I really don't think there's even a way to discuss the continuation of sex work until the rotten core of it is revealed and removed. Modern sex work is primarily through either boyfriend style pimps or trafficking of children and teenagers. There is also the landlord situation of sex for rent (either the landlord or someone who pays the rent for sex).
These sorts of things cannot be allowed to exist. They need to be rooted out and destroyed. Some form of legalization and assistance to sex workers will be helpful, but there's a lot of generational trauma built into that system that can't be taken out.
Abolition of the current model of sex work is an absolute necessity. Abolition of sex work as a necessity for subsistence needs to be a priority. Abolition of small scale operations and even individual operations needs to stop (individual as in on the street). There needs to be a registry and active effort to check on as many people as possible to make sure they're okay.
Formation of legalized and safe environments for the temporary continuation of sex work in a safe way is also necessary. You can't abolish that system overnight, that'll just drive out underground and make the abuse worse. Bring it to the surface and shine a light on it, make sure everyone's safe.
As the trauma fades and the workers themselves begin to gain more autonomy, then you might have a system that's okay, but it's not an industry that you can just flip a switch on.
I really don't think there's even a way to discuss the continuation of sex work until the rotten core of it is revealed and removed. Modern sex work is primarily through either boyfriend style pimps or trafficking of children and teenagers. There is also the landlord situation of sex for rent (either the landlord or someone who pays the rent for sex).
These sorts of things cannot be allowed to exist. They need to be rooted out and destroyed. Some form of legalization and assistance to sex workers will be helpful, but there's a lot of generational trauma built into that system that can't be taken out.
Abolition of the current model of sex work is an absolute necessity. Abolition of sex work as a necessity for subsistence needs to be a priority. Abolition of small scale operations and even individual operations needs to stop (individual as in on the street). There needs to be a registry and active effort to check on as many people as possible to make sure they're okay.
Formation of legalized and safe environments for the temporary continuation of sex work in a safe way is also necessary. You can't abolish that system overnight, that'll just drive out underground and make the abuse worse. Bring it to the surface and shine a light on it, make sure everyone's safe.
As the trauma fades and the workers themselves begin to gain more autonomy, then you might have a system that's okay, but it's not an industry that you can just flip a switch on.