4 ms·

Am I missing something? Everyone of those links is about someone being caught and punished for breaking labor laws. Yes it still happens, but when it happens t

Am I missing something? Everyone of those links is about someone being caught and punished for breaking labor laws. Yes it still happens, but when it happens there's a mechanism to punish the perpetrators and help the victims (In most of the articles you linked the employee's received their back wages). Why should sex workers not enjoy the same protection?

bane 13y ago
So two questions: 1) Do you think that the few times McD's was caught with underage or otherwise illegal workers represents all the times that underage and or otherwise illegal workers are used (that enforcement of the law is 100% effective)? My obvious assertion is that it probably wouldn't be reported in the news if it wasn't caught and that enforcement of labor laws is less than 100% effective. 2) Do you think we should have a legal framework that allows for underage sex workers? Because we already have one that doesn't allow for such an occupation by minors yet it's still a shockingly common part of human sex slave trafficking. It also caters to a type of client who wouldn't necessarily be affected by a prostitution legalization regime.
- quinnchr 13y ago
  1) Do you think there would be less illegal labor practices if there weren't labor laws in place and an enforcement mechanism? 2) I'm not arguing for allowing underage sex workers. However, age of consent is very much a cultural issue, and I'm not comfortable insisting on a certain age, that should be up to each country. I'm arguing that legalizing sex work would provide those who consent to do it with a modicum of safety, and instead of being a coercive act it can be a route to empowerment. Furthermore, I'm arguing that legalizing sex work would reduce the demand for illegally trafficked sex workers. Lastly, I'm arguing that providing a strong social safety net would reduce the number of people who engage in sex work out of necessity. The sad fact is that a lot of child sex workers are brought into the sex trade by their families because it is sometimes the only means of survival. Prostitution being illegal only punishes the victim. Trafficking sex slaves, using sex workers who don't/can't consent, and any other practices that harm sex workers should be illegal and heavily enforced.
  - bane 13y ago
    I think we're actually in violent agreement.
- dragonwriter 13y ago
  > Do you think we should have a legal framework that allows for underage sex workers? No, I think that we should have a legal framework which protects sex workers (including those whom it will remain illegal to employ as such, such as those who are underage ), and creates a clear, visible, and effective (compared to the current regime) protection for abused sex workers (including, but not limited to, those who it is illegal to employ as sex workers because of their age) by (among other means) making it clear that legal punishments will be directed at the abusers, not the abused (and not any party in the fully consensual, non-abusive interactions), which creates much stronger incentives for everyone but the abusers to report the abusers, rather than creating an apparent alignment of interests between the abusers and other market participants. By making sex work illegal rather than only the abusive employment of sex workers, you reduce the marginal cost of abuses within sex work, and create an apparent alignment of interest between the abused and other market participants, on the one hand, and the abusers, on the other, since revealing the abusers exposes the abused and other market participants to punishment.

bane 13y ago

So two questions: 1) Do you think that the few times McD's was caught with underage or otherwise illegal workers represents all the times that underage and or otherwise illegal workers are used (that enforcement of the law is 100% effective)? My obvious assertion is that it probably wouldn't be reported in the news if it wasn't caught and that enforcement of labor laws is less than 100% effective. 2) Do you think we should have a legal framework that allows for underage sex workers? Because we already have one that doesn't allow for such an occupation by minors yet it's still a shockingly common part of human sex slave trafficking. It also caters to a type of client who wouldn't necessarily be affected by a prostitution legalization regime.

quinnchr 13y ago
1) Do you think there would be less illegal labor practices if there weren't labor laws in place and an enforcement mechanism? 2) I'm not arguing for allowing underage sex workers. However, age of consent is very much a cultural issue, and I'm not comfortable insisting on a certain age, that should be up to each country. I'm arguing that legalizing sex work would provide those who consent to do it with a modicum of safety, and instead of being a coercive act it can be a route to empowerment. Furthermore, I'm arguing that legalizing sex work would reduce the demand for illegally trafficked sex workers. Lastly, I'm arguing that providing a strong social safety net would reduce the number of people who engage in sex work out of necessity. The sad fact is that a lot of child sex workers are brought into the sex trade by their families because it is sometimes the only means of survival. Prostitution being illegal only punishes the victim. Trafficking sex slaves, using sex workers who don't/can't consent, and any other practices that harm sex workers should be illegal and heavily enforced.
- bane 13y ago
  I think we're actually in violent agreement.
dragonwriter 13y ago
> Do you think we should have a legal framework that allows for underage sex workers? No, I think that we should have a legal framework which protects sex workers (including those whom it will remain illegal to employ as such, such as those who are underage ), and creates a clear, visible, and effective (compared to the current regime) protection for abused sex workers (including, but not limited to, those who it is illegal to employ as sex workers because of their age) by (among other means) making it clear that legal punishments will be directed at the abusers, not the abused (and not any party in the fully consensual, non-abusive interactions), which creates much stronger incentives for everyone but the abusers to report the abusers, rather than creating an apparent alignment of interests between the abusers and other market participants. By making sex work illegal rather than only the abusive employment of sex workers, you reduce the marginal cost of abuses within sex work, and create an apparent alignment of interest between the abused and other market participants, on the one hand, and the abusers, on the other, since revealing the abusers exposes the abused and other market participants to punishment.