Dictionary Definition: the act or practice of indulging in promiscuous sexual relations especially for money.
Street meaning: It is the use of a woman's body for sex by a man, he pays money, and he does what he wants, or vice versa.
Many countries, including Costa Rica, Italy, Norway, and Singapore, do legally sanction certain forms of prostitution, and some find it odd that Americans, which pride themselves so heavily on the principle of individual liberty, would forbid any type of activity between two consenting adults. Nonetheless, countless Americans find the prospect of legal prostitution offensive to their ideals concerning traditional moralism, sex, or womanhood. While morality debates may rage on, it does seem rather strange that almost all state governments in the U.S. and Canada still prohibit what seems to be a harmless, victimless activity.
In a 1998 survey of 475 prostitutes led by Dr. Melissa Farley of Prostitution Research and Education, 62% had been raped since entering the profession, and 46% had been raped more than five times. Meanwhile, 82% of the American prostitutes surveyed had been physically assaulted on the job.
Prostitution touches on a variety of levels with ethics. Is prostitution good for society? Should sexual pleasure be for sale? Is it simply right or wrong? Many countries allow prostitution to go on, and feel that it is the person's choice of what he/she does with their life. There are also many individuals which choose to keep working, or are forced to work on the black market selling sexual pleasure, although being assaulted. A socially responsible government would provide these victims of violence with a place to turn for help, but unfortunately, there is no way for them to redress the crimes committed against them. Since their business is against the law, contacting a police officer would do more them harm than good.
A question comes to mind: Should governments legalize prostitution? .