(Tiểu luận) assignment report course introductory ethics topic the morality of commercialized sex

NATIONAL ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM *** ASSIGNMENT REPORT Course Introductory Ethics Topic The morality of commercialized sex Group 9 Members Le Thi Linh Chi 11204673[.]

NATIONAL ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Hanoi, March 2022

First, we would really like to thank Mrs Nguyen Bich Ngoc, our lecturer, for herprofessional advice and encouragement during this abstract subject She explained thingsclearly, made it easy to comprehend, and always led us in a detailed and enthusiasticmanner Her methodology is really scientific, and it allows us to assimilate informationrapidly She seems to be a very passionate instructor who carefully considers how sheteaches the subject Without her passion and assistance, we would have struggled tounderstand the ethical theories Moreover, this report would not have been done withoutthe assistance of our seniors, who provided us with a fantastic reference presentation Sofar, I'd want to thank my incredibly supportive teammates who took responsibility of thedata gathering and data entry processes for this project's analysis Finally, I'd want tothank everyone who assisted me in completing this project, and I hope to work with youagain in the future

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the problem 1

1.2 Objectives 1

1.3 Methodology 1

1.4 Report outline 1

2 Problem Analysis 3

2.1 Overview of commercial sex 3

2.1.1 Definition 3

2.1.2 Types of commercialized sex 3

2.1.3 A global view of commercialized sex 4

2.2 Opinions over commercialized sex 5

2.2.1 Opinions for commercialized sex 5

2.2.2 Opinions against commercialized sex 6

2.3 Ethical view on commercial sex 6

2.3.1 Deontological Theory 6

2.3.2 Virtue ethics 7

2.3.3 Consequential Ethical Theory 8

2.4 Commercial sex in Vietnam 8

2.4.1 Fact 8

2.4.2 Media coverage of prostitution legalization 9

2.5 Our group opinion towards this problem 11

2.5.1 The reasons why we should legalize commercialized sex 11

2.5.2 Purposes of legalizing commercial sex 12

2.5.3 Conclusion 15

2.5.4 Recommendations 16

3 Conclusion 18

REFERENCES 19

TABLE OF FIGURES

Table 1 Characteristics of types of prostitution 4Table 2 Attitudes toward legalization of prostitution 15

1 Introduction

1.1 Background of the problem

Economic life is developing more and more, people are sometimes busy runningafter work, material, and money, but forgetting the dignity and morality that have existedfor a long time The selfish desires that each person owns, but because they are notcontrolled and well managed, lead to some painful problems that society has to endure,and commercialized sex is one of them Prostitution and other forms of commercializedsex are hotly discussed topics, and contemporary ethical approaches such as socialcontract ethics and feminist ethics address the subject of the moral implications andmoral legitimacy of commercialized sex Within these perspectives, there are differingviewpoints on whether commercialized sex is morally acceptable or even legal As aresult, the moral question of whether commercial sex is acceptable or bad could be raised.This thesis is a modest attempt to describe and evaluate some basic moral conceptionsabout commercialized sex from the viewpoints of contractarian ethics and feminist ethics.For Asian people, commercialized sex is a sign of moral degradation as well as aloss of dignity for women but the West and some countries in the world have an openview on this issue, even considering this as an obvious fact

In terms of morality, most people in society disagree In fact, in America or France,

or in any other country, most people don't like commercialized sex at all Butcommercialized sex is also a social fact that many places have accepted that it has toexist

1.2 Objectives

The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive, systematic, and scientificview of legal and social issues related to commercialized sex in the world This reportalso presents some respective moral arguments, either defending or rejecting the socialpractice of commercialized sex

The first part that is mentioned in the report is the introduction, providinginformation and the general background of the main problem - the morality ofcommercialized sex.

The second part of the report contains three main parts The first part of the bodypart gives you an overview of commercialized sex The second part of the body partbrings you some opinions over-commercialized sex Last but not least, the report containsethical theories and how to apply these theories to this global problem

The third part writes about commercialized sex in Vietnam - the current situation,facts and media coverage of prostitution legalization

The last part will be the conclusion of the report, which will summarize theinformation that has been gathered in the report

Sex work is the arrangement of sexual administrations for cash or products.

Sex laborers are ladies, men, and transgendered individuals who get cash orproducts in return for sexual administrations, and who deliberately characterize thoseexercises as pay producing regardless of whether they don't consider sex function as theiroccupation

The words "ladies", "men" and "individuals" in this report incorporate physicallydynamic youths Kids who have not reached the period of pubescence may likewise takepart in sex work, yet they are not the focal point of this record

Clients are persons (typically males) who purchase sexual services with cash oreven other resources, either expressly or as part of a package that includes other serviceslike entertainment or domestic servants

2.1.2 Types of commercialized sex

Prostitutes, call girls, escorts, and dominatrices are examples of commercial sexworkers that perform sexual activities for payment

Prostitutes are sometimes known as streetwalkers, and they are regarded as thelowest level of sex workers by the rest of the business These men and women arephysically on the street, offering "dates" or "johns" to possible clients Streetwalkingprostitutes are the most dangerous of this category because of their employment on thestreets, the lack of customer screening, and the flexibility of the location of the sexual act.Call girls and escorts work in another industry, such as a massage clinic, hotel, ornightclub, and give sexual services to a regular customer base These individuals usuallyinteract with pre-screened customers and execute acts on-site, which promotes safety.Pornography actresses and actors, as well as sexual models, are sexual servicesworkers who provide audio or visual depictions of themselves Some of the firms thatmake these movies have policies in place for their employees, such as verifying that theyare of 18 years or older to agree to sex and requiring STI testing Phone sex workers andthose who use webcams to offer live streams of themselves doing sexual activities overthe Internet are examples of this Because both participants have a high level of

anonymity and availability, this type of Internet pornographic content offers a uniquecontext for the sexual encounter.

People who operate at one or more designated sites delivering sexual entertainingfor an audience in the same area are referred to as commercial sex workers working a livesexual event or performance Strippers or exotic dancers, burlesque show performers, andpeep show actresses and actors are all examples of sexually active adolescents

Table 1 Characteristics of types of prostitution

RISK OF VIOLENT VICTIMIZATI ON

PUBLIC VISIBILIT Y

IMPACT ON COMMUNIT Y

CALL GIRL Independent

operator; private premises/hotels

ESCORT Escort agency;

private premises/hotels

High Moderate Low to

modera te

Massage parlor Modera

te Moderate Very low Low Little, if discreet

BAR OR CASINO Bar/casino contact; Low to Low to Low to Moderat

e Equivalent to

WORKER sex elsewhere moderat

e moderate moderate impact of bar/ casino

STREETWALKER Street contact; sex

in cars, alleys, parks, etc.

Note: This table refers to female employees The brothel and massage parlor employees shown here do not involve those who have

been trafficked or otherwise coerced into prostitution, as their experiences different from those who have chosen this job voluntarily.

Third-party exploitation implies that at least some of the earnings are received by a third party The threat of violent victimization here refers to victimization of a prostitute rather than victimization of a customer The term "impact on community" refers to the consequences on the quality of life in the surrounding neighborhood.

2.1.3 A global view of commercialized sex

Until now, commercialized sex is still a controversial topic It is caused by theextremely different in each region and culture In particular, some countries consider thatprostitution and all related activities are illegal, such as in Sweden, Thailand and Vietnambecause of concerns about increasing trafficking in women and children, rape, violenceand the rate of sexually transmitted diseases in society Referring to Thailand, manypeople will be surprised to learn that Thailand does not legalize prostitution, but the

industry is extremely developed However, rape in this country is the highest in Asia,from 7-8 cases per 100,000 people, twice as high as the Philippines, 3 times of Singaporeand 5 times of Vietnam.

