Photographer : Sarchi |
There is evidence that prostitution had a place in society as far back as in Ancient Greece, where brothels devoted to the goddess Aprodites Pandemo date from around 600 BC. In Ancient Rome, it was common practice to make prostitutes of foreign slaves and criminals, while in Babylon, Cyprus and Corinth, having sex in exchange for money was a religious ritual performed by all women at some point in their lives.
In fact, the concept of selling sex is not unique to humans. Usually monogamous, Adelle Penguins occasionally have sex with other penguins in exchange for stones for nest building. Bonobo chimpanzees, with which humans share 98.5% of our genetic makeup, are also known to trade sex for food.
Prostitution and society
Prostitution, though generally tolerated, is largely frowned upon by societies for religious, moral or humanitarian reasons. It is a hotly debated issue, especially amongst feminists, who are divided on whether legalising prostitution enforces women’s rights and sexual liberation, or simply reinforces male oppression, by forcing women into degrading situations.
Some women—and in some cases, men and transvestites—choose to prostitute themselves for financial rewards. In Thailand, for example, a woman can make up to 25 times more money as sex worker than as a factory hand. In many cases however, prostitution is not a choice. Throughout the world, men, women and children are forced into prostitution for a number of reasons, including paying for drugs, for protection or as payment for migrating to a new country.
Human trafficking is the term given to the illegal transportation of people. It often leads to forced prostitution where the victims are made to work in order to pay for their voyage, food and accommodation, usually at a rate where the debt can never be repaid. Due to the illegal nature of these migrants, they usually don’t seek help from the police and thus remain enslaved.
Sex workers are at risk of abuse from clients, ‘pimps’ and in some cases, drug dealers. Many are unlikely to seek help from authorities in relation to this abuse, especially if they are engaged in criminal activities or if they live in a place where prostitution is illegal. As a result, sex workers become easy targets for violent crimes.
All sex workers face the danger of contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, herpes and hepatitis C. Infected sex workers may in turn spread these diseases to multiple partners. In order to address these health and safety issues, countries like Australia have legalised prostitution but heavily regulate its practice.
Prostitution and the law
The laws concerning prostitution around the world are many and varied. In some countries prostitution is illegal and all people involved are treated as criminals, while in others, authorities turn a blind eye to the industry. A number of countries recognise that sex workers are often the victims of exploitation, so it is legal to be a prostitute but illegal to be a client or a ‘pimp’.
In Australia, prostitution laws vary from state to state. ‘Street work’, which involves soliciting whilst walking along a street or waiting at a street corner, is illegal in all states except New South Wales. Brothels are legal, providing the owner has a permit from local government, in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania and one-woman brothels are permitted in the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. However, receiving money for prostitution in a brothel is prohibited in South Australia and allowing premises to be used as a brothel is an offence in the Northern Territory. On the other hand, procuring the services of a prostitute is illegal in all states except Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, which only prohibit clients of underage prostitutes.
How do I know this?
Bromberg, S,
Feminist issues in prostitution,
http://www.feministissues.com/
Prostitution Licensing Authority, Queensland,
http://www.pla.qld.gov.au/
Pinto, S, Scandia A & Wilson,
Prostitution laws in Australia,
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi22.html
Wikipedia,
Prostitution,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution
