Sociology 230 Research Paper Assignment

Legalization of Sex Work

Purpose of the Paper

Sex work, commonly referred to as prostitution is the practice of engaging in sex activities with another person who is not a friend or spouse. The main objective of these sexual activities is for the exchange of money or other valuables. This paper shall discuss the impact of legalization of sex work and other sex work-related activities.

Research Questions

What factors contribute to sex work?
How does the legalization of sex work affect human trafficking?

Arguments In Support of Each Research Question

One of the main contributors to sex work is poverty and coercion. Studies have proved that prostitution is not a conscious choice; instead, it is a calculated one. Most women who chose prostitution do so either because a pimp coerces them, or it is a personal choice. Prostitution, by choice is mainly contributed by a lack of opportunities, serious problems, and poverty.

According to Seo-Young Cho, the legalization of prostitution has a “Scale Effect.” Thus, this causes an expansion in the prostitution market, and it, in turn, increases the rate of human trafficking across the globe. Legalization would be against human rights, therefore unethical.

How Will the Paper be organized?

The research paper will be organized into five main parts; introduction, thesis statement, research question, body, and finally, a conclusion.

Some of the arguments I will use in support of prostitution legalization are;

Prostitution is just like any other job. Sex trade has been banned for years, but in the modern world, it thrives in this internet era.
The government should focus on real criminals. The legalization of prostitution will create a safe life for most sex workers. Besides, it will help in breaking cartels and trafficking gangs who exploit women.
Prostitution is a source of gross revenue. Globally, the prostitution business is worth 186 billion dollars. This significant income would generate high tax revenues for the government.
Lastly, criminalization does not remove people from prostitution; on the other hand, legalization does not trap people in it.

How the Topic relates to deviance, crime & social control

The research topic is related to deviance, crime & social control, in that prostitution is a behavior that violated the social norms, and causes a negative social reaction. Sex work is a crime that is serious and goes against the law. Similarly, society ties to control behavior that violates social norms.

Concepts in Support for Sex Work Legalization

Economic Empowerment

One concept is that sex work empowers women, and offers them financial freedom for financial development. To some, prostitution is considered an economic, gain and this is because it cannot be distinguished from the normal buying and selling of goods and services. Just like a buyer and trader in the market, sex work entails negotiations for the best deal.

Marriage Analogy

Prostitution and sex work are compared to marriage in most cases. For marriage, the man is the sole breadwinner, while women stay at home to cater for their family. Thus, there is no distinction between a woman who offers her body to her husband and a sex worker who decides to sell sex in exchange for money.

Questions

Will the legalization of sex work increase the rate of HIV transmission?
Will the legalization of sex work reduce or increase the number of human trafficking cartels?

References

Jeffreys, S. (2010). “Brothels without Walls”: the Escort Sector as a Problem for the Legalization of Prostitution. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society, 17(2), 210-234.

The article analyzes the developing trends in the prostitution industry, most specifically in the western world. The main focus is on escort prostitution, which is operated through the internet and mobile phones. This source is relevant to my research because it shows how the legalization of sex work would help combat organized crimes.

Smith, K., & Block, W. E. (2019). Legalization of Prostitution: A Cost-Benefit Analysis. Journal of Accounting, Ethics & Public Policy, 20(3), 351-368.

Prostitution is one of the oldest business professions. According to the author, it is high time sex work should be legalized. Many have been seeking for this legalization of sex work. This journal is useful to my research work because it shows how legalization will safeguard the general public, sex workers, and their clients.

Cho, S. Y., Dreher, A., & Neumayer, E. (2013). Does legalized prostitution increase human trafficking?. World Development, 41, 67-82.

The study investigates the impact of prostitution legalization on the inflows of human trafficking. Economists argue that there exist two effects of unknown magnitudes. The study is relevant because it shows how the legalization of prostitution would lead to the expansion of this market. It shows the impact of sex work legalization.

E Block, W., & Varricchio, M. (2018). Prostitution, Essential and Incidental Aspects: A Liberal Argument for Legalization. Acta Economica Et Turistica, 4(2), 125-133.

Prostitution is considered a coercive and aggressive activity. There is convincing evidence that this case is true. Nonetheless, it is not enough to make sex work illegal. This work is useful in that it offers a liberal argument for the legalization of sex work.

Outshoorn, J. (n.d.). Pragmatism in the Polder: Changing Prostitution Policy in The Netherlands. (2nd ed., Vol. 12). Routledge.

