Loss Leader
I would save the receptionist., Moderator
Actually, I see things as exactly the opposite:
The illegality of prostitution is evidence of the inequality of women.
We live in a capitalist society where one uses one's labor in exchange for money (and the things it buys). Women have generally earned less than men - prohibited from working long ago, then prohibited from working if married, then relegated to only certain jobs and now derailed from career advancement by the "mommy track." Women still earn about 3/5 of what men make in America.
A balance has been found, however, by God or Darwin or somebody. Women manage to live as long or longer than men in as good health and as good comfort and security. How do they do it? If they cannot labor to make money to buy stuff, how is it that they have access to as much stuff as men?
I would argue that capitalism creates a grey market for sex. Women are selling their companionship, their child-rearing skills and their sexual favors to men for a share of their man's income. Make no mistake - it's a good deal. And women get a lot out of it. They get companionship for themselves, a sexual partner to enjoy, and children to love. And they are built to want and enjoy these things just like men are.
Prostitution undoes this system. Prostitution makes stark and bare what is now hidden away in deep psycho-social animal parts of the brain. Prostitution says, "Let's cut through the bull and trade sex directly for money."
Is there a reason this shouldn't be allowed? I think so. Prostitution creates the danger that men will think sex for money is a better deal than sex and companionship and children for sex, companionship, children and money. It makes clear that sex is a tool women need to establish some power over their own lives.
Legalizing prostitution won't lessen women. That prostitution exists at all is evidence that women already have less.
