Should we legalize the sex trade?

One question that we are occasionally asked to answer is whether or not we think it would be best to legalize the sex industry in order for ‘prostitutes’ to become ‘sex workers’ who have the “ability, social supports, and freedom to put themselves through school and/or turn to more lucrative careers?” 

When stated objectively this is a question which appears to be harmless enough...right?  However, when this question is actually fleshed out it becomes about as ironic as using the words ‘prostitute’ and ‘freedom’ in the same sentence... 

 Let’s start by asking a few questions: 

1.  If a man knocked on your door and offered you $20 to rape your 12-year-old daughter, would you find that to be a “normal” request that was no different than the solicitations of the vacuum cleaner salesmen or the Schwann’s man?   
2. If I were to offer you a career that had [on the low end] a 26% chance and [on the high end] a 73% chance of infecting you with the HIV/AIDS virus within a year, would you willingly agree to take it?1 
3. If I told you that this same career would offer you a 68% chance of contracting PTSD [post traumatic stress disorder], nearly DOUBLE that of the returning Iraqi war veterans would it increase your chances of “willing participation?2 
4. Would you find it “normal” if you witnessed a person approaching a poverty-stricken mother of three in order to demand sex from her on the street?  

If you answered “no” to any of these questions than you see the horrible inconsistency in a belief that legalizing an oppressive industry might be a “benefit” to anyone involved other than perhaps those who wish to prey upon the weak and profit at the expense of the oppressed.  

To sum up our response.  While we appreciate your concern for these women’s access to social supports, and medical benefits we would ask that you force yourself to think through the irony of such a question.  At one moment, it acknowledges the humanity and dignity of these women in its assertion that they should have access to healthcare, benefits, education.  Then, it turns immediately around and totally objectifies women and children as “things which might be had by the highest bidder.”  This is an issue that we speak strongly about because it is our belief at International Crisis Aid that the answer to the problem of the sex industry is not to legalize it, but rather combat it holistically.