Although today sex is seen in a more liberal light, it is still very much a taboo, especially in collectivistic cultures of developing and underdeveloped countries. Prostitutes are ostracized from society and have no access to social or economic security. Sad but true.
We fail to realize that any person, be it a male, female, or transgender who works as a prostitute, has not willingly accepted this profession. Physically and mentally, they have been forced to do so or by human trafficking. For many developing countries, prostitution is a major export industry and source of foreign earnings, a means of redistributing income on a global scale. For example, according to a 1998 Kyodo News report on South East Asia,
Between 1993 and 1995, it was estimated that prostitution in Thailand produced an annual income of between $22.5 billion and $27 billion.
I can recall an incident in my life. I was in college then, appearing for my graduation exams. The examination center had two routes one was a long route which was a market area and the other was a short route, which passed through Kamathipura, a red light area in Mumbai. One day I was running late for my exam, I asked the taxi driver to take the shorter route. The taxi driver was an old man, he replied, 'child, I cannot take you from that side, it's not a good area.'I had to insist and convince him that I will be late for my exam. Although reluctant, we passed through the area. That was the first time in my life that I saw an area that turns into a prostitution market from dusk to dawn. Looking around, I could only see females dressed in descent salwar kurta, doing their home cores, and children scattered around the area. Being a local, I knew I'm passing through a red light area, but for an outsider, it would portray to be a slum with shabby and old houses, drainage smelling awful, etc.
Another encounter with a prostitute was a few years later, while we were returning back home after attending a family function late at night. I could see a few ladies standing on the footpath dressed in bright, revealing clothes and heavy make-up. That is when I got to know what is street prostitution. These ladies are ready to please their clients for a minimal amount of Indian Rs.150-180.
The Benefits of Legalizing Prostitution
- Legalizing the profession of prostitution does not mean to see a prostitute standing for business on every corner of a road. It would rather reduce the violence against prostitutes, more so for the women. They are vulnerable to violence from their customers, pimps, and madams. With prostitution legalized, their profession would escape the shadows of illegality and allow its workers to call the police. If still illegal, they would be too afraid to call any authority and their rape and murder count would continue to rise.
- Legalization would make prostitute life healthier. The pressure on them to forego condoms is a great health risk on a global level. If legal, its workers can get tested regularly for Syphilis, HIV, and aids and practice safer sex.
- The benefits of legalizing prostitution extend further than to just those involved in the prostitution industry. Allowing brothels to operate legally and generate substantial revenue for the state, the situation for many prostitutes in countries that have made prostitution legal has vastly improved since the implementation of new reforms and regulations. The legalization of prostitution enforces compliance with labor laws by businesses in the prostitution industry.
- Brothels and prostitutes are the ones who have controlled the rate of rape cases in every country. Although there are many registered and unregistered rape cases all over the world, If there wouldn't have been a profession of prostitution, the crime rate in rape cases would be much larger.
- It is no hidden fact that the prostitution industry is well supported by drugs and intoxication. Countries that have legalized the profession of prostitution to an extend have managed to decrease the rotation of drugs and other substances of intoxication.
- Developed countries undoubtedly have many facilities to secure the health and well-being of prostitutes. They are well equipped with safety measures and health facilities. To be more precise, they are well equipped for the children of their country's sex workers. Coming to an underdeveloped or developing country, there are no proper medications for the prostitutes and their children.
