The road to legalized prostitution is being paved with soft words

From Prostitute to Sex Worker - The Next Step is Obvious

By James Terminiello

In many professions - doctor, criminologist, investment advisor - it is often wise to look for patterns and trends to get a better indication of what may be on the horizon. Word patterns can also provide an eye on the future. 

You may have noticed that the term illegal alien has been displaced by migrant or dreamer. Less accurate? Of course.  But far more palatable for those whose goal it is to forcefully alter the demographics of this nation for political purposes. In the same way, the word marijuana was too much of a throwback to Cheech and Chongian days when grass was the province of the potheads of the world. To better sell it to the mainstream it now bears the vaguely medicinal moniker of cannabis.  And we now see the full might of mercantile energy being unleased to sell cannabis in every form short of car polish... at least for the moment. 

Now for the next word pattern.

In news reporting, medical journals, and political debates the term prostitute is now fading and coming up fast around the final turn is the kinder and gentler appellation sex worker. While the term prostitute itself is quite succinct and eminently definitional, it is of little use for those planning a new and divergent future. After all, prostitute as a word reeks of the negative and downbeat. Aside from the cliché of the "prostitute with a heart of gold" found in one hundred too many comedies and dramas, prostitution has never been viewed as a positive for the individual or society as a whole. 

Ah, but that was then and this is the new here and now. Migrants are being quickly and quietly filtered into many metropolitan areas, cannabis and CBD products are the new wonder drugs capable of curing all that needs curing and more, and our old neighbor the tragic prostitute is on the cusp of getting a grand makeover.

In short, the term sex worker is the first volley in the thrust toward legalized prostitution.  The term is perfect as it joins the ranks of food service employees and clerical workers as just another element of our society fit even for unionization. There already is such a union;  https://www.iusw.org/

I am neither an advocate nor an opponent of legalization, but I am sensitive to the subtle ways that language is being manipulated to change attitudes. Forces are at work here and the ultimate re-framing of the world's oldest profession is now on the menu. 

The pattern has been recognized. 

James Terminiello, author of the forthcoming satire Junkyard, writes from Mount Laurel, New Jersey.