10 things I hate about Prostitution

Today I've been busily reading resources from the Chab Dai Library and uploading them in preparation for the release of our online database later this year - providing research and tools about trafficking worldwide. 

One of the books that has somewhat distracted me from work is 'Prostitution, Trafficking and Traumatic Stress' by Melissa Farley. It extensively documents the violence that runs throughout all types of prostitution, including escort, brothel, trafficking, strip club, pornography, and street prostitution. 

One of the contributors is Janice G. Raymond (Co-Executive Director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women). Her work 'Ten Reasons for Not Legalising Prostitution and a Legal Response to the Demand for Prostitution' outlines research that has been performed throughout the globe in countries where prostitution is legal, illegal and/or tolerated. 

Certainly an interesting read for those of you concerned with the legalisation of prostitution - particularly those of us from Victoria, Australia where prostitution remains legal and (whether you know it or not) human trafficking is a reality. 

Here are the 10 things I hate about the legalisation/decriminalisation of prostitution:

1. It's a gift to pimps, traffickers and the sex industry
2. It promotes sex trafficking
3. It doesn't control the sex industry: it expands it
4. It increases underground, illegal and street prostitution
5. It increases child prostitution
6. It doesn't protect the women in prostitution
7. It increases the demand for prostitution and encourages men to buy women for sex in a wider and more permissible range of socially acceptable settings
8. It doesn't promote women's health
9. It doesn't enhance women's choice          AND finally...
10. Research shows that women in systems of prostitution don't want the sex industry legalised or decriminalised 

(Based on the research of Janice G. Raymond)