Empowering or Degrading?

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 08-07-2010, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

I think when we're asked a question about something like this, we tend to add our own gray areas. Idiots can mess up just about everything and I don't think its accurate to qualify things.

Should it be legal?

Is it empowering?

I'd say it has a very strong probability to be empowering, and much more so were it to be legalized. Having said that because its currently illegal in a great majority of the United States, most cases of prostitution are horribly degrading.

Theres physical abuse unless she has a John. If she does, she's exploited to the point of slave labor. Its highly unsafe, the health risks are astronomical and I'll bet the chances of pregnancy and therefore abortion are much higher also.

Legal prostitution, regulated and ritualized is empowering. Illegal; the system perpetuates the abuse.

This isn't logical you know. Since Men are the ones you'd have power over, it makes sense to suggest we might know better.

It's legal here. Safer for Kiwi's but not necessarily safe for immigrants/traffickers.

TheBig3 · 08-07-2010, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla

It's legal here. Safer for Kiwi's but not necessarily safe for immigrants/traffickers.

And how do you find the local, legal prostitutes feel about it?

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 08-07-2010, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

And how do you find the local, legal prostitutes feel about it?

They feel good, less risk taking by being out in dodgy streets as they can now all line up on well lit streets, knowing they are protected by not only their pimps but the police. There are brothels that are in reasonable conditions now due to regulations implemented in regards to human rights etc.

All and all, if a woman wants to be a prostitute, she deserves the safety at work like most other professions. Obviously there are still major risks but it's still an improvement from getting criminal records for it.

CanwllCorfe · 08-07-2010, 06:50 PM

Hmm.. I think it's subjective. It's pretty easy to see either side.

And this is why I didn't join the debate team.

The Monkey · 08-10-2010, 03:17 AM

Most feminists argue, as do I, that very few seriously enter the prostitution business out of free will, but rather are being forced so out of circumstances, be it the necessity to sustain a drug abuse, or just general poverty.

boo boo · 08-10-2010, 10:59 AM

That's more realistic than thinking that they just do it because they're godless sodomites.

Regardless of why do they it. Illegalization enables many of the things that makes prostitution such a horrible lifestyle, instead of preventing them. Prostitutes are abused, by both pimps and johns, some of them are given illegal drugs to create a dependency, not taking precautions and such increases the risk of STDs.

It's a job many women choose so vanilla is right that they deserve a safe workplace just like everyone else. Not only would things be safer for them, but their clients as well.

bannister · 08-10-2010, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

This isn't logical you know. Since Men are the ones you'd have power over, it makes sense to suggest we might know better.

Are these men you're talking about strippers or prostitutes? Because if they're customers, how would they know how empowering OR degrading it is for the person performing?

Is it supposed to be the fact that they keep handing money over?

cardboard adolescent · 08-14-2010, 11:48 PM

I'm going to go with neither. It might have damaging effects on one's psyche to be treated as a body, or one might be strong enough to handle it. I certainly don't think it's very empowering. I'm willing to bet it devalues sex, but you can still find that value elsewhere. It is very dangerous though, even if it were to be legal you're still dealing with one of the more potentially unstable demographics out there. But it would probably be better if it were legal.

~~Dirty~~ · 10-19-2010, 12:45 AM

I don't look at it as either... I don't look down on strippers. They are out there making money and I respect that. No need for me to judge others unless it affects me. I think prostitution should be legal actually. If both parties are consenting and wanting to have sex and exchange money, I dont see much of a problem in it. Legalizing it would just make it safer in my opinion, and probably less degrading to prostitutes who are being slapped around by their pimps. Plus it'd be far less dangerous for the women too

08-07-2010, 06:50 PM	#54 (permalink)
CanwllCorfe Quiet Man in the Corner Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Pocono Mountains Posts: 2,480	Hmm.. I think it's subjective. It's pretty easy to see either side. And this is why I didn't join the debate team. __________________ Your eyes were never yet let in to see the majesty and riches of the mind, but dwell in darkness; for your God is blind.

08-10-2010, 03:17 AM	#55 (permalink)
The Monkey Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 803	Most feminists argue, as do I, that very few seriously enter the prostitution business out of free will, but rather are being forced so out of circumstances, be it the necessity to sustain a drug abuse, or just general poverty. __________________ Now another stranger seems to want you to ignore his dreams as though they were the burden of some other My Last.fm

08-14-2010, 11:48 PM	#58 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,503	I'm going to go with neither. It might have damaging effects on one's psyche to be treated as a body, or one might be strong enough to handle it. I certainly don't think it's very empowering. I'm willing to bet it devalues sex, but you can still find that value elsewhere. It is very dangerous though, even if it were to be legal you're still dealing with one of the more potentially unstable demographics out there. But it would probably be better if it were legal.

10-19-2010, 12:45 AM	#59 (permalink)
~~Dirty~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 981	I don't look at it as either... I don't look down on strippers. They are out there making money and I respect that. No need for me to judge others unless it affects me. I think prostitution should be legal actually. If both parties are consenting and wanting to have sex and exchange money, I dont see much of a problem in it. Legalizing it would just make it safer in my opinion, and probably less degrading to prostitutes who are being slapped around by their pimps. Plus it'd be far less dangerous for the women too