As many coaches have voiced questions about the meaning of the proposition as well asconcern over a multitude of ways to construct the affirmative and negative cases, the Debate Proposition Research Committeesaw how most coaches and students in our local debate community are yet to accumulate enough experience and reach the level of sophistication to tackle more open-ended types of propositions, such as the one that was originally announced (i.e., “The Taiwan government should take measures to significantly reduce the problems related to prostitution”). The Committee has thusdecided to modify the propositionfor the 2017 Regional and National High School English Policy Debate Tournamentsto:
“RESOLVED: That the Taiwan government should make prostitution a legal business.”
This modified proposition, while providing coaches and debaters with a more specific direction to go into when preparing for their cases, still makes room for an array of affirmative and negative cases and arguments, and thus makes the debate more interestingly challenging for all parties involved.
In this modified proposition, the term “Taiwan government”is still defined as the centralgovernment, and “should make prostitution a legal business” means devising a plan that enables people to practice prostitution legally.In other words, different from the status quo where the central government lets the local governments decide whether they want to set up sex-districts or not (the meaning of MAY), in this revised proposition the affirmative asserts that the central government SHOULD do something so that prostitution becomes a legal business.
As in any policy debate, the affirmative has to identify the problems (e.g., crimes, public health, etc.) existing in the status quo (i.e.,municipal or county [city] governments MAY enact ordinances governing the establishment and management of sex districts, and yet such districts are nowhere to be seen) and conceive a workable and feasible plan to make prostitution a legal business so as to tacklethose problems.The negative, on the other hand, has to challenge and refute the affirmative case, be it the harm or the solution,by defending the status quo, proffering minor repairs, challenging the affirmative plan, or proposing a counterplan which does not affirm the proposition.
For those who have already started their preparation for the original proposition, your time and effort is certainly not wasted because most, if not all, contentions conceived for the original proposition will still be applicable to this modified proposition.
(The following is the same as in the original study guide.)
This year we also prepare a study guide (see below) for debaterswhich includes a glossary of terms related to prostitution and a list of Chinese and English readings. Though the listed articles help shed light on various facets concerning prostitution, they are by no meanscomprehensive or free from questionable facts or arguments. Critical analysis of the content is strongly advised. Further research may also be duly called upon for issues addressed in those articles.
List of vocabulary words related to the 2017 high school English policy debate tournaments:
abuse 虐待濫用 / - / 1) use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse.2) treat with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly.
anal 肛門的 / - / relating to or situated near the anus.
battery毆打 / - / an intentional unpermitted act causing harmful or offensive contact with the "person"(i.e. the body) of another.
circumstances情況
境遇(pl.)財力 / - / 1) a fact or condition connected with or relevant to an event or action.
2) one's state of financial or material welfare.
coercion威脅恐嚇 / - / the action or practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.
commercial enterprise
商業活動 / - / the activity of providing goods and services involving financial andcommercialand industrial aspects
compel 迫使 / - / force or oblige (someone) to do something.
compliance順從 / - / the action or fact of complying with a wish or command.
consent 同意 / - / permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.
criminalize 入罪化 / - / 1) turn (an activity) into a criminal offence by making it illegal.
2) turn (someone) into a criminal by making their activities illegal.
disconnect分離脫離 / - / to separate (something) from something else
dispense 配送省卻 / - / 1) distribute or provide (a service or information) to a number of people.
2) manage without or get rid of.
erotic 情色的 / - / relating to or tending to arouse sexual desire or excitement.
exacerbate 使加重 / - / make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.
exploitation 剝削 / - / the action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work.
feminists女權主義者 / - / a person who supports the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.
flourish
興隆蓬勃發展 / - / 1) thrive
2) to be in a state of activity or production
harassment 騷擾 / - / theactof unwantedandannoyingactionsofa personoragroup,includingthreatsand demands.
