why is prostitution illegal?

Question

iv been wondering

Answer 1

It isn't. A private arrangement by mutual consent is not illegal. Soliciting for prostitution is illegal.

Answer 2

Prostitution is illegal because it has been perceived as immoral and because the proliferation of STD's is associated with it.
IMMORAL: Early America was dominated by a Christian ethos, despite how much it has evolved ever since. An integral part of the Christian belief-system denounces promiscuity (of which prostitution is the epitome), and lauds chastity. Even if the strong piety that once pervaded American thought has subsided to a significant degree, the Christian ethos still remains largely intact. For example, almost everyone in America- religious or otherwise- celebrates Christmas. Likewise, there is still a big part of America that thinks that prostitution is just plain wrong because it is unclean and because it vitiates "proper" sex.
Nonetheless, in modern scholarship (especially the feminism variant), most people take the view espoused above-- that prostitution is illegal because it is nothing more than men abusing and degrading women who are in hard times, usually as a result of abject poverty.
This is a noble reason to outlaw prostitution. After all, I think we all can agree that men ought not to degrade and abuse women. The problem with this line of reasoning is that the people who outlaw prostitution for this reason may end up hurting the very people they are trying to help. For instance, if the only way a poor woman can get by is by prostitution and then the State outlaws it, it has just taken away the only (or one of the few) options this woman has to put food on her table. Perhaps, in addition to food, she has children who have medical bills, need clothes, and school supplies. In short, if the State outlaws this mode of making money without at the same time redistributing wealth to the women who, as a result of poverty, have been forced to prostitute themselves, it may hurt them by denying them a way to put food on the table.
If most prostitutes are financially constrained into entering that much-derided, yet very old, profession, then not allowing them to prostitute themselves may result in starvation and a lack of means to live. Therefore, if the State is going to outlaw prostitution on these grounds, it must help prostitutes avoid the situations that coerced them into selling sex in the first place.

STDS: The other argument is easy to rebut. Sure, prostitution contributes to the spread of STD's. However, prostitution, like may crimes, is one of those things that going to happen whether illegal or not. If we make it legal, however, we can regulate it by, for example, mandating condom usage and licenses, tax it, and, most importantly, require that prostitutes get tested periodically for STD's and revoke their license upon a positive test. This will, in turn, diminish the market for illegal, unlicensed prostitutes because men will think that there is a good chance that unlicensed prostitutes have an STD. It follows that under this plan, STD proliferation would be cabined substantially.

Answer 3

Because America was founded by prudes

For me it always seemed wrong to outlaw something that's legal to give away for free.

Legalize it, tax the hell out of it, and bring some tourism into America for a change

Answer 4

Because the United States isn't an actual free society only a facade and fading memory of democracy.

http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

Peace

Answer 5

Because its abuse against woman. You're taking full advantage of a female in a not so pleasant situation, paying her to engage in sex for money. Most prostitutes are in not because of it being a great career move, but for circumstances that kind of pin her between a rock and a hard place. She could be destitute or as what is taking place in Eastern Europe, slavery. Its abuse, period.

Answer 6

The general spread of std's, the drugs and aggravated assaults that are associated with the industry.. social integrity would really diminish........

Answer 7

Women's suffrage. When women got the right to vote, prostitution went "bye, bye".

You don't really think men voted that away? haha

Answer 8

Because They make a lot of money trying to "control" a problem that will never go away.

Answer 9

Because most places it is illegal to use a baited trap.

Answer 10

Because the wenches want the commitment along with the money.