We're all familiar with what they refer to as "the oldest profession". And we've all got our ideas and fears on the evils that arise from such a profession. In our society, prostitution is illegal. It's connected to drugs, violence, disease, abuse, and other problems. That's the frame. We can all agree on that, right? How about looking through someone else's frame? A former student and acquaintance of mine sent me an e-mail recently with a link and all it said was, 'Check out this frame.' The link was to the International Committee for Prostitute's Rights. http://www.walnet.org/csis/groups/icpr_charter.html



Upon further research, I found another organization called C.O.Y.O.T.E. The letters stand for call off your old tired ethics. They bill themselves as a sex worker's rights organization. Old frame: prostitutes. New frame: sex workers.

There is a strong movement in many major metropolitan cities in the USA and, in fact, all over the world, to decriminalize the profession and give 'sex workers' rights and protection by regulating the industry. Wow. Talk about a changing perspective. I had definitely never heard of such a thing and it totally blew me away.

Differentiating between prostitution where people are being victimized and sex workers who believe they're involved in a victimless crime, is only the surface of the debate. And as with any argument involving sexuality and politics, things can get pretty emotional and complex.

One of their arguments is that this kind of work is an important part of the economy and that just looking to the legalized prostitution in Nevada and in other countries, points to how some of the dangers can be taken out of the industry by way of regulation. Get rid of the pimps, the violence is cut down. Mandatory monthly medical treatment and safe practices, nearly eliminate the medical and health dangers.

The proponents have taken this highly charged issue out of the frame of morality, and put it in the frame of 'important part of the economy'. Advocates of legalizing drugs use the same argument.

The idea of 'victimless crimes' is an appealing frame to me in that the amount of money spent each year on imprisoning pot growers/users and sex workers, is staggering. I am not advocating to 'legalize it' though I am intrigued to know that there are intelligent opponents to the cultural norm.

I'm not going to become an activist for these causes, but I am excited when I come to learn of a new way to look at a subject or issue once thought etched in stone. With framing, whoever has the stronger one wins.