Slender Agenda
Member
- Aug 26, 2014
- 57
- 45
I was driving with friends along the Sinza road when someone in the car said, "look at all those women". In my naivety I asked, "what are they all doing lined up over there?". We ended up taking a detour and driving into a street that was full of so many women lined up on both sides dressed up in all types of outfits before it hit me that they were prostitutes.
Last week, or the week before, BBC Africa posted a question on their page, "Should prostitution be legalized?" There is nothing that will fire up a discussion on facebook than questioning the morality of a minority that the majority think are less moral than they are.
I sat in front of my desk top in awe and amusement at all of the responses coming through on the page. It is funny how when the question of legalizing prostitution comes up, it becomes an issue of morality as opposed to human rights. Something that a lot of us seem to not realize is the fact that laws and the law is created to protect people's rights and not necessarily their moral/ethical beliefs. But of course, this is debatable as morals are derived from religious practices and these have a strong tie to our laws.
Two arguments against legalizing prostitution made sense to me. The first being that by legalizing prostitution we are propagating the use and view of women as merchandise, as sexual objects, something that radical feminism and some aspects of liberal feminism have spent years trying to fight. However, if women are opting to do this trade as a way of feeding their families, are we not taking away from their income?
The second argument was, "although prostitutes sell their bodies for sex, it does not mean that they are always willing". Now this is exactly where I feel that the legalization of prostitution is needed. Our government has not created enough employment opportunities for our youth such that some are opting into prostitution. Won't legalizing their trade mean that they will thus be protected by the system from rape, trafficking and abuse in general?
At the end of the day we all have our own opinions, religious or otherwise against or for prostitution which I think is necessary, for yourself. However, I find myself concerned at how much time and effort we spend asking and responding to questions that do not directly affect us. Should prostitution be legalized? I think if you have not walked in the shoes of a prostitute you don't deserve to voice out your opinion on this matter. What I'd love to see is prostitutes being asked this question. We need to start involving minority groups in discussions that involve them as opposed to making decisions for them. Our moral/ethical ideas have never stopped prostitution and they will never stop it.
Last week, or the week before, BBC Africa posted a question on their page, "Should prostitution be legalized?" There is nothing that will fire up a discussion on facebook than questioning the morality of a minority that the majority think are less moral than they are.
I sat in front of my desk top in awe and amusement at all of the responses coming through on the page. It is funny how when the question of legalizing prostitution comes up, it becomes an issue of morality as opposed to human rights. Something that a lot of us seem to not realize is the fact that laws and the law is created to protect people's rights and not necessarily their moral/ethical beliefs. But of course, this is debatable as morals are derived from religious practices and these have a strong tie to our laws.
Two arguments against legalizing prostitution made sense to me. The first being that by legalizing prostitution we are propagating the use and view of women as merchandise, as sexual objects, something that radical feminism and some aspects of liberal feminism have spent years trying to fight. However, if women are opting to do this trade as a way of feeding their families, are we not taking away from their income?
The second argument was, "although prostitutes sell their bodies for sex, it does not mean that they are always willing". Now this is exactly where I feel that the legalization of prostitution is needed. Our government has not created enough employment opportunities for our youth such that some are opting into prostitution. Won't legalizing their trade mean that they will thus be protected by the system from rape, trafficking and abuse in general?
At the end of the day we all have our own opinions, religious or otherwise against or for prostitution which I think is necessary, for yourself. However, I find myself concerned at how much time and effort we spend asking and responding to questions that do not directly affect us. Should prostitution be legalized? I think if you have not walked in the shoes of a prostitute you don't deserve to voice out your opinion on this matter. What I'd love to see is prostitutes being asked this question. We need to start involving minority groups in discussions that involve them as opposed to making decisions for them. Our moral/ethical ideas have never stopped prostitution and they will never stop it.
