Liberalism and Prostitution

Prostitution is commonly characterized as a “victimless crime,” especially by those who believe it ought to be legalized. Opponents of legalization counter that prostitution is not victimless: it is harmful to those who do it, and it is often forced on a person by economic need if not by an abusive pimp. To many, however, the characterization of prostitution as victimless remains convincing. Why is this? One reason is that most prostitution appears to be voluntary. Another reason is that not everyone who does this work is obviously harmed by it. In this book I consider whether prostitution laws might be justified nonetheless, and I conclude that they might be.