Response post
Response post 6-1
In response to at least two of your peers’ posts, identify areas of agreement and/or disagreement. Support your response with specific examples.
Response 1 to michael brown
Health Implications in Prostitution
Prostitution is linked to poverty (Sullivan, 2016, p. 329), and it stands to reason that women, and men, living in poverty are already in a marginalized group that struggles for proper health care and safe living conditions. I find it interesting that of the one in four people opposed to prostitution, women with lower incomes and less educational level are in this mindset.
Proponents of prostitution believe that keeping prostitution illegal means the workers may get involved in crime, use drugs, or have a sexually transmitted disease and continue to work, and if made legal, it would help with stopping the spread of venereal disease and AIDS (p. 328). Prostitution carries a high risk of spreading the AIDS virus (p. 329). However , Nevada, where prostitution is legal in some counties, helps prevent health problems by requiring regular STD and AIDS tests., the textbook states that there are often problems when leaving the life of prostitution; alcohol and drug problems, no high school degree, no safe housing and no marketable skills or recent work experience (p. 329)
According to Valera, Sawyer, & Schiraldi (2001), some of the major health issues have to do with physical and sexual assault, social support, addictions, and medical care, and they claim over 42 percent meet the established criteria for PTSD, which is nearly 8 percent higher than the general population.
Should prostitution remain illegal or be legalized?
Economically, many people are benefiting from prostitution; those who are actually working it and for those who are pimps or madams. Like the book says, people are willing to pay, and others are willing to supply (Sullivan, 2016, p. 329). Using Nevada as an example, there is no evidence of serious crime, and there are regulated health testing requirements for businesses (p. 328). I believe people benefit in other ways, also. Those who pay are receiving something they need, whether or not it is purely physical, or involves emotional and mental help, too.
I believe if it were legalized, people would take more responsibility for their health. When they are “sneaking around” trying to make money illegally, it seems to me they would be less careful than if it were legal. Health care without judgement and without marginalizing those who are involved in this would mean more would take better care of themselves. I do not believe in forced prostitution, it should be a willing and conscious choice of participating individuals. If a business, like a brothel or stable, it should be regulated like any business, where those who are actually performing the sexual acts are paid fairly, and given health benefits and time off like in any other employment. “Pimps” and “madams” should pay taxes, and withhold taxes from those who work for them. If it is individuals working for themselves, they should be responsible for their own taxes just as any other self-employed individual.
References
Sullivan, T. (2016). Introduction to Social Problems (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
Valera, R. J., Sawyer, R. G., & Schiraldi, G. R. (2001). Perceived health needs of inner-city street prostitutes: A preliminary study.American journal of health behavior, 25(1), 50-59.
Response 2 to shane fisher
There are most definitely physical health implications for prostitutes. The chances of contracting a disease such as gonorrhea, syphilis, or HIV increases substantially each time a prostitute has unprotected sex. A study was conducted in 2003 of 854 prostitutes in nine countries (Canada, Colombia, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, United States, and Zambia), 71% experienced physical assaults in prostitution, and 62% reported rapes in prostitution (Farley, Cotton, et al., 2003). Vanwesenbeeck (1994) found that two factors were associated with greater violence in prostitution. The greater the poverty, the greater the violence; and the longer one is in prostitution, the more likely one is to experience violence. It’s been summarized that health problems of women in prostitution: exhaustion, frequent viral illness, STDs, vaginal infections, back aches, sleeplessness, depression, headaches, stomachaches, and eating disorders. Women who were used by more customers in prostitution reported more severe physical symptoms (Vanwesenbeeck, 1994).
The emotional health of a prostitute can vary depending on the reason why they are hooking. Depending on the circumstances, a woman who freely chooses to be a prostitute (escort) would theoretically be in a better emotional state than a woman who was forced into it. Although, I still believe that regardless of the terms you make with yourself to be a prostitute, there has to be some sort of adverse emotional effect. The other possibility is when a woman has to make a choice to hook in order to feed herself or her family. The emotional toll that is taken on a person would be enormous, and have a lasting effect. Dissociation, depression, and other mood disorders are common among prostituted women in street, escort, and strip club prostitution (Belton, 1998; Ross et al., 1990; Vanwesenbeeck, 1994). At the same time, dissociation is a job requirement for surviving prostitution.
The sexual health of women who have been in prostitution for any length of time are sure to experience sexual dysfunction with their chosen partners. Feelings are disconnected from sexual acts. It becomes nearly impossible to view partners as anything but johns. In addition, the incidence of gynecological conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, ovarian cysts, chronic pelvic pain, and positive pap smears are higher than in the general population of women (Fogel).
I believe that prostitution in its current state is dangerous and unhealthy for everyone involved. The drugs, crime, and violence that the street level workers have to endure is tragic. There should be no such thing as forced prostitution. If it were legalized, the stigma and marginalizing of woman could be corrected and might be looked upon just like any other profession. The state of Nevada has done a lot of the leg work on how a system could and does work. The state requires that all sex trade workers be tested each and every month for STD’s and HIV. This not only protects the worker, but it also ensures the safety of the johns. If it were regulated and taxed just like any other business, both user and provider would pay their fair share of taxes. With that being said, I believe that prostitution should be legalized and regulated, just like marijuana.
Shane
References
Fogel, C.I. (n.d.). Health Implications and Health Care Challenges Associated with Prostitution. Retrieved fromhttp://humantrafficking.unc.edu/files/2011/08/VII.-Fogel-Health-Implications-Notes.pdf
Patrick, R. (2000). Legalize prostitution. Gazette Adult Entertainment Directory/ Minnesota/Wisconsin (pp. 12-17). Minneapolis, MN: Roko Publications
Sullivan, T. (2016). Introduction to Social Problems (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson
Vanwesenbeeck, I. (1994). Prostitutes’well-being and risk. Amsterdam: VU University Press.
Answer Preview
While responding to the posts, there are areas of agreement and there is that area that there is disagreement. Michael Brown in his post states that the main reason for prostitution is poverty. This is true because there are so many people who end up in prostitution to be able…
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