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Whore generally refers to sexual promiscuity.

Whore(s) may also refer to:

• Whore (1991 film), directed by Ken Russell
• Whore (2004 film), based on the book "Taylor Hofstrand"
• Whore (2008 film), directed by Thomas Dekker
• The Whores, a 1994 Italian film
• Whore (album), by Lisa Dalbello
• Whores (play), by Lee Blessing

See also

• Whore of Babylon
• Whore II, a docudrama about prostitution
• "The Whores Can Come" (Deadwood episode)
• "The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore", a song by PJ Harvey
• "Hollywood Whore", a song by Papa Roach

Prostitution: A victimless Crime Neither solicitation for the purposes of prostitution nor the running of a bawdy house should be considered criminal. These crimes should be legalized because doing so will result in a safer practise for sex workers and their clients, the freeing up of police and judicial resources, and because prostitutes are not perpetrators in the true sense. The solicitation and sale of sex acts was legal in Canada until The Bawdy Restriction of 1850 which outlawed communication for the purposes of prostitution, operating a bawdy house and living on the avails of prostitution. The objectives of The Bawdy Restriction, although reformed and redesigned are still in effect in Canada and as such, sex workers are deemed criminals. They face dangers in many forms and are afraid to seek help from police for fear of prosecution. Sex workers and are frequently victimized via brutal beatings by their pimps who essentially own them and get a large share of their income . Not only do prostitutes need to fear their pimps, their line of work exposes them to potentially dangerous people every single time they provide their services. “...While they are working, they must be ready to do whatever the customer wants. The customer’s desires are almost always sexual. The acts prostitutes perform vary widely; from sexual intercourse to more abnormal acts ...Sometimes customers get sexual pleasure from having the prostitute inflict pain on them. Sometimes they want to inflict pain on the prostitute. Thus, prostitutes expose themselves to the seamiest, saddest side of humanity every time they turn a trick. They do not work for healthy, happy, stable adults. Such people do not need or want to hire prostitutes...” Sex workers also have to be concerned with the risk of sexually transmitted infections but very seldom attain medical attention or screenings. If prostitution were legalized, government could regulate the industry and provide a safer environment for prostitutes. They could have mandatory STI screenings and sex workers would then be able to go to law enforcement if their employer or customer mistreats them. Mental health is a big issue for prostitutes; many find it difficult to cope with the lifestyle and resort to drugs or even suicide. In fact, eighty-two percent of prostitutes in one study had contemplated suicide and sixty-eight had already tried to kill themselves . By legalizing prostitution, the self esteem of prostitutes will be greatly improved, thus greatly reducing the chances that they will commit suicide.

Trying to prohibit something outright does not work; this has been proven time and again by the prohibition of alcohol and the war on drugs . If people want something, they will find a way of getting it despite its legality and this is very true for prostitution. The constant pursuit to prosecute prostitutes is costly and a waste of resources, according to most Police officers, many of whom express their disinterest in prostitutes, calling prostitution a ”victimless crime” . Prosecuting sex workers really serves no purpose, prostitutes go through the system and are usually back on the streets within a week of being arrested . The whole process is a waste of money because it acts as no deterrent. If communicating for the purposes of prostitution and the operation of a bawdy house was legal, it would just about eliminate all instances of under aged prostitution. In 1995, about 3% of those charged with prostitution were a youth , which were approximately 215 boys and girls from the ages of 12 to 17 selling themselves on the street in Canada. This figure seems low, due to the fact that the majority of children charged with communication or bawdy-related offences are diverted to social service agencies in lieu of arrest but any number of under aged prostitutes is too many. Prostitution, while risky and illegal is often a last resort for troubled youths and young adults .the problem with criminalizing prostitution is that prostitutes are not harming anyone, they are engaging in sexual activities with a consenting partner and although the communication of STIs is possible, government regulation can ensure that proper protection is used in all transactions . Sex workers are often the result of a broken home; abusive or neglectful parents, incest and rape are common factors in a prostitute’s history. There are few options for someone without an education, job experience or skills in terms of employment . This is why there are so many prostitutes; their “job” on the street is little more than a way for them to provide the basic necessities for themselves and their children, if they have any . Drug use and prostitution go hand in hand and a vicious circle is the result. Sex workers are forced to turn tricks in order to afford their next hit, this cycle binds them to prostitution which is exactly what their pimps want. Many young women became a part of the prostitution scene because they were tricked by a charismatic pimp who convinced them that it was an easy way to make money . The girls almost always end up dependant on drugs, selling themselves to afford the drugs, and ultimately the pimps to provide a customer base. Sex workers, particularly females, are victims in the scheme of things, working under compulsion for drugs and being brutalized by pimps. The legalization of communication for the purposes of prostitution and the operation of bawdy houses will allow prostitutes to be independent or at the very least, more likely to report abusive treatment to the authorities which will ensure a better, safer life for them. Prostitution is going to happen whether it is legal or not, and the current situation is deplorable. The legalization of communication for the purposes of prostitution and the operation of bawdy houses will have a great deal of benefits to society and to the sex workers in it. The safety of prostitutes will be ensured, our judicial system and police forces will be much less strained and costly and we will not be punishing innocent people. Works Cited Canada. Statcan. Juristat. Street Prostitution In Canada. By Doreen Duchesne. 2nd ed. Vol. 17. Ottawa, ON: n.p., 1997. Web. 12 Nov. 2010. "CBC News Indepth: Prohibition." CBC News. CBC News, 30 June 2005. Web. 12 Nov. 2010. <http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/prohibition/>. Colb, Sherry F. ProCon.org - Pros and Cons of Controversial Issues. N.p., 17 Nov. 2006. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. <http://www.procon.org/>. Johnson, Joan. Teen Prostitution. New York: F. Watts, 1992. Print. Landau, Elaine. On the Streets: the Lives of Adolescent Prostitutes. New York: J. Messner, 1987. Print. Zausner, Michael. The Streets: A Factual Portrait of Six Prostitutes as Told in Their Own Words. New York: St. Martin's, 1986. Print.

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