This article mentions how the Netherlands came to legalize prostitution. This changed the social and political aspects of prostitution in the Netherlands in the way that voluntary prostitution became more accepted than it was in the past. Brothels were banned in society, yet it gradually became accepted as a job occupation in the country. This work is useful in that it shows the overall effect of legalizing sex work.

Marinova, N. K., & James, P. (2012). The tragedy of human trafficking: Competing theories and European evidence. Foreign Policy Analysis, 8(3), 231-253.

The paper investigates both international and domestic. It examines public theory and policies that are essential to the legalization of sex work. This paper is necessary since it explains how the legalization of prostitution causes and increase human trafficking.

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Writing research essays is a requirement for many courses in the social sciences. Accordingly, the purpose of this assignment is to help students cultivate those skills in anticipation of preparing for more advanced university studies or meeting diploma or degree requirements. For this assignment, students will be required to write an essay, on a topic of their choosing, relevant to the study of crime and deviance. These papers must make a persuasive argument that addresses a research question concerning the topic. Successful essays will do so in a way that is both situated in debates key to the study of crime and deviance and supported by scholarship.

This is a staged assignment that requires three submissions. For each stage, students will be assessed on their ability to complete tasks. Separate sheets that outline the criteria will be provided. You must complete the foundational assignments to submit the final paper.

Deadlines

In-class preliminary essay review day – February 4, 20202 (required, but not graded)

Essay Article Report deadline & presentation day – February 11, 2020 (20%)

Assignment deadline – March 24, 2020 (30%)

Submission Formatting Requirements & Checklist

All submissions must be typed and conform to the following requirements:

In the introduction, contain an italicized research question and an underlined argument
A cover page (or area on pg. 1) including the paper title, your name, your student number, the course name, my name & the date.
Numbered pages & a stapled assignment. No folders.
Use Times New Roman 12 or 13 pt black font with 1-inch (2.5 cm) margins & 1.5 or double spacing
Include a separate ‘References’ sheet with all sources used.
Use in-text citations.
Include footnotes for important narrative, if you wish. No endnotes.
Print one- or two-sided
Read, excluding references, at least 1800 words (~6 pgs), but no more than 3000 words (~10 pgs)
Cite at least 6 additional sources, including 5 scholarly ones, beyond the course readings (you’re also encouraged to use readings from class).
Attach the rubric

Essay Topics List

The list below outlines some potential topics for your Sociology 230 essay. I’m happy to consult with you about your interests in order to choose something else.

You may select a topic you have written about previously and make some similar points and arguments, as long as these relate to the course themes. This will allow you to build on work you’ve been doing or will do in other courses. However, your essay for this course must be 750% or more original (this means new words, phrasing, organization, ideas, etc.) and you must alert me to the replication. Please see me if you have questions or concerns. Submitting a paper for Soc 230 that you wrote for another course is an academic offense under Policy 3-06.

This is a paper for a deviance course, so you should ask yourself how your paper links with the following broad ideas: How does the group or behaviour being considered deviant conform or fail to conform to societal norms? How are members of this group marginalized or subjected to social control? Why has this form of deviance emerged (or disappeared)? What purpose is served by the societal norm? Whose interests are advanced by regarding the person, group, or activity as deviant? In what ways has society responded or reacted to the deviance? If this is an example of crime, what is the effect of criminalization? As this is sociology and not a criminal justice course, your paper must demonstrate the contingency of the values being explored.

Encouraged topics

-The sex industry – e.g. legalization/criminalization of sex work & sex work-related activities

-Criminalization – e.g. of poverty, dissent, substance use, etc.

-Populations’ relationship with crime & criminal justice

-White collar crime, occupational crime, or corporate crime

-Oppression of Indigenous peoples

-State violence against citizens

-Moral panic

-Risk society

-Medicalization

-Sexual minorities

-Illicit drugs and drug use/rs

-‘Legal’ drugs and drug use/rs

-Youth offences/young offenders

-Marginalized populations

-Crime reduction strategies

-Moral regulation (of appearance, behaviour, etc).

-Mental, psychiatric, or psychological disorders & psychology

-Terrorism, security certificates, illegal detention

-Mass incarceration

-penal abolition

-police crime or negative policies (eg. profiling, civil forfeiture, surveillance, ‘blue wall’, etc.)

-Cybercrime

-Environmental crimes or criminalization

-Deviant sexual behaviour

-Abuse & violence in the home (toward women, children, older people)

-Police deviance or police as agents of repression

-Military or human rights violence

Topics that require engagement with the instructor before approval

-Restorative justice or alternative justice strategies

-Studies of gangs, organized crime or crime syndicates

-Papers about incest

-Specific case study

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