On the Fight Against Prostitution

“Once again the newspapers are full of talk about the fight against the development of prostitution, about the destruction of the trade in white slaves, about rules for singles and for lodgings, about protection from corruption of minors, and so on. Congresses are being gathered and expected; a union for ‘the protection of women’ is being formed; projects are being prepared; speeches are written and articles are composed. So many good words and noble intentions—let’s give them their due—very often turn into benevolent acts, and even into useful trial measures! And from year to year, from decade to decade, the same story repeats: benevolent actions lead to results almost the opposite of what was desired, and from such measures the female sex gets—quite unexpectedly—a new kind of everyday penal labor, worse than the previous one…”