Despite often being ranked first in individualism, America has prostitution banned in 49 states (Nevada varies by county). How does it fair where you live? Is it stigmatized? Is it commonly used? Is it affordable? Are workers living well or are most desperate? How are the regulations? Are most independent freelancers or do they work at brothels? Do people often travel between countries for use? Anything else that people may not know?
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Technically, it’s legal if you are a registered one-man business, you do it on your own property, and there are no people on the property but you and the client. This means, the legal framework is very far from the reality, so de facto it’s illegal (no one would do sex work when they can afford to buy a house).
>How does it fair where you live?
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Belgium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Belgium) ([https://youtu.be/xJGaREzwuHk](https://youtu.be/xJGaREzwuHk) what it looks like)
> Is it stigmatized?
It’s not someting you tell to your family
> Are most independent freelancers or do they work at brothels?
They are (officially) free lancer (pimping is illegal) BUT, they rent rooms so……. (but since they pay for using a rooms, it’s not pimping, from a legal perspective)
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> Do people often travel between countries for use?
Well, if it’s illegal in your country and you live “not so far” from a country where it’s legal, yes, people can travel for. The Red Light Distric in Amsterdam is a part of the “tourist experience” (i guess if you come from somewhere where “windows” are not a thing, it can be some kind of “attraction”)
Selling is legal as is buying but pimping is not and costs you, the customer, some 240€ per hour but most customers are commonly charged based on 1/2 an hour (if you also need “services” and not “a business transaction”, it costs you more).
It’s illegal to buy, but not illegal to sell. It is modelled after Swedens approach, with the goal of limiting it without punishing those forced into prostitution.
>How does it fair where you live?
In my city, Stavanger, we’ve had a problem with semi-brothel-operations in massage parlors. It’s my understanding from a cop friend of mine that it’s virtually impossible to eradicate these operations, as the police have to catch them in the act if they want to prosecute any of them.
>How are the regulations?
I believe the only legal way to sell is as an independent prostitute.
>Are most independent freelancers or do they work at brothels?
Again, in my city it’s somewhat brothel-y. So it’s legality is questionable, from time to time there’ll be news of police sweeps shutting down parlors that effectively operates as brothels.