We have the "duty to imagine a world without prostitution just as we imagine a world without slavery, without apartheid, without gender violence, female infanticide and genital mutilation" . This statement revolves around a worldwide debate about whether or not prostitution is a form of exploitation or whether it is a profession that should be regulated – an argument strongly pushed forward by the feminist movement. The issue to be discussed is that, while the legitimation of prostitution guarantees these women the rights they deserve, on the other hand it also allows exploitation, the purchase of sex and the ownership of brothels, and therefore how this influences socialization of boys, in terms of the consent and treatment of women. This will be done by referencing a popular Hollywood film, Pretty Woman, in order to highlight the boundaries of consent regarding sex workers, and how this also impacts the topic of decriminalization and the true reflection of the violence women face at the hands of sex workers. their children. consumers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Because prostitution is generally believed to be a menial job for women, or one in which a woman is forced to take part, a stigma is created around the limits of what is allowed to happen in this environment, an argument that shapes into the idea of ​​the continued criminalization of prostitution and the effects this can have on the safety of these women. Journalist Genevieve Carbery writes, in an Irish Times article titled "Prostitution should be classified as gender-based violence", that many sex workers were reluctant to tell gardaí about violent attacks because they feared judgement. This resonates strongly with rape culture, where this violence is normalized, thus implying that the stigma surrounding rape and gender-based violence makes many women fearful of coming forward. However, sex workers face even greater obstacles, due to the socialization of consent in the media, which leads many to believe that the act of violence is justifiable as a sex worker. While decriminalization can likely have these effects, it is clear through the depiction of prostitution in popular culture, that there is already a certain degree of socialization regarding consent and how a woman is treated if she is associated with sex work. Although Pretty Woman is marketed as a romantic comedy, this image is regularly destroyed throughout the film. For example, when during a discussion about how Edward had confided to others that Vivian is a prostitute, he stated: “I hate to point out the obvious, but you are actually a prostitute. You are my employee." As the two make amends minutes later, reforming the romantic plot, it's clear that their relationship is more of a cash-based arrangement, which is confirmed again later in the film when he suggests a trip to New York, but once again offers her payment to do so. In a later scene, Vivian is alone with Edward's business partner, and although she rejected him by looking away and telling him no, he stated, “what? Aren't you a whore?”, before slapping her and pinning her to the ground with the intention of raping her. He later justifies his actions when he is caught by proclaiming "she's a whore, man". This interaction is vital in the context of socialization. His justification probably implies that since Vivian is a prostitute, the violent scene in which he slaps her and attempts to rape her is therefore.