The Ethical Debate On Prostitution - 1734 Words

The ethical debate regarding the numerous views on prostitution dates back numerous decades. Prostitution is seen by many as the absolute embodiment of patriarchal male privilege, clearly disallowing feminist support or participation (Kesler, 2002, p. 219). However, views vary widely when assessing different studies such as those that measure the possible harm risks inflected on women working in the field. There are two main opposing views on this subject matter, the liberal and the feminist. Those who view prostitution according to a liberal paradigm embrace the view that prostitution, in its â€Å"ideal† form, must be viewed as a voluntary contract (Peterson-Iyer, 1998, p. 25). On the other hand, as Alison Jaggar points out, a liberal†¦show more content†¦The overall moral of her article is to sustain the raising of awareness regarding probable physical, emotional or psychological harm in which prostitutes continue to experience. Also, she attempts to find a middle ground in which feminists may still speak up without neglecting the real needs of modern day prostitutes. It is important, however, to acknowledge the existing social divide between feminists and prostitutes. Rebecca Whisnant and Christine Stark (2004) challenge this perception through identifying the divide in which we assume that whoever we are, the prostitute is not (p. 296). I will proceed by discussing the liberal views debated in this article. Peterson-Iyer claims that the most common approach taken by prostitutes’ organizations is to view prostitution as a matter of individual free choice (p. 24). Furthermore, they emphasize the essential autonomy of the prostitute and the client: they are two adult persons who agree to a mutually beneficial arrangement (p. 26). However, these arrangements could deter in some unfortunate cases such as dishonest police, intrusive laws, or customers who fail to hold up one end of the bargain (p. 26). As well, it is common for prostitutes to experience physical and emotional abuse from their clients, pimps and the police. These occurrences correlate to the experiences upheld by those who are