Legalization of Prostitution

Whether or not prostitution should be legal is an age old debate in the United States of America. Some argue that it should not be legalized because it is a form of slavery. These people see only one side of the problem that is prostitution. What they do not understand is that many of these women are forced into sex slavery and have no escape. Prostitution should be legalized to help prostitutes that have no escape from the illegal activity they are forced to partake in.

Today in America, prostitution is illegal save eight counties in Nevada that allow brothels. Brothels are houses of prostitution. Prostitution is illegal for many reasons, and many people believe it should remain this way. The most widely accepted reason is that “control and exploitation of another person is slavery”. Many of these women have been forced into this industry through human trafficking. The most common reason for human trafficking is by far sexual exploitation. Everyday, girls that have recently entered womanhood are being kidnapped and taken to America. The average prostitution entry age is twelve years old. These young women are isolated in sex shops to ensure they remain in the sex slavery industry. By legalizing prostitution many believe that this will only promote the human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women. What they do not realize is that these women who are forced to be prostitutes cannot receive help without running into the law.

Through legalization, prostitution would have the ability to be accepted as a form of work

rather than a forced labor. Although women could still be forced into this industry, they would

have easier access to the help they need. These women not only suffer from physical abuse and STDs, but they also suffer from mental illnesses that have been brought on via the sex industry. Almost half of prostitutes have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the violence and abuse they have experienced or witnessed. Currently, these women cannot seek the help they need for fear of the law. By legalizing prostitution, these women in need are free to seek care. With it legalized, resource centers