In Vietnam, according to ILO data in 2018, Vietnam has about 100,000 sex workers,

of which, mainly women Objects and forms of prostitution are still mainly in the form ofcall girls, sex tourists, foreigners selling sex, male prostitutes, gay sex workers,transgender people selling sex, and sex brokers This situation causes many crimeproblems, including HIV/AIDS infectious diseases

However, according to the US website Ranker, in fact, in the world, there are about

77 countries that have legalized prostitution and 11 countries that limit this profession butstill allow it From an economic perspective, there have been very serious studies on thisissue It can be seen that prostitution is always associated with changes in the economy,the law of supply and demand of the market and the trade-offs of those directly involved.According to Lena Edlund and Evelyn Korn, two pioneering female professors inthe study of prostitution: "Prostitution is a multi-billion dollar industry and is the routinework of millions of female around the world Recent research by the International LaborOffice shows that in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, up to 0.25-1.5%

of women are involved in sex work, and this profession contributes between 2-14% of thetotal domestic income (GDP)"

In countries that legalize prostitution and its associated activities, typically Austria,Singapore, and Switzerland According to statistics in 2014, the Swiss sex industry hasabout 20,000 prostitutes, contributing an estimated $3.5 billion, equivalent to 0.5% ofSwiss GDP

Some places like Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, the UK and the USstate of Nevada allow prostitution, but third-party activities are considered illegal In theNetherlands, according to 2014 data, the whole Netherlands has more than 40,000prostitutes and contributes 2.5 billion euros a year in taxes, equivalent to 0.4% of GDP

2.2 Opinions over commercialized sex

2.2.1 Opinions for commercialized sex

Human sexuality is believed to play a significant role in a person's creative life andoverall development, and it expresses the values of equal respect and concern forindependence, necessitating tolerance of a variety of views on the role of sexuality inhumanity Any individual selling sex has the right to request whatever resources they

need to transition out of prostitution and into a circumstance where they can thrive andgrow.

If it is claimed that commercial sex destroys a prostitute's abilities by emotionallyalienating her, the same points may be made, probably more forcefully, regarding othersorts of service that our society not only tolerates but encourages Prostitutes definitelyprovide a valuable social service; many people find a sense of emotional release andcomfort with them that they would not otherwise have, and many prostitutes providesophisticated supportive and even therapeutic roles for their clients in addition to sexualservices It is frequently well-paid and well-compensated, and the needs met are profoundand real

2.2.2 Opinions against commercialized sex

Commercialized sex work has long been regarded as a dangerous vocation In recentyears, the focus has switched away from individuals who supply sexual services and ontothose who buy them Simultaneously, prostitution-related women are increasingly beingviewed as victims in need of assistance rather than criminals deserving of punishment.Debra Satz (1995) presents a viewpoint that includes some fundamental reasons againstcommercial sex This viewpoint is based on the necessity of building and promotingmethods for gender equality in society She directs her criticisms at pervasive stereotypesabout girls and female prospects in society Satz describes and explores the specific moralview of trading sexual services as immoral and unfit to be compared to behaviors in anywork force She is concerned that commercial sex is a social institution in and of itselfthat undermines the conditions for societal growth that promotes gender equality.Commercial sex is thus harmful to close the gender gap within the creation of anegalitarian society, and she consequently condemns commercial sex and the act ofprostitution as a major impediment to the process of establishing an equal society

Satz (1995) expresses her dissatisfaction with two typical charges leveled againstcommercialized sex: the economic and the essentialist approaches According to theeconomic viewpoint, commercial sex could be equated to any other sort of physical work

in life According to this viewpoint, it is only logical cost/benefit analysis that supportstransactions, not specific moral issues inherent in activities Sexual labor, in this view,can be reified and handled as a commodity on level with another economic item.According to the essentialist viewpoint, commercial sex is ethically wrong since it isintrinsically destructive and injurious to human happiness According to Satz, theproblem is that commercial sex fosters societal inequities, and we should concentrate our

moral focus on prescribing proper equitable principled foundations for society, excludingprocesses that contribute to and/or reproduce institutional inequalities

