by Brenda Nelson

Created on: May 05, 2009

What would be the gain of publishing the name of a woman arrested for prostitution? Nothing.

Sadly most women enter this field not out of choice, but out of necessity or loss. Many women who resort to prostitution do so because they feel dysfunctional in society, many were abused as children, often at the hands of their parents, or step-parents. Some are drug users, and use prostitution as a way to support this habit. Shaming them is not going to help them to recover.

Shaming them is not going to stop other women from entering this field. It is not like a young girl grows up with dreams of becoming a prostitute. They already are ashamed of it. They do not phone up mom or dad and brag about their new career move. Prostitution is often a job of last resort.

In some areas more than one person has the same name as another. If names are published without photographs it is easy for people to get the wrong idea about the wrong person. It might also make it harder for a person to turn their life around in a smaller community.

Most importantly, an arrest does not mean a conviction. Publishing the name of somebody arrested for a crime, could have negative fall out if in fact the person is later found to be innocent. By the time they prove their innocence the damage is done. Some women who prostitute themselves have children, these kids should not have to face the wrath of their peers as a result of having their moms name appear in print.

A better way of ending prostitution would be to publish the names of those profiting from it, the pimps, or those using it, the Johns. The men who use the services of a prostitute, some married, would be embarrassed far more by having their names in print than would the prostitute. Imagine finding out your co-worker, or employer, was caught using the services of a hooker! Not too many men would want their names in the newspaper for this. Sadly it might even be more socially acceptable to have ones name in the newspaper for drunk driving, than for soliciting the use of a prostitute.

Prostitution would not exist if it were not for paying customers. Putting those men to shame, especially those who use underage prostitutes, would be a far better way of putting a damper on this underground industry. As long as there are users, there will be women who will fill the need, and shaming those women will not stop them.

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