What should the legal status of prostitution be?

Decriminalisation would relieve prostitution's stigma

Question: What should the legal status of prostitution be?
Position‹2 of 4›: Prostitution should be decriminalised
Argument‹7 of 7: Decriminalisation would relieve prostitution's stigma

By decriminalising prostitution, we can eliminate the stigma attached to prostitution.

The argument

The stigma attached to sex work can perpetuate the marginalisation of sex workers, increasing their vulnerability. Stigma also has a severe negative impact on sex workers’ dignity and self-respect. Making sex work illegal only serves to give credence to these beliefs. The stigma attached to prostitution does not discourage people from entering the profession, it only serves to shame those who are already sex workers. By keeping prostitution illegal, the state is signalling that this stigma is necessary and legitimate. Decriminalising prostitution would demonstrate the necessity for sex workers to be considered as worthy of rights as much as any other person.

Context

Stigmatisation has far reaching negative effects, leading to a loss of quality of life as well as declines in mental and physical health.

Premises

[P1]The stigma attached to sex work marginalises sex workers, increases their vulnerability, and harms their dignity—and keeping it illegal lends that stigma credence and legitimacy. [P2] Criminalisation does not discourage people from entering the profession; it only shames those already in it, whereas decriminalisation would signal that sex workers deserve rights like anyone else. [C] Therefore, because decriminalisation would relieve prostitution's stigma, prostitution should be decriminalised.

Counter-arguments

The stigma against prostitution is necessary if prostitution is to be eradicated. The stigma is important, not to shame sex workers, but so that young people do not view prostitution as a viable career choice.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] The stigma against sex workers does not have a negative impact; it is necessary to discourage women from entering prostitution and assuming the risks involved.