by Zoeyey
I watched “Pretty Woman” a 1990 movie that won Julia
Roberts a Golden Globe award in portrayal of a prostitute. She ran away from
home and was ashamed to go back that made her a prostitute to support herself. And
from being a prostitute she unexpectedly met a client that would made her world
upside down, as he became her true love.
This may be a one-of-a- kind story but many prostitutes
are living in this kind of thinking. According to urban dictionary, prostitutes
are “to offer indiscriminately for
sexual intercourse especially for money”. The movie depicts the real stories of
women who choose to live as sex workers. They have their own reasons but most
primary it would be for money. They need money to support their family, for
their own tuition fees, have an extravagant lifestyle, or even support their
drug addiction. Some became prostitute as a result of sexual abuse during
childhood, others have sexual curiosity, or for some women are forced to do it,
just like in the case of white slavery or human trafficking.
Right now, in the
Philippines there is news that breaks my heart and asked the question why would
the government official men prostituting their fellow citizens by offering a
“sex-for-flight” scheme to overseas Filipino women in Middle East. They are the
one who supposed to help these women, instead they made it worst. The complaint
of sexual harassment and alleged pimping to other foreigners is already in an
ongoing investigation.
The New York Times reported
about the initial investigation that has a lot more than “sex for flights” it was
said by Mr. Bello, a congressman that “They were running a prostitution ring
out of Philippine embassies in Kuwait and Oman. The information was shocking.” In
detailed about pimping issue,
The
congressman also reported that a senior Filipino labor official in
Jordan was prostituting Filipino women for
$1,000 per night. The
investigation
found another labor official in Kuwait who is accused of
running
a similar operation using Filipino workers seeking shelter.
This issue happened with the overseas Filipino women
that were force into prostitution. These are only few of the stories that women
are force to prostitution. This became a big business to some.
According to the report from United Nations that "Sex work as well as business engaged in sex are illegal under Philippine laws, with penalties up to 30 days imprisonment for first
offense and up to six months imprisonment for repeat offenders.” They said that
Philippines and other Asian countries should decriminalized prostitution
that will protect the sex-workers in their rights and control health issues
like HIV.
In
the Bible prostitution was mentioned, and usually in the Old Testament it is
used as a representation of God’s people unfaithfulness. In Hebrews 13:4 “Let
marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for
God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous” (ESV). God intended sex
within marriage, with love and intimacy between a man and a woman. We are to ran
away from any sexual immorality that ruins our own body. Paul says in 1
Corinthians 6:18 “Flee from sexual
immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins
sexually sins against his own body” (NIV). Engaging in
sexual act outside marriage and other than the spouse degrades oneself. But Jesus’
action made a difference in an adulterous woman (John 8: 3-11). She had a new
view of herself and did not continue to ruin her body.
The stories
above are two different realities in prostitution, where one is voluntarily
choosing it the other is force to do it. Legalization is a government’s way to
protect prostitutes and control the spread of any sexually transmitted
infections. For a long time many countries have legalized prostitution and Philippines
might consider it as well as United Nations suggesting it.
Does legalization really protects the prostitutes at all means whether they are
voluntary or forced to do it? Do the legalization of prostitution really
protects the whole being of every prostitutes? If not through legalization,
what are we gonna do about this growing numbers of sex workers?References
1. The Philippine Star, “Labor official in ‘sex-for-flight’ scheme may face accusers” by Mayen
Jaymalin, 1 July 2013.
2. The New York Times, “Philippines Investigates
Prostitution Ring Charges” by Floyd Whaley, 24 June 2013.
