Are you for it or against it? http://www.heenamodi.com/2008/12/21/prostitution-are-you-for-it-or-against-it/ thinking globally, acting locally Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:09:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Heena Modi http://www.heenamodi.com/2008/12/21/prostitution-are-you-for-it-or-against-it/comment-page-1/#comment-3748 Heena Modi Sat, 03 Jan 2009 12:34:35 +0000 http://www.heenamodi.com/?p=559#comment-3748 Wow! Some deep insights. Thanks for sharing them. I guess it's now clear how 'grey' the topic is. Wow! Some deep insights. Thanks for sharing them. I guess it’s now clear how ‘grey’ the topic is.

]]> By: Sagar Shah http://www.heenamodi.com/2008/12/21/prostitution-are-you-for-it-or-against-it/comment-page-1/#comment-3669 Sagar Shah Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:07:56 +0000 http://www.heenamodi.com/?p=559#comment-3669 I think that sex is something that most humans desire, and the sad reality is that not everyone is going to be able have a great sex life (with an ideal partner). The consequence of this is that a market for prostitution exists, and will continue to exist in the future. In general, I am for the legalisation of prostitution if it leads to the better welfare of sex-workers and ensures that prostitution is safer. Unfortunately, I think there are two possible downsides of the legalisation of prostitution - but I think the benefits outweigh the costs... 1) Legalisation of prostitution in an area where it is illegal for surrounding countries / cities may lead to sex-tourism, lead to an influx of sex workers and result in an even larger underground sex industry (imagine if their is a regulated sex sector with high prices, there then there would be an incentive for existing blackmarket 'pimps' to provide services at a lower price). This could be damaging to other areas of the legalising country/city and end up in more people being abused 2) Legalisation of prostitution may relax societial attitudes towards extra-marital sex and may have a negative impact on relationships. For example, young adults who regularly use prostitutes pre-marriage (who would have otherwise avoided doing so) may find their sex lives in marriage - and this may result in damage to the quality of relationships. However, the legalisation of prostitution may also actually have a postive impact on relationships. By reducing the risk of picking up a sexually transmitted disease, it is easier for individuals wanting to engage in sex but may not be able to (i.e. people who may live far away from partners, or partners who may not be able to perform sexually due to illness or medical condition) to enjoy safe sex without having to engage in an affair. An interesting book which delves into the impact of various policies on behaviour and social outcomes is called 'more sex is safer sex' by Steven Landsburg. A very interesting read - I would highly recommend it to anyone that enjoyed reading Freakonomics. I think that sex is something that most humans desire, and the sad reality is that not everyone is going to be able have a great sex life (with an ideal partner). The consequence of this is that a market for prostitution exists, and will continue to exist in the future.

In general, I am for the legalisation of prostitution if it leads to the better welfare of sex-workers and ensures that prostitution is safer.

Unfortunately, I think there are two possible downsides of the legalisation of prostitution – but I think the benefits outweigh the costs…

1) Legalisation of prostitution in an area where it is illegal for surrounding countries / cities may lead to sex-tourism, lead to an influx of sex workers and result in an even larger underground sex industry (imagine if their is a regulated sex sector with high prices, there then there would be an incentive for existing blackmarket ‘pimps’ to provide services at a lower price). This could be damaging to other areas of the legalising country/city and end up in more people being abused

2) Legalisation of prostitution may relax societial attitudes towards extra-marital sex and may have a negative impact on relationships. For example, young adults who regularly use prostitutes pre-marriage (who would have otherwise avoided doing so) may find their sex lives in marriage – and this may result in damage to the quality of relationships.

However, the legalisation of prostitution may also actually have a postive impact on relationships. By reducing the risk of picking up a sexually transmitted disease, it is easier for individuals wanting to engage in sex but may not be able to (i.e. people who may live far away from partners, or partners who may not be able to perform sexually due to illness or medical condition) to enjoy safe sex without having to engage in an affair.

An interesting book which delves into the impact of various policies on behaviour and social outcomes is called ‘more sex is safer sex’ by Steven Landsburg. A very interesting read – I would highly recommend it to anyone that enjoyed reading Freakonomics.

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