The harmful effects of prostitution Social Sciences Essay (Essay Sample)

Introduction
Prostitution is the act of engaging in sex in exchange for monetary gains. It can be done by any gender but women are more likely to engage in it. It is one of the oldest occupations and has been in existence for nearly as long as civilization has existed. Prostitution existed in many ancient civilizations such as Babylon and Greece (Glazebrook & Henry 34). In ancient Greece, women engaging in prostitution not only offered sexual pleasure but also sung and danced. They were respected and well paid. Notably, this was legal at the time and the government even taxed it. Its legality through the time has been controversial in the political war. Most debates surrounding this topic focus on the legal perspective or personal choices (Pape 146). Some countries have legalized prostitution fully or in a regulated way. In most countries, it is illegal. Only Nevada allows regulated prostitution in the United States. However, there are not enough rules and their enforcement to ensure that violators face the law. Prostitution does a lot of harm to sex workers and society as a whole.
Dangers To The Sex Worker
In other consumer risk models whereby the product risk and liability in case of damage or malfunction are transferred to the buyer. However, persons engaging in prostitution for monetary gains are more likely to be in risk when compared to the buyers (Farley 97). This can be associated with the fact that the person is the products. In this regard, it is important to acknowledge that prostitution exposes sex workers to health, physical and psychological risks.