My thoughts on…the legalization of prostitution in Jamaica
May 8th 2006 -
Prostitution, the world’s oldest profession. It is practiced in every corner of the globe, including Jamaica. Here, prostitutes can be found mainly in the commercial district of New Kingston and the tourism capital Montego Bay. St. James (in which Montego Bay is located), has the highest infection rate of HIV/AIDS in the country, and is the most sexually liberal part of the country. As a result, prostitution is being blamed for the rise of HIV/AIDS. In response to this, Lascelles Chin, president of LASCO Distributors, called for the legalization of prostitution. This happened a while back, and though he got the support of top health officals, his call to action was largely ignored. Now the issue has been resurrected, as The Sunday Gleaner went to Montego Bay and asked a few ladies of the night if they think prostitution should be legalized. The answer, surprisingly, was a resounding “No!”
They said that they became prostitutes out of desperation. They weren’t proud of it, and all said that they intended for it to be a temporary job. They all said legalizing it was a bad idea. I agree. Though I respect Mr. Chin for speaking boldly on such a controversial topic, I disagree with his suggestion. Legalizing prostitution may have the reverse effect, making solicitation a more accepted practice. Plus it would further destroy the delicate moral fabric of the country, and would further encourage sex tourism. A more practical solution would be to create more jobs, because no prostitute is proud of the life he/she lives, and most would gladly take a 9 to 5 job if one presented itself. Prostitution won’t go away, but the least we can do is give these ladies of the night a chance to step out into the light.
Shay Says:
May 8th, 2006 at 4:43 pm
I agree that providing more entry level jobs would be a “nicer” solution, but as you said prostitution is the oldest profession and I’m sure it will still continue regardless of subtle changes to the Jamaican job market.
The benefit of legalization, as I see it, means that the ladies of the night now can feel a little safer. Instead of working in the more dangerous areas of town to hide from the police, maybe now they can solicit in safe areas. And when something goes wrong or could go wrong, they can turn to the police for help instead of having to just “take the hard knocks”.
memer Says:
May 8th, 2006 at 6:22 pm
What Shay said. It’s a medical/safety issue more than anything else. Alcohol was once considered capital ‘T’ trouble for society once upon a time, too. I don’t know there’s a direct correlation between prostitution and a country’s moral fiber. There are them ultra-liberal countries in northern Europe that legalize prostitution but don’t seem to have suffered a moral decay in terms of how people treat one another. They are still productive. I would think there are other issues to tackle before this (if going beyond the health side of it).
One other thing…i suspect the reason why many of the prostitutes don’t want it legalized is for the same reason drug dealers don’t want drugs legalized: it would erode their profit/revenues substantially. built into the price for these things is a kind of “danger pay.” you’re paying for something that carries a risk and significant consequence if caught (by police).
But money is addictive. I can understand someone being in a desperate enough position to try it on a temporary basis to get some scratch to get out of a prickly situation. But once things “stabilize,” and you have your own apartment and a little savings, you can’t tell me these people have no other choice but to continue prostituting if they reeeally don’t want to.
It’s because they don’t see themselves making the same money doing anything else (at least not right away) — and they’re not giving up that income. period.
Ask how many of these “temporaries” trying to save other girls from joining the bidniz are taking a course or so part-time. Right?
I don’t have any problem with legalized prostitution. Don’t let them (the prostitutes) come off more noble than they really are, though. They should drop the facades when they drop the hotpants.
Abeni Says:
May 8th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
Am always interested in what pushes women to sell their bodies.I want to think for a significant majority it was because of some history of sexual abuse.That said I cant wrap myself around the concept of legalising prostitution-tend to agree with Leon’s reasoning
Aaron Cook Says:
May 8th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
Well said, Leon!
BTW, prostitutes have trouble getting out of it due to the extremely violent nature of their pimps, not because of the money. They, themselves, actually receive very little of the take when all is said and done.
It’s actually a very unglamorous and dangerous lifestyle for them that they very much dislike. And anyone with the proper sociology and criminology experience knows that.
michele Says:
May 8th, 2006 at 9:41 pm
Poor little prostitutes,
they’re human being damn it!
Stop by for a visit
epiac1216 Says:
May 8th, 2006 at 9:42 pm
Hi Leon:
I’m glad you use Firefox and Fasterfox to increase your surfing productivity. Thanks for your comments left at Epiac’s Place II.
http://www.blogcharm.com/joshua1216
Regards,
Omar.-
nicole Says:
May 8th, 2006 at 10:04 pm
Just wanna say thanks for stopping by my blog today.