HIV/AIDS 人類免疫缺陷病毒/愛滋病 / - / (AIDS) Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the (HIV) human immunodeficiency virus. By damaging your immune system,HIVinterferes with your body's ability to fight the organisms that cause disease.HIVis a sexually transmitted infection.
immoral 不道德的 / - / not conforming to accepted standards of morality and connotes evil or licentious behavior.
intercourse 交媾或是情感、思想、精神等的交流 / - / 1) sexual contact between individuals involving penetration, especially the insertion of a man's erect penis into a woman's vagina, typically culminating in orgasm and the ejaculation of semen.
2) communication or dealings between individuals or groups.
international 國際的 / - / existing, occurring, or carried on between nations.
juvenile少年的年少者 / - / 1) a young person.
2) childish; immature.
labor rights 勞工權益 / - / Labor rightsor workers'rightsare a group of legalrightsand claimed humanrightshaving to do withlaborrelations between workers and their employers, usually obtained underlaborand employmentlaw. In general, theserights' debates have to do with negotiating workers' pay, benefits, and safe working conditions.
legitimate 合法的 / - / 1) conforming to the law or to rules.
2) make lawful or justify.
madam(女性)老鴇 / - / 1) a female pimp.
2) a woman who runs a business of prostitution.
masturbate 自慰 / - / erotic stimulation especially of one's own genital organs commonly resulting in orgasm and achieved by manual or other bodily contact exclusive of sexual intercourse
moral 道德的 / - / standards of behavior; principles of right and wrong.
naked裸體的 / - / (a person or part of the body) without clothes.
normalize常態化 / - / bring or return to a normal or standard condition or state.
oppressed受欺壓的 / - / to burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints; subject to a burdensome or harsh exercise of authority or power:
oral 口語的口部的 / - / 1) spoken rather than written; verbal.
2) relating to the mouth.
pimp淫媒拉皮條的人 / - / a man who controls prostitutes and arranges clients for them, taking a percentage of their earnings in return.
profession 職業 / - / a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification.
prostitute 娼妓 / - / a person, typically a woman, who engages in sexual activity for payment.
prostitution 賣淫性交易 / - / the practice or occupation of engaging in sexual activity with someone for payment.
rape 性侵強暴 / - / a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration perpetrated against a person without that person's consent.
sadomasochistic
(sadomasochism)施虐受虐的(施虐受虐狂) / - / the activity of getting sexual pleasure from being hurt.
sex industry 性產業 / - / prostitution and pornography viewed as an industry.
sexual favors 性利益 / - / sexacts done in exchange for something (such as money)
simultaneously同時 / - / at the same time.
trafficking
(human trafficking)
人口販賣 / - / the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position for the purpose of exploitation.
transnational跨國的 / - / extending or operating across national boundaries.
underground地下的 / - / a group or movement organized secretly to work against an existing laws or government.
victimless無受害者的 / - / (of a crime) in which there is no injured person or group.
vulnerable(身體或情緒上)脆弱的 / - / exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
References in Chinese:
- 性產業政策合法化之研究──以社會秩序維護法對「性產業政策」之制定為範圍
This master thesis explores the formulation of policies related to sex industry, and discusses the effects of Social Order Maintenance Act on the industry.
- 我國成人性交易管理政策形成過程之研究—以政策網絡觀點分析
This master thesis evaluates the policymaking process behind the legalization of prostitution zones, and identifies potential results and impact in its wake.
- 情色危機：性交易管理法制新解
This book provides an overview of the sex industry, both past and present, in Taiwan, along with an introduction of the legal status of prostitution in other countries.
- 性交易少女性態度發展歷程
This master thesis delves into how teenage girls’ attitude toward sex evolves after engaging in prostitution.
- 性產業專題一：叫「性工作」太沉重
This article examines whether prostitution should be branded as sex work.
- 性產業專題二：為什麼反對性交易合法化 反性剝削聯盟的主張
反性剝削聯盟的主張
This article emphasizes the detrimental impact of prostitution itself on women, and thereby argues against legalized prostitution.
- 性產業專題三：性交易政策的正義與民主課題
This article explores the issue of social justice in prostitution law, cites democratic deliberation as a core element in addressing controversial issues, and analyzes the arguments adopted by pro-prostitution and anti-prostitution groups.
