Vernon Daley

The troubles of former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer recently triggered much discussion on US networks about the business of prostitution. The age-old question kept coming up: is the commercial sex trade a victimless crime?

I don't think the question lends itself to an easy answer. If it were ever put to me, my best response would be that it depends on the circumstances.

When underage girls and boys are forced into the sex trade by the threat of violence or as a means to escape poverty, then we clearly have some victims on our hands. No society should ever allow its children to be exploited like this.

There is much anecdotal evidence that children, here in Jamaica, are lured into the commercial sex trade through exotic clubs, massage parlours and the like. Concerned groups and citizens have raised the matter over the years but the nefarious practice appears to continue. This is an issue on which the authorities have to get really tough. Those persons who traffic and use children in this way should be relentlessly sought and prosecuted.

But what about the adult prostitutes? Should we view them in the same way we view children?

Contrary to conventional wisdom, not all the women who are in involved in the sex trade are unwilling participants. In fact, many of them are quite happy with the perquisites of their 'job' and often live in fine middle-class neighbourhoods. One of the advantages of the journalist's line of work is that it provides a glimpse into the lives of a wide cross-section of people - from princesses to prostitutes. Though I have to say that I have met far more prostitutes than princesses.

Victims

I have known young women involved in the commercial sex trade who make more in one week than many professionals make in a month. Are they victims? I think not. Ask them and they will tell you that they are really involved in a business. The boss at the massage parlour gets his cut, they get their cut and everybody is happy. They have no intention of giving that up to go back to school.

This isn't to say that there aren't many women involved in this business who rue it and get up everyday ashamed of what they do and how they make a living. The point is that it's not a homogenous group of victims who need to be rescued from the exploitation of their underworld bosses.

Our attitude

All this brings me to our attitude to prostitution as a society. We seem not too sure of what to do about those who are involved in the business. From time to time, we hear of police raids on these parlours and exotic clubs and I wonder whether there is any good purpose to be served by all of that excitement. The operators will only find another location and carry on what they do until the next such raid.

It's a bitter pill to swallow for many people but the reality is that this business has been with us quite a while and it is likely to be here for some time yet.

Perhaps regulation is the answer and not random prosecution. Why not get some acceptable legal framework within which this activity could take place without people facing the constant fear of harassment and arrest? Could this not help in controlling and even eliminating the involvement of children? Also, wouldn't it give the health authorities a better route into that world to spread the message of safe sexual practices?

Some of these things are upsetting to contemplate given that they conflict so directly with our traditional values but we should, at least, have the conversation.