Category: Prostitution

Prostitution is a situation whereby a woman decides to practice underproductive sex to be paid in return (Prostitution is not a choice, n.d., para.1). People usually decide to become sexual objects to anyone who can pay them in return. Women are the highest placed victims of prostitution in the world. Some countries legalize prostitution while other countries do not support prostitution. For example, in the United States of America; there is limited legality of prostitution. The most affected are the vulnerable women and young girls. Statistically, it has been proven that there are approximately 100,000 arrests for prostitution annually (Prostitution, n.d., p. 1). Some businesspersons invest in prostitution. Such people practice girl child trafficking and in the end, make them prostitutes.

According to Shyann Child, in his article Empirically examining prostitution through a feminist perspective, he reviews the ideology of prostitution by using a feminist perspective. (Article by Shyann Child Retrieved December 5, 2012, at 1 pm from digital commons). Shyann Child explores the ideology of prostitution, by sampling several women who were prostitutes and non-prostitutes. The child identifies the reason why these women chose prostitution (Child, 2009, p. 3). The child uses independent and dependent variables to explain the situation faced by prostitutes. He also shows the different forms of prostitution and their effects on victimized women. Child sampled a group of women from Northeastern U.S.A. and analyzed their life experiences. In addition, he used these data to explain several theories related to prostitution. His main aim was to discover if these women had a role to play in choosing prostitution as part of their life.

Considering the analysis done by Child, he used an inductive approach while doing his research. In order, to formulate his hypothesis, he identified different theories. For example, Child uses criminological theories to explain the fact that women are responsible for the choices they make in life (Child, 2009, p. 6). To identify the hypothesis, the researcher, uses real-life experience to solve issues. It follows the procedure of development theory, generation of hypothesis and finally undertaking observation and collecting data to confirm the assumptions made (DeVault, n.d., para 4).

The hypothesis of this research addresses issues of prostitution based on feminists perspective. The researcher assumes that either womens prostitution is a choice made by the victim or it is a forced deal. The reason determining the nature of prostitution is based on a persons life experience. For example, someone may enter into prostitution due to prolonged poverty and wants a change. Therefore, this can be described as willingly accepting prostitution to get money. On the other hand, there are situations where young girls are trafficked and confined by greedy business people (100 countries and their prostitution policies n.d., para 5).In the end, they are introduced to drugs and prostitution to make money for their bosses. The latter is described as forced prostitution. While undertaking the research, the researcher, collected information from the field and used other recourses like books to come up with the proper information that addresses the topic of research.

In conclusion, the results implied that women who practiced prostitution were influenced by certain factors. For example, a child who was sexually abused by a close relative or a family member was prone to practicing prostitution in the near future. In addition, economic factors like unemployment among the youth are responsible for perpetuating prostitution in society. Therefore, society has a huge role to play in determining the number of prostitution in existence. Parents are encouraged to speak openly about the negative effects of prostitution for the girls to know how much they endanger their lives. The state should make it a point to help the youth by creating more job opportunities to improve on their standards of living.

References

Child, S. (2009). empirically examining prostitution through a feminist perspective. Web.

DeVault, G. (n.d.). Market research  deductive versus inductive. Web.

Prostitution (n.d.). Web.

Prostitution is not a choice. (n.d.). Web.

100 countries and their prostitution policies. (n.d.). Web.

Interviews conducted in the United States of America reveal that majority of Adult Americans do not favor decriminalization of people based on their sexual orientations. Many researches on the subject indicate that it is only a small percentage of Americans who support strategies of restraint, toleration, or validation. Many research findings show that maturity and schooling were the only demographic variables that extensively influenced opinions on the sexual control policies to be enacted in the United States of America (Ryan 1988). Approach towards government obstruction in matters of victimless crimes such as prostitution and other sexual activities had the greatest influence on the majority of the kinds of policies that are enacted. Attributions of prostitutes motivations conversely, accounted for very little in the determination of strategies to be adapted. In general, several researches on the subject about sexual orientation discriminations reveal that respondents are heartless to victimless crimes like prostitution and are ignorant about unconventional certified responses to it (Ryan 1988).

Not many people would argue that prostitution is a risk-free job. There are many risks for women who practice prostitution which include STD and AIDS, unplanned pregnancy, physical violence, rape, and mental trauma among others. Some people assert that the sex deal is connected with planned misdemeanor and brutality, while others uphold that it undermines sex egalitarianism. In the cotemporary world, the Netherlands and Swedish have adopted very ineffective strategies to stop the problems associated with prostitution. The Netherland which has for years formalized prostitution lifted its outlaw on brothels and their dealings in 2000. One year prior to that, Sweden became the primary country to rule out the acquisition of sexual services as decriminalizing the sale, treating prostitutes as sufferers of sexual offense. Proponents of the Dutch approach dispute that prostitution is an inescapable facade of the public. They assert that the most effective strategy to develop health and lessen aggression in the sex trade is to permit and control prostitution. Those who support the Sweden argument propose that exclusion is an essential stride towards abolishing an intrinsically coercive, brutal, and misogynistic sex trade. Both sides declare that their strategy is the most suitable approach to battle sex trafficking and the reliance of women and children to labor in the sex trade. Regardless of their differences, both approaches are entrenched in an open-minded commencement of liberty, which is regarded as a beginning of an outstanding of the highest degree of recognition to the political philosopher John Stuart Mill. In 1859, Mill penned his most powerful toil on freedom in which he sought after define standard of sovereignty that may possibly be used to critic all laws. He argued that men were liberated to imagine and reside as they please awaiting their measures debilitated or dishonored the privileges of others; only then could society limit entity freedoms. Mills so-called the harm principle has since been appealed to give good reason for the validation of narcotics use, prostitution, and other victimless crimes. This squabble rests on the supposition that persons who freely take part in such actions do not result to any damage to the society at range. Nevertheless, when the sex trade association to sex trafficking is well thought-out, prostitution proves to be far from victimless. Using Mills harm code as a principled standard, the researcher argues that the corroboration of prostitution really violates the harm principle since it stimulates claim for sufferers of trafficking. In addition, countries efforts to battle sex trafficking ought to imitate Swedens demand-side replica and criminalize the customer of rewarded sex fairly than the victim (Richards 1988).

Mill and the Harm Principle

On Liberty, Mill argues that the general public or its decision class has customarily wanted to inflict its own definitions of ethics on its people. In general, laws reflect the likings and disliking of society, which are not universally accepted standards. He argues that intellectuals have been unsuccessful to query the goodness of daunting ethics (Hunt 1974). Mills preposition on Liberty is to set up a basic, objective principle to govern absolutely the dealings of society with an individual. A decent standard through which all laws can be judged. This means that the only reason, for which authority can be fairly exercised above any affiliate of a civilized group of people alongside his determination, is to avert damage to others. Thus, either substantially or ethically is not an adequate guarantee (Gallup 1972). Mills harm principle is a denial of paternalism or the constraint of an individuals freedoms of anxiety for his or her best wellbeing. In a liberated society, Mill argument is that an individual is independent. Government can merely limit a persons freedoms, if his or her actions damages or infringe the rights of others. In order to give a good reason for such a wide explanation of freedom, Mill argues that diverse lifestyles including those lifestyles that are well thought-out or abnormal and wicked are all precious to the society. He states that mankind is not perfect and that a lot of thoughts that were once regarded as perfect have been confirmed wrong. For instance, there are many Christians in the past that were very devoted to Christianity belief, but currently they are all deviants (Geis 1972). If the world were conceited sufficiently to declare domination on truth, genuine truth would by no means be exposed. Therefore, if optional thinking and lifestyles were not to some degree accepted to subsist, society would turn out to be sluggish.

Practices well thought-out to be corrupt should be tolerated because they may eventually include some truth. Subsequently, they may eventually endow those that may opt to follow them. Thus, if the foremost faction is so persuaded of the honest truth in its own lifestyle, then it ought to allow other lifestyles to be experienced and to fail consequently: The worth of different modes of life should be proved practically, when anyone thinks fit to try them (Ryan 1988, p.34). Any society that refuses to bear alternative beliefs and lifestyles will lead to a tyranny of the majority when the preponderance of people imposes its moral will on the minority. In open-minded societies, the harm principle serves as a make sure on majority will. Roe famously argued that, The only freedom which deserves the name, is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it (Roe 1988 a, p.70). Thus, we are completely without charge and supreme individuals until we get in the way of anothers sovereignty.

