Outlaw Poverty, Not Prostitution Essay - 1815 Words

Prostitution is famously known as â€Å"the world’s oldest profession.† Lots of scholars like to nitpick this and say that hunting or gathering actually deserves that title, but the fact remains that it is currently and historically ubiquitous: all ancient and modern cultures have had their own form of prostitution, from ancient Greece and the Aztecs to modern-day America. For example, the ancient Greek historian Herodotus in his Histories talks about ancient Mesopotamians practicing sacred or â€Å"temple prostitution,† a worship practice that enacts symbolic marriage between a god and a goddess with humans representing the deities. In ancient Rome, prostitutes were often foreign slaves or people of the poor, lower class. In ancient Greece,†¦show more content†¦Sex workers today still face these same problems. In fact, it wasn’t until a crucial event in 1975 in Lyons, France that the sex workers’ rights movement really emerged. When 150 pr ostitutes took over a church to protest the inaction, lack of protection and abuse from law enforcement, the world took notice. The protest stimulated the development of organizations around the world in England, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United States, and in 1985, an â€Å"international instrument† for sex workers’ rights was born: the World Charter for Prostitutes’ Rights (Sanders, ONeill and Pitcher 95-96). The Charter required the decriminalization, regulation and protection of adult prostitution, demanded basic human rights and civil liberties, freedom from discrimination, the right to pay taxes and receive benefits, along with addressing the importance of educational programs that would change public opinion and work towards the de-stigmatization of the profession (Sanders, ONeill and Pitcher 96-97). While the World Whores’ Congress at which this Charter was born was a monumental, historical advancement for the movement, it faced initial skepticism and ridicule. An article in Time derisively referred to the convention as â€Å"hookers† in the â€Å"hallowed halls of the European Parliament.† It also faced opposition from some feminists who believe prostitution to be detrimental to women in allShow MoreRelated Deviance In Society Essay666 Words   |  3 Pagesmeanings to unconformity on a cultural norm. It depends on that the state of society, and its region. Prostitution is a profession that has existed since the beginning of society. Prostitution is viewed as a sleazy way of making money. The United States outlaws this profession, because it degrades females. Yet it is legal, and accepted in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. Residents in Nevada view prostitution, as any other job. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Individuals become deviants when society decidesRead MoreEssay on Human Trafficking vs. Prostitution: Is There a Difference?1627 Words   |  7 PagesIn today’s modern society, prostitution is defined as the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relations, especially for money. Trafficking can be defined in terms of dealing or trading in something illegal (Merriam-Webster). In many cultures, prostitution is indeed illegal. So, is there a difference? Are there variances that set prostitution and human trafficking apart, or are they just different forms of the same industry? In order to answer this question, it is important to firstRead MoreDevils Diciples Motorcycle Gang1032 Words   |  5 Pagesmid-1980s, the headquarters were moved to Michigan and their criminal network was built selling crystal meth. For Detroit, as the car business faded, poverty rates went higher, the reputation for violence got bigger, and gangs became more prevalent. Former DD leader Billy â€Å"Wadds† Smith grew up in Brightmoore, one of the most violent and poverty-stricken areas of Detroit. He stated that the reason he became involved with criminal acts was because â€Å"you learn to adapt to your environment.† The manyRead MoreProstitution Is The Practice Or Occupation Of Engaging Within Sexual Activity With Someone For Payment1592 Words   |  7 PagesProstitution is the practice or occupation of engaging in sexual activity with someone for payment. Leonard Territo and George Kirkham define prostitution as one who sells sexual favors for money, products, or privileges (Territo Kirkham, 2010). There are different types of prostitution: street, escort/out-call, and brothel. Street prostitution is illegal throughout the United States and tends to be clustered in certain areas known for soli citation. Escort/out-call prostitution is where an agencyRead MoreProstitution And Its Effect On Society Essay1630 Words   |  7 Pagesopportunity for the corrupt to create victims. Prostitution has been practiced in all ancient and modern cultures. In the United States, prostitution was originally widely legal. Prostitution was made illegal in almost all states between 1910 and 1915 due to the influence of the Woman s Christian Temperance Union which was influential in the banning of drug use and was a major force in the prohibition of alcohol. In 1917 the legally defined prostitution district Storyville in New Orleans was closedRead MoreThe Issue Of Human Trafficking779 Words   |  4 PagesSale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography (CRC Protocol) . 15. At the same token, Rwanda enacted the new penal code criminalizing human trafficking in combination with forced labor articles and other provisions of law. For instance, Chapter 8 prescribes penalties of imprisonment or fines for internal trafficking, and imprisonment for transnational trafficking. Article 51 relating to the rights and protection of the child outlaws child trafficking, prostitution, and slavery. 16. Read MoreEssay about Feed The Children710 Words   |  3 Pageshave nothing to eat for days, work hard, get abused by whippings that leave scars, or are easy prey for kidnappers who seize them for prostitution. The United Nations Children Fund estimates that 25,000 to 300,000 children, 85% of them girls, are victims of this practice. Haitis dirty little secret exists because 80% of Haitis population is under the poverty line. Which means that they are so poor that they are forced to sell their children. And with the recent earthquake, things are aboutRead MoreProstitution of Minors1435 Words   |  6 PagesProstitution of minors occurs all around the world. We do not notice because it may not concern us, and it is difficult to act when something does not affect us in any way. It affects you if you have children or nieces who are under age right now selling themselves to help out their families who are in need of money. What would you do right then to help them get out of that situation? Thats whats going on in Europe right now when you visit, is the same thing that is happening in Mexico. ThereRead MoreThe Same Canadian Laws For Sex Work2284 Words   |  10 Pagesexistence of brothels and indoor prostitution while illegalizing the advertisement of said service and/or the purchase of said service. This new law was originally created as a response to a Supreme Court of Canada ruling stating that certain sections of the Criminal Code were unconstitutional in the sense that they were being used in a way to make sex work more dangerous. Those in opposition of the new law state that it does nothing to legalize the profession of prostitution and will only continue to endangerRead MoreMoving Prostitution Through The United States2100 Words   |  9 PagesMoving Prostitution in the Right Direction in the United States Abstract: This paper explores the world’s oldest and most controversial occupation and puts forth a foundational plan for legalizing and regulating sex work in a safe way that satisfies both radical and liberal feminists ideals. To understand how prostitution has evolved to where it’s at today, this proposal travels through the history of prostitution in the United States (heavily focusing on the twentieth century.) Prostitutes were