2.3 Ethical view on commercial sex

to consequentialism This is because deontology holds that by emphasizing the intention

to act in line with our duties, the outcomes of our acts have no ethical relevance at all.According to deontology, the act of commercial sex may be moral, because itspurpose is ethical Females believed that sex work allowed them to be "excellentmothers" and it allows them to cope with their roles as sex workers Rather than throwingthe concepts of "virtuous motherhood" and "deviant prostitute" against one another, theresponsibility of parenthood and the ability to support one's family financially resulted inless criticism from these women's family people as a result of their sex trade engagement.Moreover, those who recognize agency see the ability to set one's own hours, have a say

in the conditions of one's workplace and decide what services to offer as a "self-chosenmeans for social and personal betterment," all of which may or may not be available inother workplace choices available to marginalized women

2.3.2 Virtue ethics

Virtue ethics is a moral philosophy that emphasizes the importance of virtue Asteady inclination to behave and feel in accordance with some ideal or model ofperfection is referred to as a virtue Virtue is a deeply ingrained character attribute thatmay influence behavior in a variety of settings People have the freedom to pick differentaims and personalities for their own "virtue," according to this viewpoint

When one looks past the act of prostitution and into the person, one may sensecourage and strength The moral and ethical element does not assess the act as well as theactor, according to virtue ethics (Borcoman, 2011) Borcoman describes virtue as what is

in a person's heart, not the cause for their actions (Borcoman, 2011) If the communitystopped condemning prostitution and focused on the traits of the prostitute, it might beable to appreciate the person's inner strength and courage (Borcoman, 2011) A lady whochooses to become a prostitute because she has no other means to encourage her children

is bold and gutsy When one considers the moral, ethical, and religious context, being aprostitute is not simple The lady, on the other hand, has decided to defy her principlesbecause she loves her kids and would go to any length to provide for them If socialnorms were to alter, the lady would be able to cope with the mental and physical strains

of being a prostitute A mother who has sacrificed her personal, societal, and religiousvalues for her children does not need to be condemned; she has already made herdecision and recognizes that she is morally unacceptable It takes guts to lay down yourlife for another, and also the woman who is forced to be a prostitute is well aware of theconsequences When prostitution is legalized and programs are established, the prostitutemay be able to pursue her schooling and eventually leave prostitution behind

2.3.3 Consequential Ethical Theory

The Consequential Ethical Theory defines a moral action or deed as one thatpromotes the optimal outcomes for all parties involved (Easton, 2014) When twoconsenting individuals engage in sexual intercourse, it is clear that the act enhanceshappiness

Thus, it becomes a morally accepted decision between the two parties The debateover whether or not prostitution should be permitted can be justified as a moral act if theend result is pleasure (Sinnott-Armstrong, 2003) According to the Consequential EthicalTheory, a woman who sells her body for financial gain or pleasure is justifiable (Easton,2014) The Consequential Ethical Theory would grant women the right to govern theirbodies, removing the moral and ethical aspects of prostitution and allowing them to maketheir own decisions (Sinnott-Armstrong, 2003)

According to Sinnott-Armstrong, consequentialist ethics is also known asutilitarianism (Sinnott-Armstrong, 2003) When viewing prostitution through the lens ofutilitarianism, one might defend that prostitution is morally acceptable when making amoral decision based on the benefits that it will provide (Sinnott-Armstrong, 2003).Prostitution, according to utilitarianism, is an act that brings happiness to all partiesinvolved, including the prostitute, the client, and their families Our society would begoverned by laws and regulations if prostitution were legalized Legalizing prostitutionwould allow the government to develop initiatives to reduce and combat sexual assault,violence, medical problems, and, if necessary, counseling and therapy This is asignificant issue that prostitution has created in our culture If prostitution were legalized,the current violence associated with it would disappear Normative ethics, according toGowdy, is concerned with what our society considers moral standards or appropriate orinappropriate social behavior (Gowdy, 2013) The men, women, and children who are