Do people who practice prostitution in the U.S. do so of their own will?
People who practice prostitution do so of their own will and choice.
Prostitution to some is a very lucrative business, to others it is a means to support a habit they have, and still to others it is a way to put food on the table for their family. What ever the reason for a person to practice prostitution it is done out of their own will and choice. It may not have been the first choice but it is their choice. I doubt very much that most prostitutes decided, as a child, that prostitution would be their profession when they grew up. However, through certain circumstances and maybe a few bad choices in the past it is there profession today and a profession that they in someway have chosen.
Posted by: w00tboycomicPeople in the U.S. do practice prostitution of their own will, there is nothing explicitly forcing them into this line of work.
Becoming and continuing as a prostitute is a choice. There are many other illegal occupations available to individuals that are just as profitable as prostitution, with just as many risks and pressures. Many people might argue that poverty, social status, and influential individuals drive women and men against their will into prostitution. However, at some point in an individual's life they are presented with an opportunity to end such an arrangement. Prostitutes are not prisoner, living every minute of their lives under someone watch. They can at any time seek out help from a number of different organizations, and in doing so end their life as a prostitute.
Posted by: IarsChromeMany people do practice prostitution on their own will, whether it because of money or the lifestyle they choose.
Many people who choose prostitution make that choice for different reasons. While there may be some who do not freely choose prostitution, many do. They choose it because of the money, or because of other problems, such as addiction or a lifestyle. Nobody forces them to live a life of prostitution.
Posted by: EducatedAlfonsoProstitutes choose to have that profession because even if they aren't qualified for many jobs they could still find one.
Prostitutes try to make excuses about finding jobs and that prostitution is the only job they can find. This fact isn't true because there are many jobs they could find if they would just put a little effort into it. I think many of these women get spoiled by the aspect of the money they make and don't want to return to a regular job.
Posted by: B3rkIffyI believe prostitutes more times than not practice prostitution of their own free will. To a prostitute it is an easy way to make money.
More times than not a prostitute practices her profession of her own free will. For a lot of girls it is a easy way to make a lot of money quickly. But I also believe that girls and boys are forced into prostitution not of their own free will, such as the sex slave trade in Taiwan, many girls are forced and beaten by pimps to stay in prostitution when they want out.
Posted by: TaFielI feel that a majority of them do, as they are mainly victims of circumstance.
I would have to say that probably 90% of all prostitutes in this country have a serious drug problem. Some of them probably are homeless, or a victim of a crime which leads to prostitution. But then, given the circumstances and the life being led, they soon start living in a world of drugs. I have seen this happen many times. Sometimes, a person starts out having a drug problem, and then they will start prostituting themselves in order to support their drug habit.
Posted by: SlipArnalYes, prostitution is a matter of free will, and at some point, that person made the decision to do it.
People who make the decision to prostitute are doing so of their own free will. Now, there are cases of forced prostitution with adults and children. But for the sake of the average person walking the street, looking for money in exchange for "favors", they are doing so of their own free will. You may have the person that they are bringing money back to, but still, at some point they made the decision to buy into what that person was telling them. A hard life, bills, and drugs, for example, are not excuses.
Posted by: gwynisinYes, I believe that prostitutes typically choose their profession, seen as how other jobs are available.
Many people will argue that prostitutes have become slaves to their job, and cannot leave it even if they wanted to. I argue that this is not the case. My argument rests first on the idea of free will. People have the ability to determine if an action is right or wrong, and avoid either action. Prostitutes are not people born without free will and could choose to do something else. The second piece of my argument is that prostitution is one of the world's oldest professions. Women were prostituting themselves in America long before drugs like crack (the addiction to which is the fall-back excuse for prostitution) has been around. There is little doubt that prostitutes would struggle financially if they quit, however they could make a living through other avenues.
Posted by: 5h3InsanityProstitutes in the U.S. do it of their own free will, because "sex slavery" is very rare in this country.
I don't think there should be laws against prostitution. As long as they are not sex slaves, which are very rare in the United States, I don't see that it is the government's business what anyone does with their body. Prostitutes in the U.S. may feel that they are forced into it by their economic position, but the truth is that they do it of their own free will.
