Chapter 16 Small Assignment

Option 1

This exercise is designed to help you think analytically and critically about prostitution.  Write a short essay in which you answer all of the following questions:  (0.3 points will be given for proper formatting and academic writing, including page length and proper grammar).

• What kind of person do you think becomes a prostitute? (0.3 points)
• Do you believe that prostitution is morally wrong? Why or why not? Do you believe that prostitution should be legal or illegal? Why or why not? (0.3 points)
• Should we tax prostitutes? Should they be able to write off work expenses? Get health insurance? Collect unemployment and social security? Why or why not? (0.3 points)
• Do you believe that laws against prostitution are harmful to prostitutes (e.g., forcing them to work “underground,” and making their work more dangerous and less healthy) or helpful to prostitutes (encouraging them to get “off the street”)? Why or why not? (0.3 points)
• Are prostitutes penalized more than their customers? Should they be? Why or why not? (0.3 points)
• Would it be a good idea to require prostitutes to undergo health checks to guard against the transmission of sexually transmitted infections? Why or why not? (0.3 points)
• Should we require clients of prostitutes to undergo the same checks? Is there any risk of interfering with basic human rights by requiring such health checks? Why or why not? (0.3 points)
• What kind of person do you think frequents prostitutes?  For what do you think clients are looking? (0.3 points)
• Do you think women ever visit prostitutes? Why or why not? (0.3 points)

Option 2

Watch the documentary (1 hour & 13 minutes) “Tricked” (2013) about human trafficking.  This film takes the view of both the pimps and the victims, and it is available for free here if you are on campus, on the UCI wifi, or logged into the VPN software:  https://uci.kanopy.com/video/tricked-0 (Links to an external site.) .  (Warning:  The material it a bit raw, and it does have profanity and verbally detailed experiences).  Write a brief essay in which you briefly summarize what you learned from the documentary (0.75 points) and in which you share your own reflections (thoughts, comments, and questions) (0.75 points) related to this documentary.  In this assignment, there should be more reflection than summary (0.75 points).  (0.75 points will be given for proper formatting and academic writing, including page length and proper grammar).  TIP: Want to watch this film at home (and don’t live in campus housing)?  You can download the VPN software here:  https://www.oit.uci.edu/help/vpn/?target=software-vpnLinks to an external site. – it is free and easy to download.  If you have trouble, please let me know.