Mill makes more than a few significant qualifications to the harm principle pertinent to a discussion on prostitution policies. First, the harm principle does not cover all kinds of harm  only the infringement of individual rights. Mill is unspecific concerning what constitutes a right, but this discussion will take for granted that Mill had certain, basic rights  existence, freedom, and possessions  in mind. The harm principle intrinsically promotes autonomy of option, the right to pursue our own good in our own way. Secondly, society being capable of and must approve paternalistic actions (in violation of the harm principle) in the wellbeing of shielding children, since they have not so far reached a condition of cause. Mill states that, Those who are still in a state to require being taken care of by others must be protected against their own actions as well as against external injury (Shaver 1975, p.90). Lastly, Mill argues that, society has the right to charge crimes by instilling appropriate precautions (Snell 1985). Subsequently, if knowledge warns us that certain freedoms are tending to create certain harms, the harm principle enables society to proactively limit those freedoms. The numerous harmful aspects of prostitution such as illness, rape, aggression among others are well thought-out seriously by some people to necessitate government meddling in the sex trade. However, these reasons unaccompanied are not sufficient to justify the rule or ban of the sex trade based on Mills harm principle. It must be renowned that proponents of the Dutch and Swedish approaches to prostitution in cooperation employ paternalistic point of views. The Dutch argue that their approach is in the best interest of the prostitute. They perceive that the use of a corroboration and directive approach will help to reduce the dangers of gender toil. The Swedish unproductive effort to stop accusations of paternalism by deeming prostitution inherently coercive, sidestepping the reality that some women gladly make a decision to sell their bodies. Any law that restricts prostitution based on possible risks to agreeable parties is paternalistic, and it violates the rights of women who willingly seek service in the sex trade. Mill would argue that prostitution is another lifestyle that ought to be tolerated still if humanity deems it morally wrong. In order to give explanation for ruling out this assertion based on the harm principle, prostitution should infringe the rights of a non-consenting party. This instinctive party consists of the women and children required into sexual slavery during sex trafficking (Peters, 1998).

Sex Trafficking  An Overview

In February 2009, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime made public its Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. Antonio Maria Costa, the Executive Director of the UNODC, acknowledges a somber truth in its foreword. Human trafficking is one in the middle of many expressions used nowadays to hide the appearance of contemporary slavery. Trafficking is simply the act of dependence, the transportation and maneuver of human beings as merchandise. According to the U.S. State Departments 2005 Trafficking in Persons Report, a predictable 600,000 to 800,000 persons are trafficked from one country to another yearly; of these, 80 percent are female and 50 percent are children (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2009). This data does not report for the millions of people that are trafficked inside their state borders each year. Though men, women, and children can be trafficked with the intention of compulsory work, most of those people that are trafficked are mainly women and children who are trafficked for sexual slavery. According to the 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report, a person becomes a victim of sex when she/he is coerced, forced or tricked or maintained in prostitution as a result of coercion (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2009). The account furthermore defines any child (under the age of 18) affianced in prostitution like a victim of sex trafficking, despite of approval. In relation to Mills viewpoint, children ought to be sheltered against some of their own dealings. UNODC estimates that more than one million children (under the age of 18) have engaged in sex trade every year for the precedent thirty years (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2009). In An offense so hideous, investigatory reporter Benjamin E. Skinner explains how women and children are misled into prostitution. Most women are at peril for sex trafficking due to frantic financial situations. Victims of trafficking in Western Europe arrive as far as from former Soviet bloc countries like Moldova and Romania or African and Southeast Asian countries where employment opportunities for youthful women are tremendously limited. They entice women into departing their homes with the view of a high-paying profession in a bistro or lodge in a foreign country. In a number of cases, a delightful, good-looking, rich young man called a lover-boy develops an idealistic affiliation with a woman for a few weeks, or months. He promises her an improved existence in his state if she would go home together with him. In most cases, the woman is betrayed as soon as they reach her destination  the recruiter or lover-boy (trafficker) sells her into a brothel. The brothel proprietor or pimp informs her that he used quite a lot of money to transport her abroad, and she is supposed to have sex with customers in order to pay back her debt. If the woman resists, he rapes her into compliance. With additional interest to her liability and the steady menace of aggression, she will by no means be able to flee the brothel. She has turned out to be a slave in each sense of the expression (American Bar Association 2004). Mills harm principle protects individual liberty against those freedoms harm, or obstructions through the rights of others. If the freedom to pursue our own good in our own way is an unchallengeable human right, sex trafficking must be well thought-out as the major monstrous damage. The injured party is strained to follow anothers good by advertising her most confidential ownership to total strangers. This is slavery and it is a great threat to women and children universally (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2009).

Trafficking in people is at the present the third leading and greatest rising illegal venture in the world at the rear of drug and artillery trafficking (Roe, Pizza to Seek Inquiry Into Escort Services. 1988d). A number of estimates put the worldwide annual worth of modern-day slavery as far above the ground as $32 billion (American Bar Association 2004).

The 2009 report about Trafficking of People Reported claims that trafficking of humans does not respect any security, physical conditions or sanctuary of any State (American Bar Association 2004). The sex trafficking violates Mills harm code. Consequently, if legalizing prostitution increases trafficking of humans for sex, thus, legalization of sexual services can be prohibited based on the harm standard (Peters 1998). The research will at present view the newly adopted sexual law approaches enacted in Netherlands and Sweden in order to recognize a relationship amid prostitution and claim for sex trafficking. Many critics of the new approach on prostitution merely show that the sex deal has been driven dissident. Nevertheless, Sweden law enforcement has had huge achievement in reducing prostitution. Within the first five years of enacting the law (1999-2003), 234 men had either pleaded culpable or been convicted of purchasing sexual services under the Swedish law (Roby 1972). According to Roby the rule has in addition simplified the enforcement law in order to examine and take into custody human traffickers. In summary, the Swedish law has influenced some women in Sweden to stop prostitution.

The Prostitution component in Stockholm which is an association that assists those women who engage in sex trade reported that 60 percent of their customers in 2002 had enduringly stopped prostitution and many of these women associate their decision to stop prostitution to the enacting of the Sweden prostitution Law that acts as an incentive that influenced them to sought appropriate assistance (Special Committee on Pornography and Prostitution 1985). Therefore, the Swedish law has accomplished a great deal of what the Dutch law simply planned to do by adapting the approach of corroboration. According to the Trafficking in Persons Report, Swedish police approximate that 400 to 600 people are trafficked into Sweden every year. Majority of those people who are trafficked are women and children for obligatory prostitution (Special Committee on Pornography and Prostitution 1985). Funkhouse and Popoff compare this figure with the figure recorded in Denmark of approximately 5,500 to 7,800 women and children that are trafficked for prostitution in Denmark. Denmarks inhabitants are partially Sweden, but it has no laws that prohibit sex trade (Funkhouse and Popoff 1969). It was mentioned previously that 68 to 80 percent of the Netherlands 30,000 women and kids in prostitution are foreigners and majority of them are those women and children who are victims of human trafficking. In spite of these persuasive results about the success of the law in fighting prostitution in the country, Sweden prostitution law is far from achieving its objective of stopping the high prevalence of prostitution in the country (Milman 1980).

Bibliography

American Bar Association. Criminal Justice. New York: The Section, 2004. Funkhouse, Ray G, and David Popoff. Your Thoughts on Crime and Punishment. Psychology Today 3 (November), 1969: 53-58.

Gallup, George H. The Gallup Poll, Public Opinion 1935-1971. New York: Random House, 1972. Geis, Gilbert. Not the Laws Business? An Examination of Homosexuality, Abortion, Prostitution, Narcortics and Gambling in the United States. Rockville MD: Sage, 1972

Heider, Fritz. The Psychology of Interpersonal Relations. New York: Wiley, 1958.

Hunt, Morton. Sexual Behavior in the 1970s. Chicago: Playboy, 1974.

Peters, Hanson. Popular Public Opinion 1935-1946. Littleton CO: Fred B Rothman, 1998.

Richards, David J. Liberalism, Public Morality and Constitutional Law: Prolegomenon to a Theory of the Constitutional Right to Privacy. Law and Contemporary Problems 51, 1988: 123-50.

Roe, Sam. Pizza to Seek Inquiry Into Escort Services. The Blade (Toledo), 1988d: p.8.

Ryan, Carl. Prostitution Not Top Public Worry, Councilmen Say. The Blade, 1988: pp. 23-24.

Shaver, Kelly G. An Introduction to Attribution Process. Cambridge, MA: Winthrop, 1975.

Snell, John. Portlanders Split on Legalization oof Prostitution. The Oregonian (Portland) May 5, 1985: p. 1.

Special Committee on Pornography and Prostitution. Pornography and Prostitution in Canada,. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services, 1985.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. Geneva: UNODC, 2009.

Child prostitution is a way of engaging children, (normally individuals below the age of 18 years), in sex activities for financial benefit or remuneration which can be in form of food, shelter or even drugs. Normally, some of the victims of this vice find themselves engrossed in such activities without their knowledge. Others are forced to engage in prostitution when their families or those close to them abandon them, and therefore use it as a means of getting their daily needs. Some are even abducted and forced to engage in it through constant threats (Bales & Soodalter, 2008).

The practice normally happens in places like bars, clubs, brothels and even homes, and when it happens, the victims are forced to use false identification especially when it involves transportation to a different country. The living conditions of such children are often poor, with poor pay and lack of proper medical care.

According to Bales 2009, both boys and girls are victims of child prostitution and those involved could be locals from the country, tourists from other countries or pedophiles. This happens in both developed and developing countries, and although many countries have set laws illegalizing it, the practice is still rampant especially in Asia and South America and even Africa.

There are a number of other reasons why these individuals engage in the practice. Whereas some do it to cater for their needs like food and shelter, others are introduced to it by their peers as a way of finding solace from constant abuse by adults or people whom they trust. In this case, they find it hard to stop even when some form of help comes by.