Posted by: GaudyTory37Who ever says no obviously has never been on the streets!
90% of women who are prostitutes do it because they see the illusion of easy money. Prostitution is the female version of drug dealing. Of course, when you are desperate you are going to think about the easy way out. Just like dealing drugs. If the drug dealer is doing it to keep food on the table would you condone it? No! Prostitution as well. Both have negative consequences. Think about it.
Posted by: anonymous1368Many people who rely on prostitution for an income do so of their own free will and knowledge of possible consequences.
Contrary to what many well-meaning individuals may believe, a large percentage of people who derive their income from prostitution do so over their own choice. For instance, there are many women with children who qualify for welfare that choose to prostitute themselves (and risk incarceration for it) rather than face the stigma of being on welfare. There are also thousands of college students who perform various acts that prostitute themselves, to help pay their way through school. It may not make sense to individuals who have never been in dire financial need, but prostitution is a viable income for many people in such hard economic times.
Posted by: P0nyCare
No, there are many facts supporting that prostitution is sometimes forced upon people.
"To believe prostitution has no victims, one must ignore these statistics published in Farley's Fact Sheet:
--78 percent of 55 women who sought help from the Council for Prostitution Alternatives in 1991 reported being raped an average of 16 times a year by pimps, and were raped 33 times a year by johns.
--62 percent reported having been raped in prostitution.
--73 percent reported having experienced physical assault in prostitution.
--72 percent were currently or formerly homeless.
--92 percent stated that they wanted to escape prostitution immediately.
--83 percent of prostitutes are victims of assault with a weapon.
--75 percent of women in escort prostitution had attempted suicide.
--67 percent meet diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Estimates of the prevalence of incest among prostitutes range from 65 percent to 90 percent. The Council for Prostitution Alternatives, Portland, Oregon Annual Report in 1991 found that: 85 percent of their prostitute clients reported history of sexual abuse in childhood while 70 percent reported incest."
http://crime.about.com/od/prostitution/a/prostitution.htmPosted by: AnonymousEvil is not in nature but nurtured
Since men decided to live socially, there emerged a pattern, a hidden structure. In a social organization, however small or large ,there are layers as we have class status according to our wealth and income, classed as poor, lower middle class, middle class, rich and very rich. There are other layers too, such as intellectual, intelligent, average minded, and below average. Similarly there are layers based on power--very powerful, as the army and government; powerful, like media; civil servants; simple power like ordinary people; and less powerful as the poor homeless and deprived.
So we have layers in our social setup.
Usually those who are in high power positions also have intelligence to use this power or they can be advised to use their power wisely. The media or think tanks suggest to these power position holders whether to act or not to act.
If we take this layer analogy, the prostitution layers come on the low level, these prostitute gangs are organized and function by these lower class persons.
In this layer system, those who are more privileged and more powerful have more resources, freedom, and intelligence. Their actions effect all those who are below them. If they are intellectually dishonest and bankrupt, their actions will effect the lower layers accordingly. If they want society to behave on instinct, namely greed and lust, they will create an environment for it in the sections of society through media, literature movies and education.
If there is prostitution in society it is because this invisible section of society willingly wants prostitution to flourish in society.
If some section of society from the lower layers of this hierarchy wants to do a thing on its own, the highest position people will not let them to do it with freedom. The upper class will use force and power to crush such moves by lower layer persons.
For example, if one segment of society from the lower layers wants to rob banks, and they create an organized system to attain their aims i.e gangs, the upper layer of powerful people will not allow this bank robbery because this will effect them too via a complicated cause and effect chain.
So the higher layer, the power layer, will not let them rob, but a gang propositional organization does not harm them so the power section will not take strong measure to crush such gangs.
If there is a suitable environment for a desire to fulfill rest will not be hard. And somehow a girl or boy gets into this black-hole, they will be pulled into this and the gravity will be so high that escape will not be easy.