- 性交易合法化 只是看上去很開放？
This article discusses the problems associated with prostitution once it is legalized and regulated. Relevant statistics from other countries are cited.
- 性交易少女毒品使用行為及相關因素分析
This article examines the use of drug among teenage girls engaging in sex trade.
- 公視『有話好說』04/08/2011節目內容：“性交易專區？地方都說NO！”
This program presents balanced arguments concerning the establishment of prostitution zones.
- 社會秩序維護法相關條文
Social Order Maintenance Act (verbatim, in both Chinese and English)
References in English:
Problems and Causes of Prostitution
This is a National Institute of Justice webpage that has links to: 1) pathways, problems and prevention, 2) men who use prostitutes, 3) reducing demand, 4) murder of prostitutes, 5) publications related to prostitution, and 6) other web resources. It gives links to other NIJ webpages, but also some pages have links to full articles.
This webpage gives a short introduction of 1) the problem of street prostitution, 2) the harms caused by street prostitution, and 3) factors contributing to street prostitution. Under the harms of street prostitution, it covers: a) moral and nuisance concerns, b) public health concerns, c) personal safety concerns, d) spillover-effect concerns, e) economic concerns, f) civil rights concerns, and g) police integrity concerns.
This webpage presents: 1) issues associated with child prostitution, 2) factors related to the cause of prostitution, 3) the impact of child prostitution, 4) the prevention of it, and 5) solutions of under-aged prostitution problems.
A pilot study on the general health problems related to inner-city sex workers.
Prostitution in Other Countries
Explores why Danish prostitutes prostitute themselves.
The article gives an overview of prostitution in Australia. It contains many statistics and presents issues related to enforcement.
This webpage gives an overview of prostitution in the United Kingdom.
This webpage gives an overview of prostitution in India.
Feminism and Prostitution
This webpage presents the reasons that radical feminism is opposed to prostitution, which is “it degrades women and furthers the power politics of the male gender.”
Pro-legalization/Decriminalization
This webpage reports on Amnesty International “calling for the decriminalization of all aspects of prostitution.” The main reason is it “will help make sex workers safe from abuse.” It includes the text of the resolution passed at their International Council Meeting on August 11, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland.
This webpage has a short article with specific data from New Zealand that shows how certain statistics improved after legalization.
Anti-legalization/Criminalization
This webpage argues against the idea that legalization will make sex workers safer. For each point it makes, it has a link to other webpages with more details.
This webpage argues against the Canadian model but supports the Swedish model for prostitution.
This webpage presents the findings of a study. One finding is that legalization of prostitution increases sex-trafficking, especially in high income countries.
Both Pro and Cons of legalization
This is a newspaper webpage that has a specific page for recent news related legalizing prostitution. It has both pro and con news.
Academic Articles
The author did a study on attitudes in the US towards legalization of prostitution. Could be used as pro or con.
The results that legalized prostitution outside the walls of a brothel cannot guarantee sex workers will be safe. This result could be used to argue against legalization or evidence for a plan.
It is a study of prostitution in Italy, and its conclusion is against legalization because it does not reduce sex-trafficking of women. The only way to reduce sex-trafficking is to “stop the commercialization of women’s bodies in prostitution.”
The author gives ten arguments against legalization of prostitution as a way to solve problems associated with prostitution. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution: 1) is a gift to pimps, traffickers, and the sex industry; 2) promotes sex trafficking; 3) does not control the sex industry. It expands it; 4) increases clandestine, illegal and street prostitution; 5) increases child prostitution; 6) does not protect the women in prostitution; 7) increases the demand for prostitution; 8) does not promote women’s health; 9) does not enhance women’s choice; and 10) is not wanted by women in prostitution. The author advocates penalizing the demand.
The author argues the need for a unified law and enforcement in the US, and that the US should follow the Canadian and Swedish model by decriminalizing the sex workers but punishing the customers.
Taiwan Specific Evidence
This webpage presents problems with the current law legalizing prostitution in brothels in Taiwan.