On the other hand, some children drop out of school when they feel that it is not helping them in any way. Quite often, they do this with the hope getting a job somewhere ass an easy way out. However, when search for jobs become futile, they resolve to engage in prostitution with adults, whereby some even take it as full time job.

A research by Anthony (1999) shows that technological advances like the internet have made it possible for children to view pornographic materials on their own. This has made them more vulnerable to engage themselves in such activities like acting in those pornographic movies. Some myths associated with AIDS, like, getting cured when one engages in sexual activities with a virgin, may also have contributed to child trafficking for prostitution purpose.

There are several dangers associated with child prostitution, some of which are physical and others mental. Children involved are sexually and physically assaulted and this lowers their self-esteem and denies them opportunities to proper health care and good education. The result can also be a long term one, even a for life time which can affect the victims behavior and emotions such that one is not able to make proper decisions as an adult.

Young people involved in prostitution also may contract sexually transmitted disease such as AIDS and this leaves them desperate especially when affiliates abandon them. This desperation and lack of treatment eventually leads to death. An unwanted pregnancy is another danger associated with child prostitution. When victims realize that they have fallen into such a trap, some opt for abortion or even suicide.

Victims of this vice at times find themselves engaged in drug abuse and trafficking and the result of this facing the law where in many cases they find themselves behind bars for the rest of their lives. This also makes them have a criminal record such that incase they are freed, their reputation in the community remains ruined.

To stop child prostitution, strict measures must be put in place in different countries. Any child forced into prostitution or chooses it, must by all means be helped. This also applies to parents who have no regard for education for their children and hence force them into the vice. This can be done by creating awareness to these people through seminars, in schools and churches, and also through media. Some agencies like World Vision, UNICEF have been involved I campaigns against child prostitution worldwide. Materials such as billboards have been used in hotels, airports and streets to deter the so called sex tourists (Ignatius & Dilip 2008)

World vision for instance has intervened to avoid children from being lured into sex trade by encouraging education amongst young people and helping them find other means of survival, in countries like Cambodia, Mexico and Brazil. They have also joined efforts with U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement to find such sex offenders and punish them in accordance to the law.

Child prostitution is a vice that is quite rampant in many societies today. Many people know about it, while others do not even think it as child abuse. However, the reality is that, this practice is very dehumanizing and denies the victim his/her right to enjoy their childhood. Many young people have left their homes and gone far and wide to engage in prostitution all in search of survival tactics. With the current spread of HIV/AIDS scourge, these people have to be protected from engaging in such activities.

To win this battle against child prostitution, joint efforts must be made globally, amongst government and non-governmental agencies to fight the vice. Those who trade as sex workers should also be helped and the society should be made aware that child prostitution is a form of child abuse.

Reference

Ignatius N. & Dilip K. (2008). Global trafficking in women and children, CRC Press.

Bales K, & Soodalter R, (2009). The slave next door: Human trafficking and slavery in America today. University of California Press.

Anthony J. G. & Centre of Concern for Child Labour, (1999). Child Prostitution in India. Concept Publishing Company.

Introduction

Prostitution occurs when people offer sex to their sexual counterparts for the exchange of money and other incentives. Prostitution is an old business that has been in existence for many centuries. Prostitution is most vibrant to individuals who do not spend most of their time in their homes. This includes people whose occupations are associated with traveling now and then to various destinations. Some of these victims include businesses people and tourists. On the other hand, prostitution is also associated to be mostly a business for people of low social status. This is because their poor economic status forces them to engage in prostitution to earn their daily bread. People that engage in prostitution can either be young women or men, old men, and women or small girls and boys. It has been noted that prostitution is even common to boys and girls as young as six years (Gilbert 2003).

Children prostitution is a growing phenomenon in the 21^st century. This is because a survey conducted in Eastern Asia in 2006 showed that the number of children involved in prostitution is double the figure recorded in 1978. One reason for this high increase in the number of children involved in prostitution in Asian countries is the high number of tourists in these Asian countries. Many people visit Asia for a business activity or leisure. Other reasons for the high number of children prostitution in Asia are the increase of street children due to the high rate of HIV and AIDS infections in Asia making many children orphans. These children end up being forced to engage in prostitution either as beach girls or boys to earn their living. Asia is also known to be a major route for drug and child trafficking to the US. This reason also contributes to the high number of children acting as commercial sex workers as some of these children are employed in brothels where they offer sex for money, drugs or food, and housing.

Children Prostitution in Asia

Asia is among the leading countries with the highest number of children involved as commercial sex workers. Other countries with similar high cases are Southern and Central America., however, child prostitution affects all countries. A survey conducted in Colombia in 2007 confirms this because it showed that 35,000 children were working as prostitutes in Colombia. The street most affected by children prostitution in Colombia was Bogotá which recorded as high as 10,000 children being involved as commercial sex workers. The high number recorded in Bogotá is due to the high number of tourists that do visit this area and the high number of homeless children who are victims of HIV and AIDS. Other children involved in this business were established to be victims of the recent Colombian violence. In Southeast Asia, most of the counties affected are Thailand and China. Children prostitution in these areas has turned to be very insidious, with recent statistics of research conducted in 2007 showing as high as 800,000 children being involved in children prostitution in Thailand. Some of these children were found to be as young as six years (Joney 2001).

In Asia, the factors that have greatly boosted the high number of children prostitutes are the high number of tourists who visit these Asian countries, children trafficking and a large number of street children in these counties. The tourists who visit Asia are loaded with a lot of money. They use this money to entice young boys and girls to have sex with them in exchange for money and other expensive gifts. Many Asian children fall victim because of their poor economic background and poor upbringing. The tourists that offer money and other incentives to children for sex are people that are highly respected in their home counties, but they take advantage of their anonymity in these foreign countries to be involved in these abominations. There are others that fall victims due to their ignorance of the foreign cultures where they believe that Asian culture accepts sexual intercourse with minors (Joney 2001).

Children Prostitution in the Bahamas

The Bahamas is a self-governing state situated in the Atlantic Ocean, it comprises numerous islands. Its good coastline offers an ample place for visiting tourists to participate in fishing, rowing, and other water sports. The Bahamas coastline is also a good docking place for many ships on their way to America. Therefore its favorable condition makes the Bahamas receive many foreigners visitors who come for business or leisure by playing in its good coastline. Other people who visit the Bahamas are those on their transit to other places such as to America but decided to stop at the Bahamas as a result of its good coastline to have fun for a day or a week before proceeding to their destinations. The capital city of the Bahamas is Nassau, located on New Providence Island. It has many very good hotels that offer excellent services to its customers whose majority are foreigners. Hence these good conditions in the Bahamas make it a common destination to the majority of foreign visitors. Most of these visitors come from Great Britain, Germany, and other Asian countries such as China. The visiting tourists have been noted to use their money to entice Bahamas residents to have sex with them in exchange for their money and other gifts. Many people that fall victim to this are the young men and women who fail to secure jobs in the urban areas after their migration there.

The Bahamas is noted for its high rate of rural-urban migration due to the poor rural conditions that are characterized by high unemployment, poor infrastructures, and poor social incentives such as schools, health facilities, and banking facilities. This makes many people migrate from the rural areas to go to urban areas to enjoy its good social facilities. When these people fail to secure jobs in their new environments they are forced to engage in prostitution in order to raise money to take care of their families. Because prostitutions take a lot of their time they do not get enough time to take care of their families. They usually leave their children with either their relatives or friends who sometimes abuse them sexually. Due to their harassment from these people, most of these children run from homes and end up engaging in prostitution to earn their living. This is common mostly to teenagers and especially girls. It has been noted that the high use of the Bahamas coastline for children and drug trafficking also have facilitated the high number of prostitution in the country. This is because some of these children are employed in brothels on the Bahamas coast where they offer sex to the visiting tourists in exchange for money, housing, drug, and food (Kelly 1984).

Conclusion

From the discussion above we have seen that children prostitution is a major problem in Asia and in the particular Bahamas. Therefore to stop this problem, the Asian countries and especially the Bahamas should establish strict children policies to protect children against sexual exploitation and mostly by foreigners. The government should ensure that foreign visitors understand that Asian culture, does not allow sexual intercourse with children. The government should also protect its coastline from being a major route for drug and child trafficking to the US. The Bahamas should also use the money they receive from the tourism industry to develop the rural areas to minimize the high rate of rural-urban migration which has been noted to boost greatly children prostitution in the country. By observing these factors, the Asian countries, and in particular the Bahamas will greatly reduce the number of children involved in prostitution in the country (Sirajjakool 2000).

References

Gilbert K. (2003) Woman Child Exploitation in Asia: Prentice Hall: New York.

Joney G. (2001) Children Prostitution in Eastern Asia: Oxford University Press: London.

Kelly W. (1984) Adolescent Prostitution in Asia: Chicago University Press: Chicago.

Sirajjakool G. (2000) Child Prostitution in Thailand and Bahamas: Prentice Hall: New York.