Kaschief Says:
May 9th, 2006 at 1:09 am
Mr Lasco seems as if he is wanting a piece of the action. Kinda like rastafarians wanting legalize weed.
memer Says:
May 9th, 2006 at 11:59 am
Granted, my family left JA when I was four and I haven’t been back in many years and the number of conversations I’ve had with other expats on the topic of Jamaican prostitution is exactly zero, but I’m still willing to wager, mr. aaron cook, that most prostitutes there can successfully choose another line of work if they really wanted to.
AFAIK, pimps make their money not by taking 90% of the gross and leaving their girls with a pittance on which to live. It’s a volume bidniz, taking a slice of many pies. If you believe a decent, hustling hoe makes less than the average worker in her community, you probably also believe bartenders report all their tips to the tax authorities.
You imply it’s essentially slave labour. Fair enough, and I’m sure there’s some unfortunate (if small?) percentage for whom that is a reality. If that is the case for most, it’s a choice between slaving for some “guardian” or slaving for some IMF-approved work zone making cheap clothing (or whatever) for ignorant north americans. You picks your poison.
See, you can’t have it both ways. Are you saying that there’s an alarmingly large percentage of Jamaican girls who are under the impression that prostitution is glamourous and safe (who said that anyway? it certainly wasn’t me)? If Jamaica needs to import a glut of sociologists and criminologists (with “proper training”) to help pass on that message, then again I say there are muuch bigger fish to fry. Anybody who’s been brought up “proper” knows the present score and that’s why the vast majority of Jamaican women are not prostitutes.
If it *is* commonly known (if not discussed at length with anyone of hoe age) that ho’ing today is — at best — sketchy business, then the surveyed hoes were being largely disengenuous in stating an obvious “fact” (or we haven’t really understood the point/aim of the survey. or maybe it was just a bullshit survey, as most are. is there a link to it?).
Anyway, the main reason for discussing legalization is a health and safety thing. Legalization is an obvious way to help make the business safer for the girls — and the community/nation at large.
I work with someone who has spent years in Africa and the Caribbean with AIDS organizations. It’s amazing to me to know there are still huge numbers of men who refuse to wear a condom when having sex with prostitutes or one-night-stands.
A lot of you seem to be ignoring the health aspect and arguing from the standpoint of “morals.” I’m really curious though: what exactly do you fear will happen to the morals of the country? Will people now start reneging on obligations? Become lazy and slovenly? Ill-tempered leggobeasts?
Really, what will happen?
I think you have to admit it’s a pride thing than thinking about staving off deadly diseases. Which isn’t an invalid reason, but let’s not hide behind a vague cloud of Propriety.
David Kim Says:
May 9th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
The world will always be filled with prostitutes, but I wish they could get rid of all those nasty damn pimps.
Nidhi Says:
May 10th, 2006 at 2:09 am
Hi Leon
Nice and meaningful post. I agree with you. Legalisation will only increase the numbers. It will become so open that even the others girls can get affected. It shouldnt be legalised at all. In fact you are right in saying that Government should work start the awareness in the sex workers to teach about STI, HIV/ AIDS and provide them other decent jobs.
Leon Says:
May 11th, 2006 at 7:52 pm
Kas, that thought about Mr. Chin crossed my mind too. Great minds think alike huh?
Mad Bull Says:
May 14th, 2006 at 11:33 am
Leon, Shay is right. This is a health & safety issue. More jobs won’t help because there IS work for these ladies to do, from being a helper to working in free zone, etc. I’m not saying that they are ALL otherwise wmployable, but a large number of them are. The reason they have chose this lifestyle is that they wanted the larger amount of funds that they could get via this type of job. Thats my opinion.
Anonymous Says:
June 10th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
You’re an American fear monger. I’m a regular sex tourist and have seen many situations and no women is even close to being a sex slave. It’s a life style that both sex works and men enjoy. Go and beat your wife some more.
Leon Says:
June 12th, 2006 at 3:46 pm
Anonymous, I’m not an American and I’m not married. You need to get the facts straight before you jump and comment. And yes, there may be some freaks that prostitute for the raw pleasure of it, but the vast majority do it out of desperation.