The use of "Women's Safety" in Criminalization VS. Decriminalization Arguments about Prostitution in the U.S.

This thesis analyzes academic discourse arguing for and against the criminalization of prostitution within the U.S. It specifically investigates how claims about women's safety are used by both sides in this debate, examining four common frameworks that shape appeals to women's safety: physical harm, sexual exploitation, STIs, and the patriarchy. Reflecting on these claims, the thesis argues that advocates of both criminalization and decriminalization mobilize ideas about "women's safety" which cast women as violable and in need of protection. These protectionist arguments are rooted in patriarchal beliefs and are used to control women's behavior, silence women's voices, and reinforce sexist assumptions about women. The project concludes by offering suggestions as to how future research might resist patriarchal standards by normalizing and accepting women's power within prostitution and avoiding the portrayal of women as victims.