Prostitution is one of the significant social problems that cause multiple debates and arguments over its acceptance or suppression in the culture. Prostitution might be considered deviant behavior because of the historical patriarchial roots where the exploitation of women has been practiced all along in different variations (Benoit et al., 2109). From the historical point of view, when the elite and bourgeois classes dominated the society, the poor population had to perform complex and damaging jobs, and sex work was no exception. Since the poorness was associated with the lack of manners, education, and vice, especially women selling their bodies were dehumanized and portrayed as immoral and indecent. Nowadays, women who do prostitution are always being penalized, charged with law violations, and receive disapproval and judgment from society. However, the cause for the perception of prostitution as a deviant behavior might be the conditions and consequences that women have to face during their work. In addition, the act of sex workers selling themselves can be viewed as a human right. The key reason why prostitution should be reclassified as non-deviant is to provide people involved in the job with protection, equality and reduce social injustice and discrimination towards minorities.

Prostitution is one of the oldest professions ever existed n the world. As centuries passed, the attitude towards women practicing this hardy became better, and it was time to take measures (McKinley, 2019). Thus, the position of women is not in the best possible place because their mental and physical health, well-being, reputation, and safety are in danger. While some significant part of the population experiences unpleasant conditions, the society cannot flourish and develop properly (Pruitt, 2108). For instance, in a survey conducted in 2003 in New Your City, 80% of the female participants claimed that they have regularly faced violent actions against them, and the police did not show any initiative to help (North, 2019). Considering the possible implementations of policies to protect the sex workers and charging the clients, there still might be unpredictable outcomes (The Economist, 2021). Instead of reducing prostitution as a job, there can be an increase in sex work due to its social acceptance and legalization. Therefore, erasing the existing problem might cause the new one, which negatively influences society and women.

References

Benoit, C., Smith, M., Jansson, M., Healey, P., & Magnuson, D. (2019). The prostitution problem: Claims, evidence, and policy outcomes. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 48(7), 1905-1923. Web.

Pruitt, M. (2018). The social implications of prostitution. Sociology Class Publications. Web.

McKinley, J. (2019). Could prostitution be next to be decriminalized? The New York Times. Web.

Prostitution in America: How to bring sex work out of the shadows. (2021). The Economist. Web.

North, A. (2019). The movement to decriminalize sex work, explained. Vox. Web.

It is well known that following social standards and norms of behavior are crucial for establishing effective communication among people. However, some individuals prefer to ignore generally accepted rules of conduct and stick to their life concepts. This type of behavior is usually called deviant and implies a violation of social norms, both formal and informal. There are different types of abnormal behavior, such as drug trafficking, robberies, sexual harassment, and so on.

One of the forms of deviance is prostitution, which has existed in almost every civilization on Earth (Jenkins, 2019). Prostitution occurs as a result of an imbalance between the goals of people and how these goals can be achieved. In this paper, the history of prostitution and the theory that supports the fact this sexual activity is considered deviant will be included. Also, the primary problems of those who are involved in sex work and the ways how to resolve these issues will be discussed. At the end of the paper, the information about the new things that were learned during the work, as well as the conclusion, will be presented.

History of Prostitution

Prostitution is the worlds oldest profession, which appeared in the Middle East region a long time ago. The oldest form of prostitution was associated with religious practices (Rostamzadeh, Rahim, & Mohseni, 2016). Parents used to send their young daughters and boys to temples for committing sexual rituals as they believed that it would guarantee them access to heaven. This form of spiritual activity marked the beginning of the formation of prostitution as a form of deviance.

However, the attitude to sex work changed by the fifteenth century. Historians reveal various reasons for that, such as the advent of the Protestant Reformation in Europe and the outbreak of sexually transmitted diseases in Naples, which later swept across Europe (New World Encyclopedia 2019). Then, prostitutes started using contraceptive methods to reduce the spread of infections. However, the issue of the legalization of this sexual activity remained controversial.

In the USA, prostitution was originally legal but then was banned due to the influence of religious groups and institutions. Nowadays, there are only two states in the USA where sex work is legal, namely, Nevada and Rhode Island. In all the other states, it is considered a criminal activity because the criminalization of prostitution deters the soliciting of these services. Moreover, prostitution facilitates the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, which is a threat to public health (Hayes-Smith & Shekarkhar, 2010). Therefore, sex work is considered deviant because it creates social disorders in communities, and, as a result, violates social norms and rules.

Theory of Prostitution

Various social theories can be applied to deviant behavior. In terms of prostitution, the best theory that supports the idea that sex work is deviant is the strain theory. Strain theory is invented by an American sociologist, Robert Merton. The theory explains that deviant behavior occurs as a result of certain circumstances in individuals lives that do not allow them to achieve culturally valued goals. The inability of people to achieve their goals leads to their engagement in deviant behavior (Crossman, 2019). Thus, Merton asserted that when people fail to attain their ultimate goals legally due to financial restraints, they start using illegal means to acquire wealth.

Thus, prostitution is one of the illegal means of earning money, which, in many cases, occurs as a result of financial difficulties and the inability of people to meet their needs. Making money for sexual activity remains one the least prestigious and the most dangerous types of work, which is chosen by people when they have a limited set of options (Monto, 2014). Because of that, the ability to get a high salary in a short time remains the main reason why people engage in prostitution. Therefore, the strain theory explains why individuals are involved in criminal behavior and support the deviant label of prostitution.

Problems and Solutions

Various issues are caused by sex work. Those who work in the sexual industry suffer most of all. Thus, prostitutes are always at the risk of meeting an aggressive or criminal client who can hurt them physically. The second problem of sex workers is that they always have to stay hidden from representatives of police and justice as this activity is illegal in most countries. Moreover, due to the unlawful nature of prostitution, sex workers can never use social privileges, such as to get approval for a mortgage and receive a pension or compensation for sick leave.

As it was mentioned above, prostitution brings some problems to society as well. First of all, it facilitates the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. Also, due to its deviant nature, prostitution promotes the distribution of criminality and violence. As a result, sex work creates social disorders and instability. However, it is worth mentioning that society itself provokes the development of prostitution through the utilization of the provided services.

Different methods can be suggested to resolve the problems caused by prostitution. First of all, it can be beneficial to introduce a state program that will implement a stricter control of prostitution. Also, it is necessary to hire more police officers to perform more frequent prosecution of those arrested for sex work. In addition, it is essential to involve social workers in fighting against prostitution so they could develop social plans to provide working places for those who are in need. Raising peoples awareness about the negative impact of prostitution through commercials and other mass media tools is another excellent method of fighting against prostitution.

Things Learned in this Paper

The most surprising thing that was learned during the work on this paper is that prostitution as a form of activity appeared for religious purposes. Also, it is surprising that there are still some states in the world where sex work is legal. It seems particularly irrational after consideration of problems that are faced by people because of prostitution. The thing that concerns me most of all is the fact that many people have to engage in illegal activity due to their poverty. Unfortunately, some humans do not have a choice because they struggle to meet their basic needs and are not able to achieve their goals.

Conclusion

Therefore, it can be concluded that prostitution is a form of deviance that has existed in almost every civilization on Earth. It appeared thousands of years ago in the Middle East as a religious ritual and then developed in working activity. The best theory that supports the label of prostitution as deviant is strain theory, which proves the thesis of the paper. It states that prostitution occurs as a result of an imbalance between the goals of people and how these goals can be achieved. In addition, the problems that are caused by sex work, possible solutions, as well as things that were learned in the paper were included.

References

Crossman, A. (2019). Deviance and Strain Theory in Sociology. Web.

Hayes-Smith, R., & Shekarkhar, Z. (2010). Why is prostitution criminalized? An alternative viewpoint on the construction of sex work. Contemporary Justice Review, 15(1), 7384.

Jenkins, J. (2019). Encyclopedia Britannica: Prostitution. Web.

Monto, M., A. (2014). Prostitution, sex work, and violence: Lessons from the Cambodian context. Studies in Gender and Sexuality, 7(5), 232240.

Prostitution. (2019). In new world encyclopedia. Web.

Rostamzadeh, E., Rahim, R., & Mohseni, F. (2016). Historical background of prostitution and typology: A social-legal perspective. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 7(5), 232240.

Despite its name, the Chicken Ranch brothel was not a chicken brothel. It was in a remote part of Texas and was run by a woman called Miss Jessie. Because of the brothels low profile, the residents and law enforcement were willing to turn a blind eye to its actions so that everyday operations could continue as usual. According to Pilcher, by the end of the nineteenth century, prostitution had migrated out of the hotels and into a red-light district on the banks of the Colorado River. The Chicken Ranch was a well-known prostitution facility in a small Texas hamlet, managed by a woman named Miss Jessie. Because the villagers and police were unconcerned about what was happening in the brothel, it was permitted to operate smoothly.

Several factors contributed to the brothels prosperity and prominence in Texas. For one thing, it was in a pretty unimpressive town, making it easier to stay under the radar. Secondly, the fact that a woman ran the brothel made it more difficult for law enforcement authorities to shut it down (Pilcher). Thirdly, the brothel could remain open because it was highly covert, and locals and police officers were ready to look the other way. The Chicken Ranch was successful because it met a need. Because of the proximity of military bases, sex services were in great demand, and the enlisted men were prepared to pay for them. If the men in the neighborhood wanted to have sex without their wives finding out, they would go to the brothel.

