3 ms·

So maybe this is a stupid question, but if vulnerable women are "still" exploited then how was keeping it illegal helping anything?

nostrebored 11y ago
Not a stupid question. The Nordic model is another model of decriminalization that places responsibility on the individuals who buy sex. In this model, the sex-workers are not prosecuted for being prostitutes, and are given the ability to use social programs to leave prostitution if they choose to. The intent is to remove the stigmatization of women in prostitution, and giving them the means to leave the sex-work if they wish to, in stark contrast to our current system (in the US) of making prostitution illegal, typically targeting the prostitutes, which makes getting help scary/difficult. It is essentially a model that tries to help those who have resorted to prostitution out of desperation while attempting to diminish the demand that drives the industry. Also, it is notable that pimping is illegal in the Nordic model.
- TazeTSchnitzel 11y ago
  The "Nordic model" (really, the Swedish one) also makes sex work illegal, and also drives sex workers underground.
  - nostrebored 11y ago
    What do you mean? "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. The criminalisation of the purchase, but not selling, of sex was unique when first enacted in 1999, but since then Norway and Iceland have adopted similar legislation, both in 2009." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Sweden https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Sweden
    - dragonwriter 11y ago
      If you make either side of a transaction illegal, the transaction is illegal, and both sides are driven underground. There are important distinctions in the resulting power dynamics which mean that the distinctions between prohibiting both sides, prohibiting just the purchasing side, and prohibiting just the selling side significant distinctions. But all of them prohibit the exchange and force the exchange underground; you can't do that to only one side of the exchange.

nostrebored 11y ago

Not a stupid question. The Nordic model is another model of decriminalization that places responsibility on the individuals who buy sex. In this model, the sex-workers are not prosecuted for being prostitutes, and are given the ability to use social programs to leave prostitution if they choose to. The intent is to remove the stigmatization of women in prostitution, and giving them the means to leave the sex-work if they wish to, in stark contrast to our current system (in the US) of making prostitution illegal, typically targeting the prostitutes, which makes getting help scary/difficult. It is essentially a model that tries to help those who have resorted to prostitution out of desperation while attempting to diminish the demand that drives the industry. Also, it is notable that pimping is illegal in the Nordic model.

TazeTSchnitzel 11y ago
The "Nordic model" (really, the Swedish one) also makes sex work illegal, and also drives sex workers underground.
- nostrebored 11y ago
  What do you mean? "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. The criminalisation of the purchase, but not selling, of sex was unique when first enacted in 1999, but since then Norway and Iceland have adopted similar legislation, both in 2009." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Sweden https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Sweden
  - dragonwriter 11y ago
    If you make either side of a transaction illegal, the transaction is illegal, and both sides are driven underground. There are important distinctions in the resulting power dynamics which mean that the distinctions between prohibiting both sides, prohibiting just the purchasing side, and prohibiting just the selling side significant distinctions. But all of them prohibit the exchange and force the exchange underground; you can't do that to only one side of the exchange.