Can anyone explain this contradiction?

Question

When it comes to the pro-choice-pro-life debate, there are several valid arguments on both sides. Whether you support pro-choice or pro-life isn’t the issue I wish to address; it’s more of a logical analysis of laws that contradict each other. Above and beyond every argument that supports pro-choice, the driving force behind Roe vs. Wade was the premise that a woman has the right to make her own decisions when it comes to her body; it was primarily a rights issue. So, given this assertion, why can a woman legally abort her unborn child, but if she has sex with someone for money, she gets arrested? Isn’t it her body? Isn’t she entitled to do whatever she chooses to do with it? Is consensual sex between a man and woman a greater moral offense than having an abortion? If it’s legal for a woman to abort her child, how can our lawmakers justify arresting her if she has sex for money? It’s her body, isn’t it?

Answer 1

I see your point, never thought of it that way. I believe the current laws are that way because prostitution has been around for centuries and has been generally frowned upon. Basically there will always be instances where making judgements on new laws will open a can of worms in other areas. What is always slow to happen is the reevaluation of current laws and their practicality. Just like when you hear on the news of some old stupid law that was passed in the 1800's stating that you cannot "do something" that is widely accepted today.

Answer 2

Your analysis is an oversimplification.

Your justification for prostitution is that it is a woman's decision to do with her body as she pleases, as you call it "the driving force behind Roe v. Wade". Your assumption then is that people who support Roe v. Wade should do so for the same reason.

However, what your analysis fails to do is to consider other variables. People may feel that while a woman has a right to do with her body as she pleases, her abortion only affects her (presuming you do not regard the unborn baby as a "life", or not consider the rights of the biological father).

Prostitution has other variables. Sexually transmitted diseases, higher divorce rates due to more cases of adultry. Unlike abortion, prostitution would affect more than the mother. It would affect the Johns that she services, as well as the people they come in contact with. Therefore, it is not a contradiction to support abortion, but not prostitution. They can be approached from different reference points.

Answer 3

I agree with legalizing prostitution.

We have a puritanical government, in many ways.

There isn't enough pressure from citizens toward decriminalizing prostitution -- actually, I'm not even sure a majority would favor it.

It IS a contradiction of the notion of freedom.

But there are a lot of contradictions in the laws.

Why can we drink, but not smoke a dube or eat certain mushrooms?

No good reason.

Heck, why can doctors proscribe meds, but not joints?

That one's especially cruel, as people are starving because they can't keep anything on their stomaches.

They can get pills with the active ingredient in marijuana, but since they barf them right up again, they do no good.

But they'll get in trouble with the law if they take a few hits so they can eat.

Answer 4

Interesting. Sex is decidedly private, the implied right to privacy could be argued to aply. I think the difference is that the sex is publically offered, while an abortion can be kept private via doctor-patient confidentiality. You might argue that prostitution could be 'legal' if there were no solicitation - and, indeed, it might well be. (Any lawyers want to chime in).

In any case, it's not a big contradiction: I'm sure many pro-death types wouldn't object to the decriminalization of prostitution. I know I don't.

Answer 5

I agree that a victimless crime is a contradiction in terms, especially when it involves an adult making a decision about themselves.

And like the previous answer says, tax them. Any harm prostitution does to a society can be fixed with lots of tax money. If you determine the legalizing prostitution causes harm, come up with a special law enforcement team to deal with that and pay for it with huge taxes on prostitution. A user fee of sorts.

Answer 6

Boy, did you open a big can of worms.

But first, I have a comment for Bonita: Who do you think "SHE" got those STD's from? She wasn't born with them!

That comment is probably what drives the notion to keep prostitution illegal. There is a common idea that prostitutes are a cesspool of disease-got news for you: DEMAND=Supply. Who do you think is demanding? I don't see a bunch of male prostitutes on Main street (unless they are homosexual).

Protitution will be illegal for the rest of the Country until someone challenges it in Court (women's right to choose).

Those of us who are married already do what prostitutes do. We have sex for money-if you disagree take a into consideration, would your husband still pay the bills and do all he does if you cut him off? (I don't mean whacking his manhood) My husband gets upset if I'm too tired, but doesn't think twice about refusing me if he's too tired (YES, there are some men who refuse, contrary to popular belief).

Ever had sex with your boyfriend to get a nice gift out of him? Or, a nice dinner at an expensive restaurant? Or, your husband to buy you a diamond (or other stone) ring? This is getting paid for sex. It's mostly subtle: giving him something he likes in exchange for what you want. I won't go into details, we all know what these things are and the women who don't like to do them, but will to get that Lagniappe.

As for abortion, I don't agree with it. I HAVE HAD AN ABORTION, so I KNOW what I'm talking about. If I felt like I had anothe choice, it would have been easier. Not a day goes by that I don't hurt; that I don't wish I had made another choice; that I don't wonder what that child would look like or be doing. Had abortion been illegal, I would have made another choice-adoption? Keep it? Gone insane? I know I won't do it, again.
I think that those who do it as a way of birth control should be in jail. Once, I can understand-twice in some instances (rape, incest, life of mother). But those who do it without remorse, they are the ones that scare me. To take a life without remorse. And, then to do it again and again. Those are the women we should ban from getting abortions. IN fact, we should probably sterilize them-those are the ones who will, most likely, kill or abuse their infants once they are born! (My opinion, no medical facts to substantiate my comment)

When ever the government gets involved, there is always a big contradiction. Politicians do only what will get them re-elected. The government no longer belongs to the people, WE belong to the government. (DID you know that the IRS can seize your bank accounts just by sending a letter to the bank? No court order is required? They can seize your refund without notice-But, that's another discussion)

ON with the debate! Opinions are as varied as the people who have them. I do not seek to change your opinion, just to understand it.

Answer 7

I agree. I am opposed to prostitution only because it is against the law. Personally, I think if someone wants to get paid for having sex, as long as there are regulations in place which prevent the spread of disease, there's absolutely no reason not to do it.

Besides, the porn industry is (for the most part) legal. That's the same thing as prostitution, except you're inviting people to watch you get paid to have sex.

Answer 8

so if you are gonna have sex you are stupid not to charge? I kinda like that idea. Man my husband owes me big time!!! lol

There are many, many contradictions to the abortion debate. My favorite is the if the woman ends pregnacy, its not a problem. But if somebody attacks her and the "fetus" dies, then they get charged with murder of a baby. So it seems its only a baby if they don't get the mothers permission first.

Answer 9

No, I can't explain it. You're exactly right. Prostitution SHOULD be legalized, regulated, and taxed. It IS legal in most countries.

Answer 10

I agree with the above ^

Make it legal, and tax the crap out of it. It works in Nevada!