Legalizing Prostitution Against Female Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) In Bangladesh

Abstract

This study aims to determine the causes of the legalization of prostitution's impact on female commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) in Bangladesh. As a country with a Muslim-majority population, Bangladesh has legalized prostitution since 2000. However, in practice, the legalization of prostitution harms the lives of female prostitutes. Data were collected from books, journals, reports, and online media related to this research topic. The study finds that legalizing prostitution in Bangladesh further strengthens Bangladesh's patriarchal culture and capitalism. In prostitution in Bangladesh, working as a prostitute gets a negative stigma from the community even though it has been legalized. At the same time, there is no negative stigma for men as service users. In addition, the legalization of prostitution strengthens the capitalist system in Bangladesh—the owners of capital and the state benefit from the practice of prostitution. The legalization of prostitution, which aims to protect female CSWs, is, in fact, even more oppressive to women. It has resulted in increased sexual and economic exploitation of female CSWs.