Regulating Prostitution and its various business models

The business of the world's oldest profession is very misunderstood by those that would pass laws regulating it. It is far easier to outlaw and prohibit such businesses than take the time to understand them. There is a difference between sexual slavery and forced sex with others resulting in none to very little profit to your self and consensual mutually benefiting and economically profitable for the sex worker transaction for sex.

It is legal to sell your body and its image for the entertainment and pleasure of others in many other ways. Sports stars, those with the biggest paychecks are mostly men, subject their bodies to abuse, and pain. Many times depending on the sport, their bodies are exposed through their uniforms in a way to arouse the audiences visual interest. Women athletes usually make bigger paychecks from their modeling than the sport they participate in. Male and Female models may pose for pictures and receive payment in all types of dress and undress. It is legal to have sex on camera for porn films that are not considered obscene and get paid. Yet, to provide sexual pleasure safely and with skill to someone for pay with or without your clothes on is illegal.

Touch and sexual relief is the strongest of human desires and needs. Not everyone is good at relationships. Some men and women do not have time to pursue relationships but want to occasionally or regularly enjoy a knowledgeable sex partner. Some are in committed relationships that sex with their partner is not possible for many reasons including health conditions. It takes time and effort to arrange sexual liaisons, even if the sex if free, many of the trappings are not. Motel rooms, birth control, transportation, condoms, and lubes etc. all cost money and someone has to pay. This is true whether one of the parties are being paid for their time and use of their sexual skills and body or not.

So why does society still want to ban prostitution instead of regulated it? Notice I said regulate and not legalize. Some forms of prostitution or types of solicitation could still be prohibited and not tolerated such as street walking and large brothel houses that have in the past created public nuisances and problems in some neighborhoods. Society still does not want to condone sex outside of marriage. Lawmakers, if they want to regulate prostitution have to acknowledge that sex outside of marriage exists and should be permitted as a business. They would need to research its business models and decide on those regulations that make sense for each business model. However, if strip club laws are any indicator the odds of common sense regulation is not very good. This is not an issue that is going to get a lot of votes in the over 40 age groups. The under 40 age group that has grown up with sex on TV and the availability of the Internet sex sites will protest less and make it less of a vote issue. The irony is that men over 40 are more likely to seek sex outside their marriages and be willing to pay for it if the opportunity presents itself in a way that is tempting for them. This is true whether on the outside world they are conservative church going elders who never look at porn, go to strip clubs etc or men who are in the strip clubs every night. Many lawmakers pass strip club regulations that don't make sense even to the non using public in most cases to maintain their moral positions and secure votes.

It is the business model of the Emperor's Club that is remarkable. I have yet to read, however, what Kristen truly netted from her session after the club's booking cut. I am sure someone has published it and I just haven't read it. If prostitution was regulated and this model was permitted. Then the the money structuring that was needed to pay for it would not be illegal. Although probably would have been still necessary if keeping the information from your wife is important. Gov Spitzer and Kristen would not be facing the possibility of various charges. The last large prostitution business bust in New York was still the hard on girls who did the work. Many girls did time in Rikers Island, lost their homes, had accounts frozen etc. Some were left with debt and now did not have the means to pay. Now, many of the employees of the Club are having to testify at a grand jury proceeding against those they used to work for. Many of these women are like working women everywhere with child care issues and demands, housing , food , and medical bills to pay.


Not all business models of prostitution create public nuisances and many should be permitted. Regulation should not always mean worker registration or licensing either since privacy is a big consideration for independent women in the business etc. But regulations against sexual slavery and forced sex for money should be clarified and strengthened. One article said that it was time to shed light on the industry and stop allowing the dark side to exploit women. The outlawing and banning of prostitution prevents women who are trapped in it by their drug dealing pimps, abusers, and smugglers etc. from getting help. It further abuses them with prosecution for crimes of sex they committed helplessly with no choice that if money was not involved it would clearly be viewed as rape and sometimes still is considered rape but that depends on the prosecutor.

It also prevents intelligent, sexually skillful, and sensual women and men from using their talents to make the money they deserve in a past time they enjoy. It sometimes makes me mad that classmates made millions playing their favorite pastime basketball which abused their bodies. Nevertheless,it was illegal for me to accept money from the wealthy men who wanted to enjoy discrete sexual pleasures with me in college.

Regulating prostitution is a discussion worth having on a national basis because its illegality is not serving its purpose to decrease the demand. The market demand for sexual pleasure is not going to go away. The growth of the porn industry on the Internet etc. is proof that sexual pleasure visual, cyber, in any form sells. The shaming of the johns had initial decrease in some towns of prostitution but failed to show results in the long run. It punished the families of those who purchased sex more than the one who made the choice. Those that currently exploit and victimize women in the business use its illegality as a bully club to make their victims feel trapped and helpless. Regulation is needed that addresses the industry abuses but allows women and men the freedom to choose this profession and practice it in safety. Good legistlation would allow the providing of pleasure to those who need it and income and protection if worded correctly to the workers providing the services.