The Chicken Ranch ran like a well-oiled machine while Miss Jessie was in charge. She could keep the brothel open and flourishing if she could keep the community and law enforcement on her side. She bought them off with money and free sexual favors (Pilcher). Miss Jessie ran the Chicken Ranch like a company, which partially contributed to its success because it enabled her to meet market demand. Locals and authorities ignored the brothels operations, enabling them to continue operating.

Works Cited

Pilcher, Walter F. Chicken Ranch. Texas State Historical Association. 2020.

Introduction

For years, prostitution has been viewed as an immoral act. From the Victorian age to the contemporary age, prostitutes have been criticized and even had to face the hand of the law for going in contrary to its stipulations. Mostly, the practitioners of this informal profession have been accused of soliciting or in the case of the ancient days, going against the morals of the society. Furthermore, states that are governed by religious laws- for example, Islamic laws- still hold on to the teaching that the act of prostitution is a womans worst sin. In some states, if caught in such acts, one could be subject to a hundred lashes (Mohammed, 2009, par. 6). However, this topic has triggered heated debates on whether prostitution could be beneficial to society if legalized. Many points have been put forward in opposition to this proposition while many others have been put forward in favor of the proposition. Accordingly, this paper suggests that prostitution, contrary to most of the held beliefs, is a beneficial trade whose legalization would contribute more positively to society than to its illegalization. In fact, the criminalization of prostitution can cause more havoc to society, both emotional and physical as compared to almost no damage as reflected in a well-organized prostitution setup.

Anti-prostitution arguments

For decades, the feminist camp advocating against prostitution has pointed out several arguments in their effort to ascertain the evilness of prostitution. On the other hand, advocators for sex-for-work have rubbished these arguments pointing out that they are extreme&absolutist, doctrinaire, and unscientific (Weitzer, 2005, p. 2). To begin with, the arguments against prostitution will be highlighted. There are various accounts of the radical feminist theory concerning the issue of prostitution, according to Weezer. One of these versions could be regarded as extreme on the basis of its doctrinaire and absolutist nature. The work of such feminist writers as Catherine MacKinnon, Andera Dworkin, and Kathleen Barry, clearly exemplifies this approach. According to these writers, prostitution entails the exploitation and domination of females by males, despite societal context, historical time period, or even legal status. Owing to male dominance, female prostitutes are usually deficient in the agency. Accordingly, they are not frequently actively involved in the making of choices as to whether they should enter into prostitution, or remain in it. There is a clear indication of a lack of merit between what may be regarded as forced prostitution and voluntary prostitution. It then appears that women only get to make an independent choice should they opt to abandon prostitution in totality.

Feminist advocates argue that prostitution is synonymous with sexual violence. Literature that tries to justify the illegalization of prostitution usually purports that violence is, by design, present to every instance of prostitution by category and in universal terms. The literature argues that prostitution is a form of human rights violation against women. It suffices to say that feminist advocators against prostitution have always linked prostitution to violent and oppressive situations (Weitzer, 2000, p. 2). Weitzer further points out that those who campaign against prostitution argue that women prostitutes do not have agency. To be precise, they argue that the women who participate in this activity usually have no choice when entering or quitting this profession. In most cases, they are forced by circumstances to engage in this profession, and hence become victims of these unfair circumstances.

Most of the literature does not highlight the fact that there exists voluntary prostitution where women voluntarily choose to enter this profession. They argue that in most cases, women are prostituted. This is to say, prostitution is done on women and that they dont choose to do it.

Finally, the feminist theorists argue that decriminalizing prostitution would be a governments blessing on an institution that is morally deficient. They purport that making prostitution legal means doubling the extent of the evils mentioned above. By allowing prostitution, then there would be a resultant increase in the number of individuals engaging in it (Weitzer, 2005, p. 3). These have been cited to be among the major arguments of the feminists who are anti-prostitution. Considering their positions, one finds out that the arguments are not founded on more than one foundation. They only disallow prostitution from a moral point of view. All arguments point to the fact that should society deem it appropriate to legalize prostitution, then its moral fabrics stand eroded. This leads to another contagious issue, what are morals, how are they formed and how do they affect an individual?

Relevant theories

Scholars have tried to come up with explanations on what morals are and how they originate. This has led to the development of several viewpoints and hence diverse theories. It is therefore essential to understand some of these theories for one to be able to come up with a personal decision as to whether prostitution should be legalized or not. When dealing with moral theories, several factors come into question. These are the agent, the receiver, and the spectator. These three psychological players were developed by moral theorists like Anthony Ashley Cooper (1671-1713), Joseph Butler (1692-1752), and Francis Hutcheson (1694-1747). According to these moral theorists, an agent is a person who commits the action. The receiver is described as the person to whom the action is perpetrated or the person who feels the direct effect of the agents conduct. In our case, it is the prostitute of which the man has paid so that she can offer her services in exchange for money. Finally, the spectator is the person that silently observes and hence approves or disapproves the agents action (Fieser, 2005, par. 2). Is there a justification for the arguments against prostitution from the point of view of anti-prostitution advocates? According to the moral sense theories, a human being has an innate faculty for perceiving morals just like other faculties of sense which perceive smell, color, sound, touch, etcetera. The theorists argue that the moral sense of the spectator perceives the qualities of an action by the agent on a receiver and immediately analyzes it just like the other senses perceive an object and analyze its qualities. In essence, they argue that the way the eyes perceive an object, for example, an orange, and sees its color as orange so does the inbuilt moral faculty perceive an action and analyses to ascertain whether the action is good or bad. In this argument, two distinct positions are brought forward. The object, along with its qualities and the person who perceives such an object in question, is similar in moral view to an agent and his qualities. The same is also true for the spectator whose role it is to perceive these qualities (Fieser, 2005, par. 2).

From the given points of view, three distinct psychological positions are clearly outlined when applying to the prostitution case study. However, there are two distinct spectators in this case: spectators who find prostitution as immoral and therefore believe it should be banned and those spectators who find prostitution as harmless to the society and that it contains no immoral aspect and hence should be legalized. There is a disagreement with regard to the moral perception of feminists, the political leftists, and rightists amongst others, concerning the issue of legalizing prostitution. In this regard, there are those who view prostitution as being an immoral activity, while others tend to view it as a profession, and hence moral. So far, one cannot give a conclusion as to which one of the two perspectives is correct because the theories have pointed to the variations in the moral sense of individuals. Similarly, several people would have different perceptions of a similar object. For instance, an individual can perceive beauty (favorable qualities) in the Mona Lisa portrait. However, this does not necessarily imply that every human being will find the portrait captivating and interesting. Another person might find it boring and repugnant. Just like the senses of perception within different individuals might differ on a similar object, so do the moral senses from different spectators differ when directed to the same action by an agent. However, does the perception from the person who finds the Mona Lisa portrait attractive give it its qualities of attractiveness, or does the other perception of abhorrence determine the actual qualities of the portrait? To make a fair judgment, one must agree that the perception of the spectator cannot be used as the viewpoint from which the qualities of the object are determined. This could cause a rift between those who perceive the object as attractive and those who perceive it as boring. This means that the object is not summarily attractive or repugnant. It is the perception of the spectator that decides to label the object. To what conclusion does this drive? From this perspective, the object itself has no qualities. The qualities are within the mind frame of the spectator (Cohon, 2004, par. 5).

Similarly, the perspective can be applied to the debate of whether prostitution should be legalized or not. As mentioned above, the feminist activists who are against prostitution have labeled the practice as immoral and degrading womanhood. However, this is their perception. It is clear that prostitution has no quality of its own. The quality is decided by the mind frame of the spectator. While the mind frame of the feminists finds prostitution to be immoral, pro-prostitution advocators find nothing wrong with the practice. This, therefore, drives us to the previous conclusion. The action itself is neither bad nor good. The badness and goodness are derived from the spectators mind. As a result, prostitution itself is not bad. Neither is it good. What makes it bad or good is the perspective from which one views it. And this perspective is determined by the mind frame of the spectator.

David Humes contribution

One of the distinguished contributors to the moral sense theory is David Hume. In his argument based on the three psychological positions, the agent, the receiver, and the spectator, Hume argues that the most essential feelings to take into account when analyzing the moral degree of action are the feelings of the agent and those of the spectator. Not those of the receiver. What contribution does Hume add to the prostitution debate? From his perspective, the receiver does not play an important role in the determination of moral degrees in actions. This means that while we try to point out the evilness of prostitution, we are obligated to base our judgment on the act itself instead; our judgments should be founded on the spectators and agents perspectives (Fieser, 2005, par. 6).

Considering the thesis of this paper, prostitution should be legalized. From the moral perspective, it has been established that the action itself has no qualities of badness or goodness. These qualities could only be determined in the mind of the spectator basing on the outcomes of the action. As Hume develops his theory, he argues that an individual develops his judgment criteria by joining the receiver to share the feelings that he derives from the actions of the agent. If the agents actions were of charity or benevolence, the receiver will equally develop fond feelings or agreeable feelings from the act. Subsequently, the spectator will observe this e spectator will develop agreeable feelings based on the fact that the receiver has developed agreeable feelings from the agents action. Similarly, if the agents action were based on injustice and hence developed disagreeable feelings in the receiver, the spectator will, in the same line, develop disagreeable feelings towards the action. Eventually, this becomes the basis of decision-making concerning the moral degree of action (Fieser, 2005, par. 8).

