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Libertarianism and Legalized Prostitution: Perspectives and Critiques

Student Name

Institution

Course

Instructor

Due Date
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Introduction

This controversial issue, which is prostitution, receives a particular focus from various

angles of moral and political thrust. Out of these four positions, however, libertarianism as a

political doctrine, being based on individual autonomy and limited state involvement, gives a

frame of reference for the analysis. This paper will be around libertarian arguments on

prostitution versus countering them, finally considering general equality.

The thesis of the Libertarian Argument will be presented.

Libertarian Principles

At the heart of libertarian ideology are two foundational principles: commoditization of

the mode of transportation and turning it into a market force, thus limiting the role of

governmental policy. Individual autonomy means that people are entitled to have the final say on

their bodily and permanent decisions without unnecessary interference or instructions from

others. This principle affirms the individual's right to self-determination, including decisions

made regarding one's own conduct. This principle acknowledges the communal responsibility for

the provision of basic needs and necessities.

Coupled with that, they argue for the principle of limited governmental interference

which is what makes them only play a role of protecting those rights instead of imposing a wide

range of regulations or prohibitions. In a nutshell, the role of the state, as specified by

libertarians, should remain limited, for it should promote and safeguard individual rights while

intervening only when it is necessary to avert any harm or infringement of these rights.

According to this doctrine, the human being is endowed with personal liberty values and there is

an utter need to reduce the level of government interference in the private affairs of the
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individuals as a result, freedom for everyone is the ultimate goal because there is no interference

from other authorities.

Consensual Adults Should Be Allowed to Exchange Sex for Money

In the libertarian mindset, cheap compared to the higher paid labor (a), voluntary

exchange of goods and services among consenting adults is deemed permissible. Legalizing

prostitution is often, as such, seen as an act of sort of endorsing people's autonomy, where they

have the option to profit from engaging in commercial sex work if they feel like doing so. Being

a proponent of this ideology, you would conclude that government intervention in these types of

monetary transactions would not be welcomed as merely an unjustified encroachment.

Prostitution being lawful, a person is free and independent in his/her possible choices such as the

body and vocation he/she has, and therefore respecting the principle of liberty of personal choice.

Criminalization of Alternatives Limits Individual Freedom.

Libertarians point out that the prohibition of prostitution results in the violation of

individual liberties and the enforcement of excessive restrictions. Forcing to disallow interactions

between adults who are willing to exchange goods for a given reason is a type of government

encroachment depriving people of the right to choose individually and express themselves freely.

When the authorities jail prostitutes for using their bodies, they curtail the activities of

individuals in which they willingly participate and consequently reduce their choices, thus taking

away their liberty and right to determine their own path.

Critical Look At the Libertarian Argument

Limits of Libertarianism

Libertarianism has been known for its interest in the individual, but sometimes it

overlooks various moving parts of society and of a community which are critical to human
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behavior. When legalizing prostitution, the same rights and liberties arguments are applied as to

other social issues, however, this can be a double-edged sword. Instead, it can be a way of

reinforcing inequality within society while creating favorable conditions for more social

vulnerabilities to thrive. These consequences go beyond the initial transaction of the consumer

and the provider of goods or services and might promote a culture of oppression. Moreover, they

may do harm to the society in general.

Critiques of Legalizing Prostitution

The study suggests that legalizing prostitution may cause an unintended rise in the

number of people buying sexual services which ends up both boosting the recruitment and crime

of sex trafficking and exerting the exploitation of people in the sex trade. The adepts of the

policy suggest that this measure protects both addicts and sellers by giving them a safe

environment and guidance. Moreover, recent data say that the statement is not correct Besides,

legalization can be detrimental to the most susceptible members of sex workers to trafficking,

homicide, and sexual assault through exposure to coercion and abuse. Instead of making a

ground for autonomy for sex workers, the legalization of it might result in a situation in which

someone gets more opportunities for exploitation and then their rights get violated. In other

words, the legalization may undermine the effort to protect vulnerable individuals and combat

human trafficking.

Inherently Promotes Gender Inequality

Opponents of prostitution argue that gender inequality is inherently reinforced by the

occupation itself, first and foremost through individuals (overwhelming women), as objects for

sexual commodification. The permission of prostitution into the system is most likely an act for

the acceptance and approval of the sex trade. It may also enslave it to fester harmful stereotypes
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and to promote an oppressive power dynamic. In fact, women are more likely than men (who are

the major part of sex work participants) to be affected massively if the normalization of

prostitution is in force. Legalization might further strengthen the gender hierarchy stratification

as it legalizes the use of women's bodies as a tradable commodity with men with high marital

power being the main purchasers.

Crucial Problem - Commodification of Human Based Beings.

While the legality of prostitution eases the idea that people may be traded for material

goods, thereby removing individuals from humanity, it remains a notion that should never be

endorsed. Such commodification turns the traditional idea about human dignity and inherent

value upside down therefore the humane order becomes degraded due to this dehumanizing

cycle. By converting people into a commodity available to the buyers and allowing them to

design the market, the law of commercialization reduces their individual personhood and

importance to the bare marketable attributes. The reverse effect of this is that instead of

acknowledging and respecting individuality and autonomy, it supports unhealthy stereotypes,

misrepresentation, and social exclusion.

In conclusion, the argument of prostitution and autonomy endorsing social concerns that

illustrate the problem of balancing both ends is made in this conundrum. An emanation of

libertarianism is the notion of elevated personal liberty and one's freedom of action while on the

other hand, there is a lack of attention to systemic problems and societal effects of making

people into commodities. One of the well-known opponents of legalizing prostitution says that

the legalization of prostitution incurs the possibility that even sex trafficking, lawlessness, and

degradation of human decency will outweigh the rights of the girls and women involved.
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Ultimately, addressing this multi-dimensional need integrates the looking after of harm and

exploitation while looking after an individual person's freedom and human dignity.