Distrust Between Criminalization And Arrest

Contrary to popular belief that ‘prostitutes’ need to be heavily controlled and restrained; criminalization and arrest can backfire into a huge problem for both sides as it creates distrust between the law and prostitutes. Criminalization and arrest can have many repercussions, such as jeopardizing their career, ruin their reputation in the industry and in case of an arrest it can create a criminal record which causes the sex worker to be unable to obtain jobs if he/she wants to do something else later in life. This distrust causes further problems and gives an opportunity for the aggressors/customers to use this chance to their advantage; such as coercing the worker into providing a full service rather than what she had already offered by
Moreover, the shame that one is offering sex in exchange for profit is only pushed towards workers and not their clients; they get labeled as “whores” and ‘being treated as this job title is who they are not what they do’. (Bruckert, 71) This label usually sticks with the workers throughout their trajectory and they feel like they have been out casted from the society; receiving treatments such as being declined jobs outside of the industry, eviction once landlord knows about their choice of career, and being followed by the police even when they are not working. The critical labeling of sex workers was partially because of the understanding people had, as having ‘sexual contact that does not involve love or marriage is presumed to be obscene, and female sexuality is a cause of disruption unless tightly controlled.’ (Nussabaum,381,384) All of these labeling and stigmatization derive the workers out of the normal society and to their own community, because no one will be judging rather empower and sympathize just like friends
They get judged if they want to offer experiences, and will be constantly reminded that they are not part of the normal society where everyone has rights except them. Criminalization can make matters worse by creating a hateful environment between the law and the workers, making it that much harder to monitor the abusers and aggressors towards women in the industry. This environment can also be the cause why many women who have been trafficked to first world countries do not speak up, as they get threatened by their managers and ‘pimps’ that the police will punish them for what they have done rather than sympathize and understand. Overall, I think sex work should be legalized considering it will lower violence, harassment and distrust towards the workers. Also feminist communities and the police should be a source of support and assistance by listening and watching their