Legalizing the Sex Industry

 by Kate Potenzano

Pornography, stripping, and prostitution are all multi-billion dollar industries. If the woman (or man) actually enjoys what they are doing with their body and not being harmed during the process, I believe it should be legal for them to basically use what they were born with to their advantage. What if we changed the whole sex-business game plan? Only allowing people who want and actually enjoy dancing for money or having sex and getting paid for it to do it. Even though it may be rare, some women do love to do porn, strip, or get paid for having sex. Just because sex means one thing to one person does not mean it has to mean the same thing for everyone. However, the women should be treated fairly, being able to keep the money they earn and only tipping out a reasonable out that doesn’t force them to dig money out of their pocket. If restrictions are set and strongly enforced, it will be a safer and healthier industry. Workers would have to be of age, treated with respect and dignity, as well as have protected sexual encounters, even if that is just dancing on stage.[2] Guards at strip clubs should be able to control clients from touching or hurting the dancers in any way, shape or form.

Because of the lack of regulations and protection for strippers and sex industry workers, 22 to 67 percent of women fall victim to some form of stalking from men at their workplace. [1] Almost 52 percent of exotic dancers were threatened with a weapon. [1] With better protection and higher level security, these numbers can be decreased dramatically. If prostitution was legal, it would become easier to regulate and control, especially with HIV/ AIDS epidemics. Protected and consensual sex would be safer than trying to hide around the law in fear of getting in trouble, instead we can use the law for good with protecting prostitutes and strippers.[2] To each their own, if a person disagrees with the morals of the industry, they do not have to take part and should never be forced to. However, if we increase the protection and security of these women, along with legalizing it,  the industry could make positive steps along towards keeping it a profitable and decent business.

[1] http://beautyfromashes.org/, "SeXXX Business Statistics." Accessed March 29, 2014. http://crossculturalconnections.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/sex_stats.pdf.

[2] Holsopple, Kelly. The Freedom and Justice Center for Prostitution Resources: A Program of the Volunteers of America of Minnesota, "STRIP CLUB TESTIMONY." Accessed March 30, 2014. http://www.object.org.uk/files/Strip_club_study Holsopple.pdf.