3. Yahoo News
Philippines, “Sex work and the Law and the Pacifics” (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/legalize-prostitution--un-urges-ph.html)
Legalized or not, prostitution is "whip and thorn" not only to the prostitute himself or herself but this is a perennial societal malady. Our body in some degree has substance of divinity as it houses the image of God within. As Christians, we should stand against this evil. Our bodies are a masterpiece of God. Prostitution shames Him who invested much power, wisdom, love, and delight to a body that is only be used and abused for momentary and dirty passion. We may not remove prostitution entirely but let heaven's record bear that we tried as lights of the world to dispel this great darkness.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the legalization of prostitution not only in the Philippines but in other countries. Legalization will not hinder/lesson/stop prostitution. I can not reconcile the idea that legalization will protect the prostitutes whether forced or not. Prostitution is a destruction of one's body. At the same time I don't think the issue here is the legalization, it is the lifestyle. What is the cause of prostitution? Why do people dive into it? How about offering other job opportunities other than prostitution. I hope the Christian community can take part in bringing light to this practice of evil.
ReplyDeleteEven in Old Testament and New Testament mentions about prostitution/immorality. It's has been a problem up to now. I disagree with it's legalization but the sad thing that it is common to man. People around the world is open to this kinds of issues, but the question is, how we Christian believers take a part to fight against prostitution? When we ourselves are hesitant to engage with them and to help them.
ReplyDeleteContrary to majority, I think prostitution should be legalized. Legal or not, prostitution is here to stay. If we could eradicate poverty, then I would choose otherwise. If these women or men who do prostitution are given better opportunities to feed theirs and their family's hungry mouths, why would they settle to become prostitutes to be simply abhorred by society. If this act is legalized, then laws are passed, standards are set to protect them. For example, properly educating them how to prevent STDs or other related illnesses. Another, legal age is set when to become an eligible prostitute thus preventing child prostitution. If we treat them like normal employees, then they are also eligible for benefits that a normal worker receives like SSS, philhealth, Pag-ibig etc. This is not a question of whether the act is immoral or not. These people who choose to work as prostitutes are compelled to work for their families, their children, their loved one even though they are ridiculed and disgraced upon by a society that dictates what is moral and not. On this note, voluntarily doing it and forcing one to do it are entirely 2 different things. The latter would most probably account to rape I believe. Again, prostitution is here to stay whether we like it or not...so why not make it legal.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines 1987, "We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a JUST and HUMANE SOCIETY and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, PROMOTE THE COMMON GOOD, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution."
ReplyDeleteJUST and HUMANE SOCIETY. What exactly does this mean? Are we pertaining to a society without a speck of dirt or are we talking about a society that deals with it problems in a knowledgeable way? A just and humane society, for me, is not the utopian version we were raised to believed in. It is a society that still has a dysfunctional government, robbers waiting for their chance and prostitutes hanging around the corner BUT there are still people willing to change this and that is not idealistic at all. Good and bad balances each other out. The bad things does not scratch the good things and the good things does not make the bad things any easier to deal with.
PROMOTE THE COMMON GOOD. Just because the majority always wins over the minority doesn't mean that we shouldn't listen to the minority group. It doesn't matter if there only a handful of people who will be benefiting from the legalization of prostitution, what matters is that we give the prostitutes and their clients a chance to protect themselves from diseases.
When you talk to a person on the street and discuss prostitution with them, they almost react the same way. They would say that prostitution is bad and that we are shaming the body that is given to us. What those people forgot is that those people that they are shaming have mouths to feed and debts to be paid. We keep on saying that we should give them proper education and whatnot BUT YOU PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE IS THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE USING WHAT EVER IN THERE POWER TO HELP THEIR FAMILIES.
So yes, I am pro legalization of prostitution because the prostitutes on the street needs to be protected just as we are.
Good and interesting brief thoughts! Yes, sexual immorality is not something new nor prostitution. Anything that is done to harm the body or moral values of humanity, I considered it as immoral. However, in the case of prostitution whether male or female. I dare not judge anybody nor set laws, rules, or tag them. Since, we are living in a world where only few believe that there is no greater or lesser misdeed. Going back to the meaning of prostitution in dictionary, it also means, “the corrupt use of one’s talents for personal or financial gain.” So, it does not mean nor emphasizes only those who were engaged in sex for money. Now, it made me think about what you mentioned, what Jesus did with the prostitute woman. I believe Jesus himself did not consider prostitution as a greater wicked act of humankind. Now, legalizing or not does not contribute much in the life of those who are indulged in it. It is just a means of those whom we thought are responsible with it. But it can happened to any of us any time or maybe it is happening in our family. We can start lessening these damaged by daring to address any immorality that triggered our innocence and peace. Having a mindset that we are responsible to accept others just as they are, love them and not judge them just as Jesus did. For no one is perfect! We should not look so much on the act, nor the outcome. Instead help each other to overcome the cause/factor that led someone to hurt themselves. Must focus on meeting the inner and deeper needs of an individual and protect them, starting from our family, neighbour, friends, and so on.....
