Prostitution is paid rape. This is because when a person is paid for sex, they are being paid precisely because of the fact the sex is unwanted.[1] They are selling their bodies, generally because they are vulnerable, desperate and mistakenly believe the ‘fast’ money is also ‘easy’ money.
The vast majority of prostitutes quickly realize it is anything but easy. Prostitution involves violence, degradation and exploitation, and prostitutes inevitably dissociate from the acts they experience through alcohol and drugs in order to survive.
Pornography is filmed prostitution, public paid rape, played and watched over and over.[2]
Prostitution and pornography target our lust,[3] enticing us to use others as objects for our own selfish pleasure. This is the opposite of what sex is intended to be for – the most intimate expression of love between lovers, and a true gift of self and a true communion of persons.[4],[5]
Note on Legality
Legalizing prostitution increases demand (legalization itself is probably the most powerful marketing tool)[6] and this is followed by increased supply, including through sex trafficking.
The Nordic Model, also known as The Sex Buyer Law, targets demand by criminalizing sex buyers (as well as the brothel owners, pimps and traffickers), while not criminalizing prostitutes.[7] The Nordic Model has dramatically driven down demand for prostitution and sex trafficking in six European countries and Canada already.[8]
Pornography is ubiquitous, so, other than for child, rape, sex trafficking and revenge pornography, public obscenity and limiting access by children to pornography, it will remain a matter of morality, virtue, codes and policy rather than legality.
Sources
[1],[2] Prostitution Narratives: Stories of Survival in the Sex Trade by Caroline Norma and Melinda Tankard Reist (eds), Spinifex Press, North Melbourne, VIC, 2016, pp.53 & 72, 147 & 193
[3] The Porn Myth – Exposing the Reality Behind the Fantasy of Pornography by Matt Fradd, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA, 2017, pp.23-28
[4] Theology of the Body for Beginners: Rediscovering the Meaning of Life, Love, Sex, and Gender by Christopher West, St. John Paul II edition, Wellspring Publishing, North Palm Beach, FL, 2018, pp.66 & 72
[5] The Matt Fradd Show, Ep. 16 “Jason Evert”, 14 November 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF8YuSxFB2g
[6] “Greens promise to keep Australians legally stoned and welfare dependent” by Eleni Arapoglu, News Weekly 16 June 2018, http:/www.newsweekly.com.au/article.php?id=58121
[7] “The Nordic Model: proven to curtail sex trafficking” by Jacqueline Gwynne, News Weekly, 19 May 2018, www.newsweekly.com.au/article.php?id=58083
[8] “Meet modern slavery – in your very suburb” by Chris McCormack, News Weekly, 10 February 2018, https://www.newsweekly.com.au/article.php?id=57950
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Policy Statement – Prostitution and Pornography is provided under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.