5 questions for people who advocate legal prostitution

Do we believe that eliminating prostitution is possible? I am not sure.

Is legalisation 'better' than being illegal, ie is perfect the enemy of least bad?

I agree, many jobs should be made illegal. It's not just prostitution.

I do not think, for example, it should be legal for a woman to be paid to have babies for someone else - but it's legal in the US and I am currently arguing with a mate of mine who thinks it's 'just nine months sitting around'.

I don't think workers should be forced to be exposed to carcinogenic pesticides without consent (or with, really).

I don't think workers should be sold into slavery as children, then conned into believing they have to stay to keep their families safe.

There are many jobs that should be illegal. No one campaigning against prostitution thinks these other things are ok, so I don't know why they're being brought up.

Just because there are problems in other occupations does not mean we shouldn't point out how disproportionate the problems are facing those in prostitution. I think question 3 mainly covers this anyway. Other jobs that involve mainly oppressed groups e.g. people who are trafficked, are considered unjust.

If no percentage is acceptable, why make an obvious reference to the fact that one percentage is lower than the other?

AskBasil What percentage would be acceptable?

Prostitution is quite literally the most dangerous job in the world. This fact, which has been demonstrated repeatedly by studies, is mysteriously absent in every list of "most dangerous jobs" that are always topped by traditionally male-held professions.

Well, many of them, actually. People trafficked for domestic service, catering, agriculture etc are often at risk of sexual assault. People working in any marginalized type of job may suffer sexual assault from their employers and be unable to seek justice, because their status isn't legal, for instance, or they desperately need to keep the job, no matter how horrible.

Whereas some sex workers have decided that sex industry work is what currently suits their circumstances and have arranged a way of doing it at minimal risk to themselves. They also may percieve themselves as entitled to justice if robbed or assaulted, though sometimes they may get a shock if they encounter a bigot who can't cope with the idea of sex workers as autonymous human beings and reckons that they deserve everything they get.

Now try applying those questions to any low-paid, low-status, dangerous jobs you can think of.

Thanks for the link, it does make you fink.