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Legalizing Prostitution

By on June 17, 2011

Legalizing prostitution would help lessen the class inequality sex workers in lower socioeconomic status face.  It is common place for the police to arrest and detain “street walkers” and “johns” in lower income areas.  Just watch an episode of COPS.  Prostitutes also face many problems as a result of the illegal trade which can be solved if it is decriminalized.  As prostitutes are forced into the streets, the dangers too many prostitutes greatly increase.  Prostitutes whose jobs involve working at night and getting into cars with complete strangers can be, and often have been, easy pickings for serial killers and other sociopaths.  The solution to these problems would be to follow the example of some European cities and Nevada counties, where prostitution is allowed in certain designated areas.  People who are interested in the activity go to places where it’s permitted.  Keeping prostitution illegal also contributes to crime because many criminals view prostitutes and their customers as attractive targets for robbery, fraud, rape, or other criminal acts.  Many street gangs and other criminals make money off the illegal sex trade such as pimps and smugglers who kidnap and smuggle sex workers in and out of countries.  Laws against prostitution violate Americans’ fundamental rights of individual liberty and personal privacy.  Our society would be better off if the police stopped enforcing “feel good” laws and spent more time preventing and solving real crimes involving clear victims and injustices. (Image courtesy of adamr / FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

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Teaching Sociology is very enjoyable for me. Sociology is like a gateway to a plethora of knowledge and understanding. The subject material is directly applicable to real-world events and situations found in everyday life. The methods and concepts of sociology yield powerful insights into the social processes shaping the contemporary world. The ability to identify and understand these processes is valuable preparation for professional participation in an ever changing and complex society.