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Pranisha Pantha

C. Douglas

University Writing 1104-032

3 February, 2017

Legalizing Prostitution

Prostitution has always been a controversial topic that is usually not included in

civilized conversations. Due to the stigma of the subject, people are not always educated about

how the system works; however, there has been a recent universal debate about whether

legalizing acts of prostitution will help to protect or harm women. Sarah Glazer, the author of

Decriminalizing Prostitution, believes in the legalization of prostitution and its overall positive

effect on women. However Marica Clemmitt, the author of Prostitution Debate, believes that

the combination of decriminalizing the sellers of prostitution and criminalizing the sellers would

be the best way ensure the safety of working women.

Sarah Glazer writes a persuasive article about how the legalization of prostitution will

create a safer environment for women. She includes the accounts of multiple people who used to

work within the system and have had personal experience with this subject; such as, a sex worker

named Joyce writes, Police [are] coming up and down the street every night, and evencoming

over to make sure that we are all right. (Glazer 342). By including accounts of women that have

worked in places where legislation has occurred, Glazer strengthens her claim. She includes an

Amnesty International report which states, Fear of arrest has kept prostitutes from reporting

rape, kidnapping, and murder. (Glazer 342) She includes a plethora of logos to persuade her

audience. Glazer explains how the fear of legal consequences stop women from seeking health
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services which can be detrimental to their lives or the lives of their sexual partners. She uses

statistics like, Researches suggested that rapes, which fell by 31 percent, may have declined

because of increased cooperation between police and prostitutes. And the 39 percent drop in the

rate of female gonorrheamay have occurred because prostitutes legal status gave them

increased negotiating power to demand condom use. (Glazer 342) Glazer includes the statement

of Gillian Abel, a research in New Zealand, who states that the laws succeed, in making the

industry safer and improving the human rights of sex workers. (Glazer 342) Since New Zealand

is a country that has already been legalized prostitution, Abels statement is valid and seen as

further evidence of rhetoric strength. She includes credible sources such as the UN Special

Rapporteur that states, legalization of sex work is a necessary part of a right-to-health

approach. (Glazer 342) Glazer states that legalizing prostitution can allow the government to

impose restrictions on the trade, which helps to protect the workers. Throughout the article, she

used strong rhetorical devices to persuade her audience.

In Marcia Clemmitts article about decriminalizing prostitution, she relies on pathos to

make her argument. Throughout her article Clemmitt makes one point and repeats it multiple

points. Although that specific point sticks with the audience, the lack of variation deters the

audience from fully being convinced. She argues that prostitutes are arrested more than the sex

buyers, and the women get time while the men get a slap on the wrist. (Clemmitt 439) She uses

quotes from researchers like Shockey Eckles of Saint Louis University, who believes that women

are blamed for prostitution and states, Shes thedastardly temptress who drags the innocent

man off into her lair. It comes from deep-seated ways of dealing with gender. (Clemmitt 439)

The strong use of imagery helps the audience picture the point being made. She proposes the use

of the Nordic Model which decriminalizes the sex workers, but criminalizes the customers as the
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best way to protect women. She quotes Bien-Amie of Equality Now who states, Were there no

demand there would be no prostitutes and no trafficking. (Clemmitt 439). Bien-Amie is also the

Executive Director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, a NGO that is dedicated to

help end trafficking. Clemmitts use of such a credible source helps to strengthen the ethos of the

article. Throughout the article, Clemmitt uses vague wording; such as, most analysts, some

advocates, and for a variety of reason, which weakens her argument.

The debate dealing with prostitution doesnt seem to be going away as more countries try

to make it legal. The question we need to ask is how to make this profession safer for women.

Sarah Glazer successfully made her point through the use of compelling statistics, interviews of

people with first-hand experience, and credible researchers. Although Marica Clemmitt includes

strong ethos in her article, her repetition of only one idea hinders her from fully developing her

argument. Both authors agree that decimalizing prostitution is a good first step and disagree on

what the next steps should be. For people looking to get informed in this topic, its a sensible

idea to read both article and others with different points of view before acquiring an opinion.
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Works Citied

Clemmitt, Marcia. "Prostitution Debate." CQ Researcher 23 May 2008: 433-56. Web. 6 Feb.

2017.

Glazer, Sarah. "Decriminalizing Prostitution." CQ Researcher 15 Apr. 2016: 337-60. Web. 6 Feb.

2017.