5 ms·

I am by no means an expert on prostitution, but I don't think it's the illegality of prostitution that keeps many women from entering the market.

jlgreco 13y ago
It could be the reason of many, while not being the reason of most. If comedy central has ever taught me anything, it is that there is still illegal prostitution in Reno, Nevada. ;)
- Retric 13y ago
  Oddly enough, prostitution is illegal in Reno, Navada and Las Vegas. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Nevada http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Nevada Which probably increases the amount of illegal prostitution in those areas.
  - jholman 13y ago
    Oddly enough, if you read the link that you posted, you'd learn that contrary to your statement, prostitution is illegal in Reno and Las Vegas, and in fact in great swathes of Nevada (in particular, it's illegal in the areas where most NV residents live).
    - nknighthb 13y ago
      You may have read his link, but you certainly didn't read his comment.
      - deleted 13y ago
        [deleted]
      - jholman 13y ago
        Hmn. Apparently you are correct.
  - jlgreco 13y ago
    Huh, I knew it was illegal in Vegas but I thought it was legal in Reno. TIL.
    - krapp 13y ago
      knew it was illegal in Vegas but I thought it was legal in Reno. I'm sure the Reno Sheriff's department hears that a lot...
    - SageRaven 13y ago
      I believe the state law is that in any county where the population is under 400,000 residents, prostitution is legal, which rules out the main large cities in Nevada. I live in neighboring Utah, so I learn some interesting factoids about our neighbor once in a while.
bmelton 13y ago
Illegality also leads to a potentially unsafe operation. Without legalizing something, there can't be any regulation of the industry. Prostitutes are obviously wary of calling the cops in the event that they are abused, mistreated, robbed, or whatever else. Legalizing prostitution allows its workers to fall under police protection. Illegality also leads to money hiding endeavors and tax fraud. Illegal sex workers are wary of setting up a real shop where they could implement security methods, or a guard to stand at the door in a brothel type operation. Legalizing prostitution allows for better taxation, and less in the way of illicit venues. I'm sure you're right in that every woman wouldn't turn to prostitution just because it became legal, but at least part of that should be attributed to the inherent danger of working in an illegal market with zero marketplace or police protections. We (hopefully) wouldn't see a huge spike in legitimate prostitution if it were legalized, but we would almost certainly see an uptick.
- DrStalker 13y ago
  > I'm sure you're right in that every woman wouldn't turn to prostitution just because it became legal Prostitution is legal where I live (Australia) and I can confirm that not every woman has turned to prostitution.
  - obtino 13y ago
    > Prostitution is legal where I live (Australia) and I can confirm that not every woman has turned to prostitution. Indeed! It's the same in New Zealand. As attractive as it may be (in terms of income) there are always inherent risks that come with every occupation.
    - noloqy 13y ago
      And here in Holland. It even stimulates tourism. I wonder what would happen to the Amsterdam economy if legalization of softdrugs and prostitution becomes the global norm.
- dragonwriter 13y ago
  > We (hopefully) wouldn't see a huge spike in legitimate prostitution if it were legalized, but we would almost certainly see an uptick. Maybe in the short-term; it would probably somewhat increase the rate of entry. But removing the powerlessness that comes from illegality would probably also make it much more common for people to be able to move up and out of it and one to other things once they'd entered.

jlgreco 13y ago

It could be the reason of many, while not being the reason of most. If comedy central has ever taught me anything, it is that there is still illegal prostitution in Reno, Nevada. ;)

Retric 13y ago
Oddly enough, prostitution is illegal in Reno, Navada and Las Vegas. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Nevada http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Nevada Which probably increases the amount of illegal prostitution in those areas.
- jholman 13y ago
  Oddly enough, if you read the link that you posted, you'd learn that contrary to your statement, prostitution is illegal in Reno and Las Vegas, and in fact in great swathes of Nevada (in particular, it's illegal in the areas where most NV residents live).
  - nknighthb 13y ago
    You may have read his link, but you certainly didn't read his comment.
    - deleted 13y ago
      [deleted]
    - jholman 13y ago
      Hmn. Apparently you are correct.
- jlgreco 13y ago
  Huh, I knew it was illegal in Vegas but I thought it was legal in Reno. TIL.
  - krapp 13y ago
    knew it was illegal in Vegas but I thought it was legal in Reno. I'm sure the Reno Sheriff's department hears that a lot...
  - SageRaven 13y ago
    I believe the state law is that in any county where the population is under 400,000 residents, prostitution is legal, which rules out the main large cities in Nevada. I live in neighboring Utah, so I learn some interesting factoids about our neighbor once in a while.

bmelton 13y ago

Illegality also leads to a potentially unsafe operation. Without legalizing something, there can't be any regulation of the industry. Prostitutes are obviously wary of calling the cops in the event that they are abused, mistreated, robbed, or whatever else. Legalizing prostitution allows its workers to fall under police protection. Illegality also leads to money hiding endeavors and tax fraud. Illegal sex workers are wary of setting up a real shop where they could implement security methods, or a guard to stand at the door in a brothel type operation. Legalizing prostitution allows for better taxation, and less in the way of illicit venues. I'm sure you're right in that every woman wouldn't turn to prostitution just because it became legal, but at least part of that should be attributed to the inherent danger of working in an illegal market with zero marketplace or police protections. We (hopefully) wouldn't see a huge spike in legitimate prostitution if it were legalized, but we would almost certainly see an uptick.

DrStalker 13y ago
> I'm sure you're right in that every woman wouldn't turn to prostitution just because it became legal Prostitution is legal where I live (Australia) and I can confirm that not every woman has turned to prostitution.
- obtino 13y ago
  > Prostitution is legal where I live (Australia) and I can confirm that not every woman has turned to prostitution. Indeed! It's the same in New Zealand. As attractive as it may be (in terms of income) there are always inherent risks that come with every occupation.
  - noloqy 13y ago
    And here in Holland. It even stimulates tourism. I wonder what would happen to the Amsterdam economy if legalization of softdrugs and prostitution becomes the global norm.
dragonwriter 13y ago
> We (hopefully) wouldn't see a huge spike in legitimate prostitution if it were legalized, but we would almost certainly see an uptick. Maybe in the short-term; it would probably somewhat increase the rate of entry. But removing the powerlessness that comes from illegality would probably also make it much more common for people to be able to move up and out of it and one to other things once they'd entered.