The heinous crime of child sex slavery is a multifaceted and controversial human rights issue that is sweeping the world as the next hot topic for activism. It does not seem like the issue of raping children for profit would be very complicated–it is wrong and needs to be stopped. But when dealing with anything surrounding the topic of sex, things tend to get complicated very fast. Many times, peoples’ uneducated beliefs about prostitution influence their beliefs about child sex slavery.
Contrary to popular opinion, prostitution is NOT a victimless crime
A victimless crime is commonly described as an illegal act agreed upon by all parties involved that harms no one.
Many people believe that prostitution is a victimless crime because the woman selling sex and the man buying sex are both agreeing to the exchange; consensual sex is rarely ever harmful to either party.
But the statistics prove otherwise.
Contrary to popular opinion, prostitution is NOT a victimless crime
A victimless crime is commonly described as an illegal act agreed upon by all parties involved that harms no one.
Many people believe that prostitution is a victimless crime because the woman selling sex and the man buying sex are both agreeing to the exchange; consensual sex is rarely ever harmful to either party.
But the statistics prove otherwise.
How can prostitution be consensual and victimless when over 70% of women are physically assaulted in prostitution?
Or, when 75% of women are raped in prostitution;
Between 65% and 95% were sexually assaulted as children;
90% experience verbal abuse and social contempt for their “work”; and
almost 70% meet the criteria for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a disorder than many soldiers develop after war?
This is the violence experienced by the majority of women involved in all types of prostitution, legal and illegal. So when the majority of women in prostitution report sexual assault from those purchasing their bodies, prostitution can no longer be considered a victimless crime.
A woman has the right to do whatever she wants with her body; but a man has no right to do whatever he wants with a woman’s body. Prostitution is an industry where the man gets what he wants because the woman is servicing him. Therefore, prostitution is NOT a victimless crime; it is a crime that victimizes every woman involved.
Or, when 75% of women are raped in prostitution;
Between 65% and 95% were sexually assaulted as children;
90% experience verbal abuse and social contempt for their “work”; and
almost 70% meet the criteria for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a disorder than many soldiers develop after war?
This is the violence experienced by the majority of women involved in all types of prostitution, legal and illegal. So when the majority of women in prostitution report sexual assault from those purchasing their bodies, prostitution can no longer be considered a victimless crime.
A woman has the right to do whatever she wants with her body; but a man has no right to do whatever he wants with a woman’s body. Prostitution is an industry where the man gets what he wants because the woman is servicing him. Therefore, prostitution is NOT a victimless crime; it is a crime that victimizes every woman involved.
Resources for this post:
Victimless crime: dictionary.com
All statistics: Prostitution Research & Education
Victimless crime: dictionary.com
All statistics: Prostitution Research & Education
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