Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Should sex work be decriminalised?
Position‹3 of 3

Sex work should not be decriminalised

This position holds that sex work should not be decriminalised. Its arguments contend that keeping brothels and solicitation illegal limits exploitation by pimps and traffickers, that decriminalisation could invite more violent clients, and that it treats women's bodies as a commodity to be bought.

Supporting arguments · 9

  1. Decriminalisation means sex worker specific support services will have their budgets cut and many will be closed
    Due to sex work's current illegal status in many countries, sex work support clinics have been essential in supporting the workers where the law will not. If sex work is decriminalised, those support networks will be invalidated.
  2. Full decriminalisation risks more violent and abusive clients approaching sex workers
    Fully decriminalising sex work will also provide legitimacy to the buyers, therefore attracting all kinds of clients, including the violent and abusive ones who will bring harm to the sex workers.
  3. Decriminalisation opens the door to increased use of sex workers, leading to a culture that enables and encourages sex addiction
    As our society becomes even more sexualised, legitimising the purchase of sex reinforces the idea that commodified sex should be the norm, rather than forging intimate relationships outside of formal transactions.
  4. Should not be decriminalised
    full decriminalisation would lead to more of insecurity for women and especially girls of young age. they'll be seen as an object to full-fill the needs and then dumb away.
  5. The majority of sex workers opt for this work in case of a financial crisis
    completely legalising sex work would lead to promotion of selling their body for money, when they can earn money through various fruitful ways. leagalising it would lead to greasing the wheel for women in need of money.
  6. Keeping brothels illegal reduces the number of sex workers abused and/or exploited by pimps
    Sex work is one of the most exploitative professions. The legalisation of brothels would legitimize the pimps, who have the most to gain from passing off legal protections to the state rather than creating a healthy working environment (which decriminalisation does not guarantee).
  7. Legalising sex work opens the door for loopholes relating to sex trafficking and exploitation
    Since full decriminalization of sex work also legalizes the work of pimps and brothel owners and expands the market, it will help them find cracks in the system to exploit prostitutes and commit sex trafficking.
  8. Normalising the act of purchasing sex reinforces the cultural narrative that women's bodies are a commodity that can be bought and sold
    With the motto "sex sells" running rampant in advertising and human socialization, prostitution only serves to emphasize that women are only worth their bodies.
  9. Decriminalisation opens the door for sex tourists travelling to the UK and increasing child sexual exploitation