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned in the blog, God is clear with the sanctity of sexual relationships. Sex outside marriage displeases God regardless if a government will legalized prostitution, or not even if the whole world will say it is OK. God created sex; it is also up to Him alone how it is be used. Jesus and His love is the only solution to the problem of prostitution. He is redeemer and He is the only one who can restore the dignity and beauty lost because of sexual immorality.
ReplyDeleteThis article is so interesting. Actually i disagree with the thought that prostitution is become legalized here in the Philippines, for me Filipino who doesn't work as a prostitute be discriminated. And besides there's a lot of legal work that you can do, just always think that God is our Jehova-jireh he will always help us and provide our needs know to trust God with all you heart. Don't lose hope!
ReplyDeleteThe issue is a clear example of the current worldview of society...misaligned with God's intention. Going back to Genesis, God lays out His plan for His creation of which humans have the vital role of ruling over to keep what God made as good as when He created it. Looking at the passages (Gen 1&2), both man and woman were made in God's image and both were charge of being responsible as partners (remember leaving and cleaving?). Fast forward to now, does society reflect God's design for men and women? looking at it, our society is so distorted trying to beat around the bush. The issue on legalizing prostitution is not found in God's operating manual (Bible) on how individuals (image bearers) should be regarded and we should not expect things to work.
ReplyDeleteThe one of the most problem in ethical issues has been legalization by the law/government because when it’s legalized no one can protect and speak against about it. Therefore, we can’t stop it by telling and speaking to the prostitution but we need voice out to the government. If Christian does not speak against about it no one will speak about it.
ReplyDeleteI totally abhor the notion of legalizing prostitution in order to protect the right of the prostitutes and protect them from transmitted diseases because in the first place the subjects of this law are God's creation-made in His image and likeness. Women are ought to be protected from sexual slavery and sex is God's gift and a blessing to enjoy in the context of marriage. So definitely, the legalization of prostitution is blatantly against the will of God; a destructive and a lame propaganda of which they claim to provide protection as its underlying purpose.
ReplyDeleteThis legalization won't and will never protect the whores in all aspects. As long as they engaged with this kind of activity, they aren't protected anymore. We should include them in our prayers, as well as the officials because instead of making solutions, they intend to partake themselves. There are lots of activities they can engage with. And most of all there are lots of reasons to live life to the fullest by God's grace.
ReplyDeleteThis is a matter between being Factual and being Moral/Spiritual.
ReplyDeleteBy fact. Prostitution is known to be the oldest profession. It is also known in ancient history that sacred prostitution is a common practice and that some prostitutes have a certain disposition in the society and are influential to some degree.
By Morality/Spirituality. Prostitution is destructive, exploitive and no where near acceptable. This may shatter ones personal life, or even a families life. Christianity is very clear about repulsing prostitution of any sort as a body should be God's temple.
Still, the questions remain does legalization protect the prostitutes?
- somehow yes, if we would think this, setting aside theology, legal businesses have certain protection, certain laws that governs them, they can be monitored, educated, and in the process make a turn from it (or not).
- in some countries, red light districts are known to be tourist spots, which helps out the economy.
Growing numbers of sex workers are directly proportional to poverty. Not unless we can control one, then we can control the other.
Legalizing prostitution will bring new problems. Considering that prostitution is illegal right now, by legalizing it, it would show everyone that prostitution is a moral profession, since lawmakers would have to give their approval of it. This would in turn make many others want to turn to this profession more than they do now. Prostitution is wrong, because sex is used for monetary gain, not for the person themselves, but for someone else. Growing numbers of sex workers in our country are not good.
ReplyDelete