Should Prostitution Be Legalized - 1771 Words

Whether you were a knight during the medieval ages, a Union soldier fighting during the Civil War, or are a teenager living in 2015, chances are, you are familiar with the term â€Å"prostitute.† Consequently, prostitution is one of the oldest â€Å"professions† known to mankind and is still very much alive today. Despite being legal in only Nevada, there are an estimated one million prostitutes in the United States, thus proving to be a major criminal industry in our country. This topic interests me because of a documentary I saw regarding prostitution, as well as seeing frequent media coverage on the issue as well. I have seen many individuals argue that prostitution should be legalized, which I decided to look further into. Upon researching the†¦show more content†¦Firstly, the numerous risks of bodily harm, violence, and diseases resulting from prostitution are discussed. Physical injuries can range from bruises and black eyes, all the way to being beaten i nto a coma. Additionally, developing sexually-transmitted diseases, other gynecological disorders, and unwanted pregnant are extremely prevalent in prostitutes. The emotional risks of prostitution are extremely serious as well, with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, severe trauma, and suicide attempts just being a few. Addiction to dangerous substances is nearly universal in women who are prostitutes, with alcohol and cocaine being abused most commonly. This source is credible because the author of the article is a Women’s Studies and Medical Ethics professor, as well as the co-director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women. This source will be useful for constructing my argument because all of these extremely perilous risks which are very prevalent among prostitutes that are listed in this article will help convince the reader why it should be illegal. Post, Dianne. Prostitution Cannot Be Squared with Human Rights or the Equality of Women. Cato Unbound. N.p., 6 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 Oct. 2015. This source is a scholarly journal article. This article discusses how prostitution is a result of gender inequality, and legalizing prostitution will only exacerbate this inequality even further. In prostitution, women’s bodies are viewed as â€Å"products†