So if there is an environment to do bad, to do evil, surely it is the powerful who let it be.Posted by: AnonymousI believe that people who practice prostitution do not do so of their own free will; they are in debt some way, either another person or financially.
People who are prostitutes are either forced into it by another person or by their financial limitations. In many countries, a father can sell his daughter into prostitution for financial compensation. The daughter works off the father's debts. In America, many people are prostitutes because of their financial problems. They are physically free to choose, but owe too much money that they can't pay their bills any other way.
Posted by: Pyr0DwaThe average age of entry in the commercial sex industry in the US is 12-14.
Please open your perspective to recognize that the majority of people working as prostitutes are victims of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), not criminals. The average age of entry into the commercial sex industry in the US is 12-14 years old and 240,000-325,000 youth in the US are at risk for CSE annually. Children who are recruited into prostitution are victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), which is a form of human trafficking and child abuse. Only about 3% of people working in the commercial sex industry choose to do so, the rest are vulnerable and manipulated by pimps. If you or someone you know is being sexually exploited call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Posted by: AnonymousI oppose the idea that American prostitutes choose their lifestyle, because I believe that, instead, they are forced into it by economics and criminals.
There are occasionally documentaries about hookers, especially the legal brothels in Nevada, that want good public relations for more business. And, in them, there are prostitutes that say it's their body and it's no one's business if they sell themselves for sex. But, most prostitutes are forced into it, because they can't make enough money in legitimate jobs, and foreigners in prostitution are often victims of gangs and cartels conducting human trafficking.
Posted by: FlakyHerb64No one would choose this
People choose prostitution just like people choose suicide. It is the result of feeling trapped, helpless and desperate. Coercion and a history of abuse play a huge role in the sex industry.
Do drugs or tricks come first? Many, if not already addicted turn to drugs to numb the psychological pain of being treated like a piece of meat.Posted by: AnonymousNo, because I don't believe anyone grows up thinking that they want to become a prostitute.
While there are most likely exceptions, I believe the vast majority of prostitutes do not go into the business because of any great desire to become a prostitute. Many prostitutes are runaways, with no other options for making money. I can't imagine that this career would help anyone's ego, since it puts them and their welfare completely at the mercy of others. I think desperation is the main reason people become prostitutes.
Posted by: TrainLockNot all prostitutes choose their profession freely as some are forced into the profession out of need.
Not all prostitutes choose their profession freely as some are forced into the profession out of need. If someone needs money, they might turn to prostitution. It isn't because they want to do that, but it is because they need money and that is the only way they know how to make it. In other cases, someone may have grown up in an environment that made prostitution seem acceptable and okay. In such situations, that person has learned that prostitution is okay.
Posted by: SandDariThe average age of a prostitute in the U.S.A. is 13
Clearly these girls who are so young are not doing it willingly. They are often forced into it, and as they grow older they loose even more of their freedom to leave because they have been so scared and forced into for such a long time. It's a way of life. Not to mention that a lot of these girls who are forced into it are also drug users, and now must do something to support their habit.
Posted by: AnonymousI do not believe that all prostitutes choose the profession freely, but are forced into it by someone else.
I do not believe that all prostitutes choose their profession freely because many young girls are forced into prostitution. Unfortunately, there is a lot of money to be made by some in this field, and there are those who would take advantage of young girls and force them into this life.
Posted by: R0d0FerdyI answer "no", but this can be a very tricky question, because I'm sure there are very small amounts of prostitutes who are forced into prostitution.
Some people practice prostitution here in the United States under their own free will. But there are others who are forced into it by a scumbag boyfriend. The worst of them are people who kidnap teenage girls and force them into it. This is a very tricky subject, because it can go either way. But sadly, there are still some who don't want to be doing it.
Posted by: deceitfulxPeople who practice prostitution in the US do so on their own at first. I do believe however, that over time it fails to be their own choice anymore.
Most women who turn to prostitution do so out of desperation. They view this as the only way to feed their family, survive, etc. However, over time they tend to get involved with someone who is soliciting their services and at this point they lose the choice in the matter.
Posted by: NiI35Kix