Framing is an amazing persuasion tool which I continue to explore and in this article, I've chosen some pretty volatile topics to make a pretty powerful point.

Everybody knows about the world's 'oldest profession' and whether you're an opponent or proponent, it's not going anywhere. Prostitution is illegal in most of the U.S. and unfortunately is connected to drugs and violence, disease and abuse. That's one frame. We can all agree on that, can't we? But how about a different frame? An acquaintance and former student of mine sent me the following link in an e-mail. He wrote, 'Check out this frame.' His link connected me to the International Committee for Prostitute's Rights. http://www.walnet.org/csis/groups/icpr_charter.html

I did a little further research and found that there's an organization called C.O.Y.O.T.E. It stands for Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics. This is a 'sex worker's' rights organization. (Notice the shift from 'prostitutes' to 'sex workers'.)

There's a pretty strong movement in the U.S. and all over Europe, to decriminalize prostitution and ensure rights and protection to the people working in the industry. To me, that's a new frame. I had never heard of such a thing and it really struck me as interesting.

Proponents of this frame differentiate between the prostitutes who are being victimized and the sex workers who feel empowered in the industry. The issue is certainly complex with the emotional fire that politics and sexuality can inspire.

One of their arguments is that this kind of work is an important part of the economy and that just looking to the legalized prostitution in Nevada and in other countries, points to how some of the dangers can be taken out of the industry by way of regulation. Get rid of the pimps, the violence is cut down. Mandatory monthly medical treatment and safe practices, nearly eliminate the medical and health dangers.

The proponents have taken this highly charged issue out of the frame of morality, and put it in the frame of 'important part of the economy'. Advocates of legalizing drugs use the same argument.

I'd be angry to learn how much tax money is spent each year prosecuting and imprisoning pot growers/users and working girls, so the idea of decriminalizing these 'vitimless crimes' intrigues me. I'm also love the idea that there's a new frame in town regarding this and butting up to the cultural collective's construct of reality where the issue of sex work is concerned.

I'm not going to become an activist for these causes, but I am excited when I come to learn of a new way to look at a subject or issue once thought etched in stone. With framing, whoever has the stronger one wins.