Conclusion

The motivations and moral values of individuals engaged in the approaches and debates to prostitution are issues that are quite complex in nature. This is a result of the different stances that proponents and opponents of prostitution have taken. Opponents of prostitution argue that it encourages violence, considering how males tend to exploit and dominate the females engaged in prostitution. Nevertheless, there is a need to appreciate the fact that not all forms of prostitution are characterized by violent episodes. For example, the indoor sector experiences far less frequent cases of violence in prostitution. In light of this, it may be argued that legalizing prostitution would also make it easier to reduce exploitation and violence. This is because a beneficiary of the services of a prostitute who perpetrates violence or exploitation would face the full force of the law, such as receiving a fine, or imprisonment.

In the absence of regulations of the business agreement, the man would want to have the services and not pay for them. This eventually leads to violence. By legalizing prostitution, there is a need to ensure that measures are put in place so that the women are not exposed to exploitation and violence. For example, the women would be subjected to testing for sexually transmitted diseases hence making it safe for them and for their clients (Sills, 2009, par 3).

Considering Humes theory development, ones moral judgment will be based on the agreeable feelings that develop from the action of the agent. In this case, the agent is ready to offer money to the woman who has, according to the feminists, been forced by circumstances to enter prostitution. By legalizing prostitution, the woman will be in a position to get the money that will enable her to afford a decent life not just for herself but also for her family. Legalizing prostitution will put regulations on men who try to have free services and also involve violence (ILO, 1998, par. 6). Subsequently, the effect of the action of the agent will have generated agreeable feelings which will be triggered by the fact that the woman will have gained money to live a decent life. Equally, the spectator will share the agreeable feelings with the receiver and hence develop positive feelings towards prostitution. With legalized prostitution having reduced chances of diseases and violence, no bad activities will be associated with the profession. In addition to this, the government will get enough money to better the lives of its people. Therefore, prostitution is a beneficial trade whose legalization would contribute more positively to society in comparison to its illegalization.

References

Chappell, V.C. (1996). Hume: A Collection of Critical Essays. Garden City, N.Y: Doubleday.

Cohon, Rachel. (2001). Hume: Moral and Political Philosophy, Aldershot, England and Burlington, Vermont: Dartmouth/Ashgate.

Cohon, R. (2004). Humes moral philosophy. Stanford Encyclopaedia of philosophy. 2009. Web.

Fieser, J. (2005). Hume: Moral Theory. Internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. 2009. Web.

Forbes, D. (1977). Humes Science of Politics in Morice Austin (Ed). David Hume: Bicentenary Papers. Texas: University of Texas Press

International Labor Organization. (1998). ILO report on sex sector receives prestigious publishing prize at Frankfurt book fair. 2009. Web.

Mohammed, A. (2009). Lashing Stoning, Mutilating: Islamic Law is barbaric and outdated. Web.

Sills, P. (2009). The Benefits of Legalizing Prostitution. Helium. Web.

Weitzer, R. (2005). The growing moral panic over prostitution and sex trafficking. The Criminologist. 20(5): 2-5. 2009. Web.

Weitzer, R. (2000). Why we need more Research on sex work. In R. Weitzer (ed), Sex for Sale: Prostitution, ponorgraphy and the sex industry. New York: Routledge.

Introduction to Prostitution’s Impact

Many prostitutes extinguish their emotions while they are with customers. At least that is the case for Roberta Victor, a prostitute who was interviewed in Working by Studs Terkel. At the outset of her interview, Victor claims, “The role one plays when hustling has nothing to do with who you are” (57). However, by the end of the interview, she states, “You become your job. I became what I did. I became a hustler. I became cold, I became hard, I became turned off, I became numb. Even when I wasn’t hustling, I was a hustler. I also don’t think it’s terribly different from somebody who works on the assembly line forty hours a week and comes home cut off, numb, dehumanized. People aren’t built to switch on and off like water faucets” (65). Victor seems unaware of the fact that she contradicts herself by stating that she becomes her job [a prostitute] when before she said that she is a different person when she works. Her mindset and analytical process has changed enormously. What factors affected her mindset, from her being able to separate her work from her identity to her thinking that she has become a hustler? What are the psychological and physical effects of prostitution on a prostitute? What factors lead prostitutes to have such a mindset? Is there a way to decrease the effect prostitution has on a prostitute’s mental and physical state?

Psychological Effects of Prostitution

The psychological effects of prostitution are mainly Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), somatization and stigmatization, and anxiety and depression. The physical effects of prostitution include the high risk of STDs, sexual or physical violence, and introduction to drugs and alcohol . This mindset and alteration of the analytical process is the result of exposure to violence through prostitution. So far it has been said that counselling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication can help ease the symptoms of PTSD; however, there is no permanent solution because the condition requires ongoing treatment to control the symptoms and improve the sufferer’s life. Even though are also solutions being found to decrease the physical effects of prostitution in order, there is no perfect solution. There is not any type of medication or therapy that eliminates the psychological or physical effects of prostitution completely.

The Complexity of PTSD in Prostitution

One of the strongest psychological effects of prostitution on prostitutes is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is described as bouts of anxiety, depression, insomnia, irritability, flashbacks, emotional numbing, and hyper alertness. Symptoms of PTSD are more severe and long lasting when the stressor is a person ( Farley, “Is”). According to Melissa Farley, “PTSD is normative among prostituted women” (“Is”). In San Francisco, Farley conducted an experiment with one hundred and thirty prostitutes were fifty-five percent of them stated that they were sexually assaulted as children and forty-nine percent of them were physically assaulted as children. As adults in prostitution: eighty-two percent had been physically assaulted, eighty-three percent had been threatened with a weapon, sixty-eight percent had been raped while working as prostitutes, and eighty-four percent reported current or former homelessness. In accordance to the one hundred thirty people interviewed, sixty-eight percent of them met the DSM III-R, which is a criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD (Farley et al., “Prostitution, Violence”). My interpretation is that most PTSD symptoms are caused by the different types of lifetime sexual and physical violence that can begin from childhood and continue to adulthood. According to Farley, seventy-three percent of the total four hundred and seventy-three people interviewed in five different countries (South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, USA, and Zambia) reported that they had been assaulted in prostitution, and sixty-two percent had been raped in prostitution (Farley et al., “Prostitution in Five”). Any prostitutes who experience any trauma type of PTSD can result in PTSD. Researchers discovered that out of the five hundred prostitutes interviewed world-wide, sixty-seven percent of them suffer from PTSD.

Another psychological effect of prostitution which is slightly more complex is somatization. Somatization is the making of recurrent and multiple medical symptoms with no main cause. Somatization disorder results in women who were assaulted in childhood and were sexually abused. Somatization is the result of negative affectivity and feelings of incompetence (Christiansen). The relationship between trauma and somatization appears to be a result of PTSD. Somatic symptoms are common among prostitutes who are trauma survivors. According to Dorte M. Christiansen, depression, dissociation, and anxiety are not associated with degree of somatization. Not much research has been conducted on somatization and its disorders among prostitutes.

Stigma and Society’s Role

Another psychological effect of prostitution is stigmatization. Stigma is “a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person”. Stigma emerges in relationships in the sense that people learn to judge, condemn, stereotype, and fault others for having certain characteristics, (skin color, weight, physical disability) or engaging in behaviors (illicit drug use, smoking, sex work) that are considered socially or culturally disrespectful (Agustin). Stigma usually involves blaming, shaming, and status loss of the sufferer and is often related to social anxieties, fears, and a related need to maintain social order or control. It’s also been said that powerful social norms and values effects lead to negative stereotypes such as that sex workers or prostitutes are considered immoral, unclean, or dangerous. Prostitutes who are often negatively stereotyped and tend to be identified by a certain characteristic mainly think that this characteristic is their sole defining characteristic, just as how Roberta Victor begin to think that she was a prostitute not a woman who worked as one. Some prostitutes worry about “perceived stigma,” and so, they do not socially interact out of the fear that people will treat them unequally because they work in prostitution as their line of work(Agustin). Another way individuals are affected by stigma is “enacted stigma” or discrimination when prostitutes are treated negatively because of the societal beliefs held about them (Agustin). However, unlike some prostitutes who internalize stigma, others perceive themselves as playing a role which is very important in society such as emotional or sexual health counselors (Agustin). Even though some prostitutes may stigmatize themselves, they are likely to not do anything about the discrimination that occurs. Even though some prostitutes resist stigma, they are likely to hide their jobs from family and loved ones because even if they think they are completely resistant to stigma, many would secretly loathe themselves (Corrigan). Stigma is one of the stronger psychological effects of prostitution because there is a possibility that stigma can lead to stress disorders and mental illness (Corrigan). There are not many cures for stigma, however there is an ongoing argument that legalizing prostitution would help decrease the psychological effect of prostitution. I believe that researchers who argue that legalizing prostitution would help seem to think that prostitutes would not feel as stigmatized because it might seem to them that they are doing a job that is now legal and this would help increase their level of self-esteem. However, it is not completely likely that everyone would approve of the legalization of prostitution because people and societies may think that it is immoral and undignified.

