Prostitution...Exploiting Yourself or Exploiting Men?

What is a prostitute? Webster's dictionary defines,

Prostitution: the practice of engaging in relatively indiscriminate sexual activity, in general with individuals other than a spouse or friend, in exchange for immediate payment in money or OTHER valuables.

This begs the question are 'