No clear answer on the decriminalization of prostitutionTo decriminalize or not to decriminalize? That's the question people in the United States and other nations have been asking for decades. Many countries, including Costa Rica, Italy, Norway, and Singapore, legally sanction some forms of prostitution, and some find it strange that a nation like the United States, so proud of the principle of individual liberty, would ban all forms of prostitution. type of activity between two consenting adults. Nonetheless, countless Americans find the prospect of legal prostitution offensive to their ideals regarding traditional morality, sex, or femininity. While debates about morality may rage, it seems rather strange that nearly all state governments in the United States still prohibit what appears to be a harmless and victimless activity. The truth is, however, that prostitution is not as harmless or victim-free as it seems. Too often, in fact, the women involved in the profession do not even work of their own free will. Aside from the brutal reality of forced prostitution, other problems also lurk beneath the surface; but could the harm associated with prostitution be alleviated through decriminalization? It is impossible to know for sure what exactly would happen if legal prostitution became a reality, but to effectively evaluate the consequences of such a change it is necessary to consider the potential dangers and benefits. First of all, with legality, prostitution would become safer for both the client and the prostitute. There could easily be a government registration system through which prostitutes could obtain a license, the monthly or weekly renewal of which would require health checks. S...... middle of paper ...... oral sphere, the answers are largely subjective and based on personal feelings rather than the objective reality of the world. The fact remains that there are people willing to buy and sell sexual pleasure, and a better question to ask is: what is the best way to handle these transactions that will result in the least possible harm and the greatest possible benefit? While there is no clear answer, it is clear that the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and the perpetuation of forced or abusive labor could be significantly reduced by decriminalizing prostitution. If the government, however, is unwilling to combat the larger evils associated with this business – the trafficking and forced labor of women and girls – these problems would likely worsen with legalization, thus making it better for the United States to maintain its policy current.