The more common psychological effect are anxiety and depression. Anxiety can be the cause of PTSD. Anxiety and depression rates are high among prostitutes; however, according to Margarita Alegria, only nine point seven percent of them are actually receiving treatment and about seventy percent of the prostitutes suffer from depression ( “Is”). According to Lloyd A. Goldsamt et al., anxiety and depression are closely related to illicit use of drugs, and sexual behavior. Even though prostitution is illegal in Switzerland, Zhana Vrangalova in 2005 conducted research with one hundred ninety-three legally registered prostitutes in Zurich. The result of this research showed that thirty percent of the prostitutes were suffering from anxiety (Vrangalova). Anxiety and depression are very common among prostitutes and can lead to serious disorders and mental illnesses. They both are very harmful psychological effects of prostitution. Solutions and ways include meditation, socializing, therapeutic help, and exercise, but no permanent solutions have been found.

Physical Effects of Prostitution

Prostitution also has many physical effects. One of these effects is STDs. Sexually Transmitted Disease [STD] are infectious diseases that spread from person to person through sexual intercourse or intimate contact. STDs are, nowadays, more common among teens; however, the numbers are still higher among prostitutes. Prostitutes can easily come in contact with STDs because of unprotected sexual intercourse. Prostitutes are generally known as the “high-risk group” (Gasper et al.). There is no one hundred percent chance to prevent STDs.Some STDs are curable while others are not. STDs include: Chlamydia, Chancroid, Crabs (Pubic lice), Genital herpes, Genital warts, Hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Trichomoniasis (parasitic infection), Molluscum Contagiosum, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), Scabies, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Trichomoniasis (Trich) (STD Awareness). STDs have been increasing since 2006, the CDC estimates a prevalence of one hundred and ten million new STDs annually in the US, which costs approximately sixteen billion dollars in healthcare expenses alone (“STD Awareness”). In my opinion, these are astronomically high rates. The rates of STDs are five to sixty times higher among sex workers than the general population (“STD Awareness”). Studies have shown that only forty-seven percent of prostitutes (women) know what their HIV status is (“STD Awareness”). Steps can be taken to prevent STDs; however, there is no guarantee. STDs can be prevented by using latex condoms, avoiding sharing towels or underclothing, washing hands before and after sexual intercourse, getting a vaccination for Hepatitis B, getting tested for HIV, abstaining from sexual intercourse. These are some of the ways that you can prevent to catch an STD.

Another physical effect of prostitution is sexual/physical violence. Roberta Victor reports that when she was a streetwalker she had been raped and knives over her head. According to Sophie Day conducted a survey in London in 1989-91, that one hundred and thirteen out of the one hundred and ninety-three women who reported assault were prostitutes. Sexual violence is very common among prostitutes. Beatings, kidnappings, rape, and even murder are generally considered “occupational hazards” of prostitution. A prostitute’s work and personal life are both full of dangers because of the constant danger of their customers. No real solutions would completely eliminate sexual and physical violence; however, measures can be taken to decrease the violence.

Last but not least, drug use is one of the biggest physical effects of prostitution. Not only do drugs affect the prostitute but there is great possibility that they affect the clients also. Roberta Victor states that she did drugs (heroin, cocaine, and grass) as a recreational activity; however, soon she became addicted and she worked in order to maintain her drug habit. According to WIkipedia, there are forty to eighty percent streetwalkers that abuse drugs. Researchers have found that the choice of drug can be important to the prostitute in serving real or perceived functions; such as putting on an act during work (the perceived function) and helping them remain themselves during their private lives (the real function) (Wikipedia). It has been said that prostitution and drug addiction/ abuse are closely linked because some people go into prostitution in order maintain their drug habit, while prostitutes get to “use” drugs through prostitution. This is why drug addiction can be considered a physical factor of prostitution.

Solutions and Ongoing Challenges

Solutions are more psychological based for the physical effect of drug addiction. Solutions of overcoming one’s drug addiction include: limiting the amount of drug intake, removing any reminders of your addiction, and asking your family to help support your abandonment of drug usage (“Teen”). I believe that it would also help if they remind themselves of the dangers that can be the result of drug overdose, such as the dangers of heroin being: mood swings, withdrawal, nausea, and even death. If a drug addict reminded themselves, I believe they would have a better chance of overcoming their addiction.

Prostitution is illegal yet it still occurs. However, prostitutes and sex workers do not understand how their job changes their mindset and analytical process. Prostitution has many psychological effects, including PTSD-PostTraumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety and depression, and somatization and stigmatization. The physical effects include the high risk of STDs, sexual and physical violence, and the introduction to drugs. Even though some of these effects are curable others are not, and most of these are caused by participation in prostitution. Prostitution is serious and people need to understand the side effects of it yea yea yea.

MEANING OF CHILD PROSTITUTION

Child prostitution is a form of sexual abuse involving the commercial sexual exploitation of children in which a child performs sexual acts in exchange for some form of payment. Most countries have strict laws surrounding the sexual exploitation of children and so many customers engage in what is known as child sex tourism, travelling to foreign countries to evade the laws within their home country. Technology has also allowed children to be prostituted over the internet, increasing the rates of child pornography and human trafficking across the globe. Child prostitution is rarely a personal choice and is generally a form of organized crime run by an individual pimp or, more commonly, by a large-scale sex ring.

CHILD SEX TOURISM

Child sex tourism (CST) is tourism for the purpose of engaging in the prostitution of children, which is commercially facilitated child sexual abuse. … The children who perform as prostitutes in the child sex tourism trade often have been lured or abducted into sexual slavery.

NATURE OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Child sexual abuse is a global problem across all societies, civilized and uncivilized though its nature and enormity differ from society to society. Child abuse occurs in secrecy. Most of the times, it becomes a conspiracy in silence.

Child abuse is a violation of the basic human rights of child. It infringes the fundamental and constitutional rights of a child. It is a crime not only against the child victim and his/her family but also against the society at large.

Primarily and most importantly, child sexual abuse involves a breach of trust or an exploitation of vulnerability, and frequently both. Abused child is emotionally isolated. The abuser forces the child to keep the act a secret. If the abuser is a family member, the child not only loses trust in the family but also worries about what would happen to the family if the secret is disclosed. The burden of the secrecy can be carried into adolescence. Carrying a secret, and the abuse itself, can make the abused child feel different and apart from others, not like a normal person.

However, child abuse is often overlooked by family, authorities and society. Even the educated class of society is skeptical about reporting a case child sexual abuse. A self revealed victim becomes an object of insult and blame! Most of the child sexual abuses thus go unreported. The child victims often resist to report the abuse apprehending the anger of offender and judgemental behavior of the society. The societal attitude itself, on the one hand, encourages the offenders to repeat the abuse and, on the other hand, discourages the child to disclose the abuse.

There is also a considerable overlap between physical, emotional and sexual abuse and children who are subject to one form of abuse are significantly more likely to suffer other forms of abuse.

SYMPTOMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Parents, grandparents, and guardians should be aware of the signs that could indicate that the child has been sexually abused.It should be noted that some of these behaviours may have other explanations, but it is important to assist the child no matter what the cause of these symptoms or behaviours.

• Changes in behaviour, extreme mood swings, isolation or withdrawal, uncharacteristic anger, tearfulness, and excessive crying.
• Disclosure by child (very rare).
• Physical evidence (very rare).
• Excessive masturbation.
• Age inappropriate, knowledge of sex.
• Constantly talks about sex.
• Acting out inappropriate sexual activity or showing an unusual interest in sexual matters even with other children.
• Venereal disease.
• Constant vaginal discharge.
• Bleeding in vagina or anus.
• A sudden acting out of feelings or aggressive or rebellious behaviour.
• Regression to infantile behaviour; clinging.
• School or behavioural problems.
• Changes in toilet-training habits.
• Bed-wetting & soiling, nightmares, fear of going to bed, or other sleep disturbances.
• A fear of certain places like bathroom, people, or activities.
• Bruises, rashes, cuts, limping, multiple or poorly explained injuries.
• Pain, itching, bleeding, fluid, or rawness in the private areas.
• Nightmares.
• Sleeps too much or too little.
• Difficulty walking or sitting.

PROBLEMS ARISING OUT OF CHILD PROSTITUTION

The magnitude of the problem of child sexual abuse is highly complicate. Child sexual abuse has a number of effects physical as well as psychological. It imposes both short term and long term consequences. Its impact is cast on abused child, perpetrator and community. The major victim, however, is the abused child.

