Should it be illegal for men to pay for prostitution?

[EatsBrainsAndLeaves]

Should we criminalise all men who pay for prostitution, alongside help for women to leave prostituion?

I think I agree with world's 'sticking lpaster' analogy.
I had no idea that women had been denied benefits for refusing to attend brothels, but if that's so then I'm completely shocked. The only thing that doesn't shock me about this, if it's true, though, is the idea that prostitution is something that any woman would be 'capable' of if she was sufficiently desperate.
There's actually some skill involved in providing sex for someone for whom you have zero desire/respect/affection/curiosity/sympathy/positive feelings whatsoever. And a huge amount of psychological athleticism required.
So even if you don't regard prostitution as wrong and abusive in and of itself (and I don't), attempting to push anyone into it under any circumstances, for any reason is clearly a very, very serious abuse. To my mind it's a form of attempted rape.

Legalising it wouldn't mean that all sex workers were suddenly happy volunteers.

The 'disabilities and unable to find a sexual partner' line bothers me - I can't put my finger on why, precisely. But maybe there's an underlying assumption that women are 'for' sex? I can't accept that anyone has an inherent right to have sex with another person.

Sorry, that's slightly off topic.

Yes.

Why are the male posters so adamant that we include female punters? Of course they would be criminalised too, it's just that there are so few of them that 'should we criminalise men?' is the question that is asked.

Don't get ratty just because the language rightly highlights the main culprits.

And remember this is the feminism board, not the mens board.

Fact - yes the disabilities and unable to find a sexual partner reason is based totally on the idea that all men are entitled to sex. Many women have disabilities and are unable to find a sexual partner, but it is extremely rare for women in this situation to feel they are entitled to sex from a man.

www.snopes.com/media/notnews/brothel.asp

Yes - Swedish model is the way to go I think

So according to that link the benefits thing is not true?

What's the Swedish law?

Agree with fact re a sense of entitlement.

I'm very much on the fence now. My reasons that I listed below for legalizing, still seem important to me. I don't think prostitution can be stopped. Having a law against it hasn't done so far so makin it legal would mean willing men and women, and they do exist, would work and punter could go to them secure in the knowledge they were not raping someone. It would take the need away for underground sex trafficking. No?

CookieRookie, basically the laws on prostitution in Sweden make it illegal to buy sexual services, but not to sell them. Pimping, procuring and operating a brothel are also illegal. Full wiki explanation here

I also agree with FactOfTheMatter re entitlement, although I appreciate that sexual fulfilment for differently abled people is a very sensitive matter.

Yes, but it would be better to really clamp down on all the other things that trap women in prostitution and are already illegal, like drugs, trafficking, brothels and criminals generally. Is being a pimp illegal?

Yes.

Yes.

And the benefits thing happened in Germany. There was discussion about allowing lap dancing clubs to advertise in job centres which could result in women losing their benefits if they refused the job. The decision was made not to allow them to advertise.

Yes, it should be illegal to buy sexual services - if only 1 in 10 men use prostitutes, that means 9 in 10 don't , so why are we pandering to a tiny percentage of men?

Of course we shouldnt pander to men using prostitutes. But in 10 men is not a tiny minority of men. It is a lot of men in the UK.

Yes. Being placed on the sex offenders register would be a good deterrent too.

you could legalise it but women would still
engage in street prositution until the drugs are legalised and regulated IMHO.

what would help-
making child benefit easier to switch to the parent who leaves (ie if woman leaves home- this would help housing benefit and therefore women could afford to leave and have their children)

quicker script/ blocker/ acess to drug services

intense counselling for those who need it

quicker benefit pay outs and less sanctions for those at risk

The austrians and germans have it right. Prostitution is legal BUT a girl who wishes to be in the sex industry has to register themselves as such. They also have to submit to a sti test on arrival and announce to the whoever it is that their name is registered with that they are in the country if only visiting. If they live there they have to have an sti test every two weeks I believe. Wow, this forum seems to be somewhat obsessed with prostitution from the number of threads there are on the subject lol

Oh and by the way, I know a girl who has worked in these countrys as such and the girls are happy with the system. It is also illegal for a man to knowingly go into a brothel when he is showing signs of sti and can be prosecuted for such an act, in the case of Syphilis I believe he is arrested immediatley. Best way to keep people safe as lets face it, despite the only way a prostitute can get an sti is from their clients who in real life are so called respectable husbands, have careers etc, its still the girl who is blamed. This system acknowledges the fact that this is the case.

seriously, you would want your father, brother, son or cousin to be on the sex register one day simply because they were too horny to be able to think, be careful what you wish for as most men who visit prositute are ordinary men who play while the cat is away, or they are away on business, or have a quick one during their lunch hour or while their missus is in hospital or at her mothers. Men are never going to stop paying for sex, to put them on the sex register would mean their familys are subject to terrible humiliation...and that could be your family as lets face it..you never know who is up to naughtys

I want to know which men use prostitutes so I know that they are rapists who care nothing for women.

This blog is written by a prostitute. This is the daily lives of prostitutes. It has a massive trigger warning but everyone who thinks men who use prostitutes are "normal" needs to get real: rmott62.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/staring-into-hell/

Feminism is still in the 60's in its idealistic attitude. In a perfect world women and men would be equal in every arena. Its not true though is it and prostitution has always been the perfect example. The glass ceiling still exists for women in certain arenas but men cannot charge as much for sex as women can. Women in the sex industry know this. The ones in it through choice are empowered, financially independent, proud and know that no matter what happens in life, even a recession, they can ALWAYS pay their mortgage, put food on the table, buy nice clothes, afford presents at christmas etc blah blah blah for their children and themselves. Its a career CHOICE for most. I think it must be the most awful horror imaginable for a woman to be forced into that industry but I think you lot are assuming the women forced into that industry and the women who make a clear headed decision to make the most of what god gave them are the same....they are very much not

oh and it gives a woman the right to decide her own worth, work when she wants and not have to rely on a man in any way...truly the most feminist of career choices

Men are never "too horny to be able to think." They are adults perfectly able to control their actions.

Adult women are not girls. And the German model only helps to prevent STI. It still means men can do what they want to prostitutes.

Yes.

Another yes here. And also what Eats said. I take it you're a visitor from Puntersnet. Feel free to prove me wrong by reading Dani's link above and telling us what you think of it.