J. Tiffany Archer-Goldstein has written an excellent essay on the legalization of prostitution. Unfortunately her polished debate skills seem to have led her to see only one side of the issue, the pros. What about the cons? In her article, J. Tiffany Archer-Goldstein does an excellent job showing the possible benefits of legalized prostitution. Among them, she cites less abuse from pimps and more time for police to help others in need. Here are some things that I believe are possible negative effects, that should be weighed against the possible benefits. 1) Tiffany cites married men cheating on their wives whether prostitution is legal or not. What about the married men who will only consider cheating on their wives once it is legal to do so? Their families will lose the benefits of current law. Or how about the woman at the end her rope who is only kept from doing something she may regret because of the law? I believe many women who become prostitutes damage their opinions of themselves not because they are breaking the law, but because they have sacrificed their self-respect in exchange for a little instant cash.2) I also believe that prostitution carries with it a very nasty hidden price. The quick rush of a little sex to momentarily forget your problems may be as addictive as gambling, and yet help for sex-addicts may not be as easy to come by as Gamblers Anonymous.This addiction could lead to increased rape, not decreased, due to legalized prostitution. That is a price I believe none of us are willing to pay.3) Even crimes that appear to affect no one but yourself actually do affect others because they affect the people who love you and also how you interact with everyone around you. I believe women that hate themselves for what they’ve done are less helpful to society, just as are men that hate themselves for what they’ve done. I believe no one grows up dreaming of becoming a prostitute because of all the great things they want to do for society. Let’s hold on to our dreams and not settle for just any way to make a quick buck. Those who do hold on to their dreams are those who serve society best. Let’s encourage that in all of us by having laws to keep us from being our worst. So, before you wholeheartedly accept J. Tiffany Archer-Goldstein’s persuasive argument (and write your Senator urging legalized prostitution), please take some time to consider the cons as well as the pros.
Randy ChristensenGraduate StudentMolecular Genetics
