re: Is criminalising prostitution the ultimate example of "male patriarchy"?

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What about the positive aspects of prostitution?

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I don't think they outweigh the negatives.

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I don't think they outweigh the negatives.

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Maybe not, but I would argue that the criminlization of it, and it's continues existence largely in a larger criminal underworld, causes more negative consequences.

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Is criminalising prostitution the ultimate example of "male patriarchy"?

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Criminalizing it is more of a religious thing to keep men from spending the money on women instead of throwing it into a collection plate.

That's why the more religious posters talk about prostitutes as if they are defective.

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As a society, we have to determine what behaviors we want to encourage and what behaviors we want to discourage. If we value human dignity, why not attempt to preserve it as best as possible by dissuading activities like prostitution and pornography?

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But this can occur absent the government involvement, especially since like most everything else, their involvement creates a bunch of negative consequences itself.

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That's a non sequitur. You said that it's wrong and should be illegal because it "dehumanizes" women. Now you're special pleading to "dehumanization is bad unless it has some [unexplained] benefits."

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Not at all. I believe prostitution should be illegal for several reasons, some greater than others, and I gave one reason for why I personally don't think prostitution should be accepted. Here's my initial statement:

"One reason why I'm against prostitution is that it dehumanizes women and perpetuates the idea that women are nothing more than sex objects to be used and thrown away."

I'm also against pornography as it has saturated our culture and has made prolific sex "no big deal" which then leads to unstable relationships, diseases and other health issues, perceived necessity of abortion, among other things that reduces the perceived value of humanity and increases personal and relational destruction in the world.

Stripping is definitely in the same boat as prostitution but there are obvious differences that allow for more destruction of the family and society as a whole with prostitution as men are literally "becoming one" with a whore and opening themselves and others (including the prostitutes) up to health risks as no sex is 100% safe.

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What makes any of these professions inherently more dehumanizing than any other low-level service industry job? If a woman works as a maid is she being "dehumanized" and reinforcing the sexist presumption that women are domestic servants?

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Not at all. Hard work in itself is not dehumanizing as it has been a staple of existence for people throughout history. Reducing women to objects of sex for personal pleasure is dehumanizing as it makes them no different than a sex doll or interactive porno mag/site used to "get off" the consumer. It not only allows for such dehumanization but it perpetuates it.

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But, it's their choice or pretty much would be if it were regulated. Arresting someone for selling or paying for sex is ridiculous.

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Would you want your daughter to quit college and instead become a prostitute simply because she wants quick, easy and big money?

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Would you want your daughter to quit college and instead become a prostitute simply because she wants quick, easy and big money?

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Nope. I also wouldn't want her to quote college and work as a cashier at a fast food restaurant. I don't want to criminalize fast food work though.

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Prostitution should not become a legitimate career choice for women.

I respect women who choose not to engage in prostitution.

I don't respect women who have a prostitute mentality.

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There are probably a few professions, the members of which I do not respect. That doesn't mean that those professions should be outlawed.

We shouldn't be making laws simply based on morality. Unless there is a person being hurt by it, the government should not ban it simply because it goes against some people's morals.

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But this can occur absent the government involvement, especially since like most everything else, their involvement creates a bunch of negative consequences itself.

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Of course it can happen, but more often than not bad behavior must be enforced with "teeth" or else it won't work. I don't have a problem with government protecting the dignity of its citizens as well as the lives or wellbeing of its citizens.