• Health Problems: Child abuse, in itself, is an important public health issue. An abused child develops frequent unexplained health problems. It has serious future consequences for its victims, including delays in physical growth. The female victims of commercial sexual exploitation face early teenage pregnancy and associated problems. The victims of sexual abuse contract sexually transmitted diseases, particularly HIV/ AIDS.
• Physical Harm: Sexual abuse imposes severe physical harm to the child. Sexual mutilation, neurological damage and damage to organs especially to sex organs are rampant in child sexual abuse cases. Even death of the child can be caused in a forced sexual abuse where high degree of physical force is exercised.
• Psychological harm: Though not apparent initially, the severe impact of sexual abuse on a child is the psychological impact. Impact of sexual abuse on mental health of children is far reaching. Psychiatric disorders are common amongst the child victims of sexual offences. Child sexual abuse is a central cause of mental health problems in adult life and a potent cause of adult psychopathology. It causes severe impact on interpersonal, social behaviour and sexual functioning in adult life. The exposure of children to the sexual advances of adults places the victim at high risk of later sexual problems. In the later stage, the abused child starts finding solace in drug and alcohol. Child sexual abuse plays a crucial role in lowering self esteem and imposing pessimism and fatalism in child. Pedophilia leaves psychosexual disorder with profound implications for the abused child, perpetrator and community.
• Family Dysfunction: An abused child exhibits problems in personality development, learning skills and behaviour. The child’s behaviour can create disturbance in stable family relations. The abused children contribute to family dysfunction. They unusually express aggressive behaviour towards family members, friends and objects.
• Chronic Depression: Chronic depression: Consequences of child sexual abuse range from chronic depression to low self-esteem to sexual dysfunction to multiple personalities. According to AMA,1/5 of all Victims develop serious long term psychological problems. These may include dissociative responses and other signs of post-traumatic-stress syndrome chronic states of arousal, phobias, nightmares, flashbacks, unusual fear, persistent sexual play with friends or pets, venereal disease and anxiety over sex or exposure of the body during medical exams.In the trauma, they also engage in self mutilations, such as injuring or hurting themselves. Multiple personality disorders,depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, substance abuse disorders, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders are common among child victims of sexual abuse.33 Self dislike, self- destruction, guilty feeling, punishment feeling, loss of pleasure – sadness, unwanted self-criticism, feeling of powerlessness, irritability are common among child victims of sexual abuse.
• Criminalization: The victims are often inadequately protected by the law and in many cases unfortunately treated as criminals. On the other hand, abused children are most likely to become criminal offender as adults.
• Relationship Problem: Sexually abused children not only face an assault on their sexual identity, but a blow their impression of the world as a safe enough environment to live in. In those abused by close kin or someone with whom they had a close relationship, the impact is likely to be all the more profound. The experience of child sexual abuse deposits in the child a specific deficit in forming and maintain intimate relationships

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) was brought in as late as 2012. As the name suggests, the statute lays down laws exclusively for protection of children. It defines penetrative sexual assault and sexual assault against children, and also provides for definition and punishment for sexual harassment of children. As per the law, sexual assault of a child is punished with maximum of five years, penetrative sexual assault is punished with up to 10 years, and sexually harassing a child lands one behind bars for three years.

Experts, however say that POSCO in its five years of existence, has failed to act as a deterrent for crimes against children.Among several measures, lawyers, activists and the citizens have been demanding capital punishment for those convicted of sexually assaulting children. Advocating this strongly is Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal, who has been urging the government to introduce a time-bound penalty for convicts of child sexual abuse.

“A 11-month-old baby was recently operated after being raped. What is the magic stick to change the mindset of individuals who commit such crimes? It’s fear. We need immediate relief. Within six months of the crime committed, award them with death penalty,” Maliwal told

It is in common knowledge that child sexual abuse happens more than the reported cases. Maliwal says “three rapes happen everyday in the capital”. “There were 31,446 FIRs by women and children between 2012 and 2014.”

The provision for capital punishment exists in India only in the “rarest of rare cases” as laid down by the Supreme Court in 1980 and in Machhi Singh v. State of Punjab, 1983, section 303 (punishment for murder by a convict sentenced for life imprisonment was punishable by death) of the Indian Penal Code was struck down by the top court.

Although no law any longer under the Indian criminal statutes exclusively states a death penalty, many provisions under the criminal law provide for capital punishment along with other forms of punishment for crimes like waging a war against the government, murder, attempt to murder, abetment of suicide of a child or insane person, dacoity with murder and kidnapping for ransom.

Unlike Maliwal demand for capital punishment, there are many who are instead in favour of strengthening of the legal system. Some also believe capital punishment should be awarded to repeat offenders or as per the law laid down in 1980.

Rejecting death penalty as the only deterrent, Kaushik Gupta, a lawyer in Kolkata High Court, said: “Punishment is itself a deterrent. Our focus should be on prevention.”

For the past several years, activists have been requesting for exclusive/special courts for children. A well-known fact is that Indian courts have massive backlog of cases that include child sexual abuse cases as well.

Lawyer and activist at Bachpan Bachao Andolan Bhuwan Ribhu explained the urgent need of exclusive courts by providing clarity with numbers, “It will take 55 years to clean the backlog in Gujarat and 47 years in Kerala,”

He underlined the need for child-friendly police stations and better medical facilities for child victims, and criticised the lack of structural and infrastructural establishments like a forensic laboratory. “It takes three years to get a forensic report of a victim,”

Stressing on reasons of unreported cases, former IPS officer Dr P M Nair says the interiors of India like tribal villages in Chhattisgarh have poor accessibility to police and law enforcement agencies and there are many such places in India where mostly the cases are unreported.

Another reason for such unreported cases is the lengthy legal course in India. “It’s a vicious circle. Citizens rights have taken a backseat,” After filing an FIR, the process of investigation by the police needs to be refined. Trained and skilled investigative officers and prosecutors are required for a case to move forward swiftly. “One must Listen to the victim. Invest in him/her.”

Talking about the underlying problem of Indian society, “There’s no understanding about sexuality in our country. No conversations about this takes place with children and adolescents. There has to be a dialogue at primary and secondary education level.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Prevention: Abuse of children in whatsoever means is not justifiable. It is sheer violation of their basic human rights. The upbringing of children in a healthy environment, both physically and mentally, is the first step towards a prosperous world tomorrow. Child friendly environment must strictly be maintained in homes and schools. Prevention of abuse is better than victimizing the child. With proper care and precautions sexual offences against children can be prevented to a great extent. Concerted action, including from civil society, needs to be taken to protect the children from possible sexual abuse.

Raising Awareness: Awareness must be created from the grass root levels- to parents, elders, teachers and to the society at large. Today’s children can also comprehend the situation. Parents and Teachers should educate children about appropriate sexual behaviour and how to say “no” and resist.

Parent- child attachment: The parents should maintain a strong attachment towards their children. The children should feel secure at home. The children must have the freedom to share all their experiences with the parents. The parents must devote time to listen to the children, clarify doubts, remove ambiguities and solve their problems. The parents should win the children’s confidence and trust. This would help the children to report fearlessly the abuse.

Recovery and reintegration of the victim: The government and all other actors should join hands to ensure early recovery of the victim. Counseling and psychiatric treatment should be given to the abused child. The victim should not be isolated from the mainstream of the society. All measures must be taken to ensure that the victim lead a normal life. The government must take measures to educate, rehabilitate and integrate the victims.

Treatment: With early detection and appropriate treatment, society can prevent some victimized children from becoming adult perpetrators. Physical as well as mental treatment must be ensured to the victim taking into consideration the type of abuse experienced, the duration of abuse, the degree of interpersonal support available , the personality of the individual and the resulting psychiatric condition that arose.

Means of subsistence: Initiatives are also needed to reduce the number of children getting into sex trade by giving them alternative methods of subsistence. There is a need to develop alternative means of livelihoods for victims and their families. Protection, prevention and rehabilitation must be seen as part of the community’s responsibility

Legal measures: Law pertaining to sexual exploitation of children and its enforcement must be strengthened. The law must be made most stringent in child abuse cases generally and in child abuse cases particularly. Legal proceedings and procedures must be child centered and child friendly ensuring the privacy and dignity of the child. There must be enhanced punishment in cases of subsequent offences. Urgent measures need to be taken in the field of law enforcement. Law enforcement officials, judges, lawyers and prosecutors require special training to handle the child abuse cases in a special manner. Creation and distribution of images of child pornography in whatsoever manner should be criminalised and liability should also be attached to intermediaries. Victim children must be regarded as credible witness. The perpetrators must be punished even at the sole of testimony of the victim

CONCLUSION

Child prostitution is the ultimate denial of the rights of the child. Child prostitution is a common problem in many countries of the world. In this practice, the children engage in sexual activity for monetary gain especially by the adults who either are their parents or their caretakers. Some children enter into prostitution due to the hard situations they face while others are sold into sexual servitude by their parents either consciously or unconsciously. Child prostitution in foreign countries is also a common practice. People do this through sex tourism and child trafficking. Most people practice child prostitution in foreign countries either because they want to avoid the laws of their countries by breaking law in foreign countries or because they misunderstand the people of the countries that they visit. Child prostitution is a multi billion business in the world that leads to wastage of many children’s lives. In some countries, cultural practices contribute to the involvement of children in prostitution. Large and small criminal groups arrange for Transboundary transfer of children and clients involved in child prostitution. Even though many human rights groups are against this immoral behaviour, some governments have not fully committed themselves to eradicating this problem from their countries. Still there is much demand of foreign children for sex in some countries making the business of child trafficking and sex tourism to flourish. In whichever the case, children prostitution is a criminal offence and all people and especially governments need to fight to eradicate this problem from the society.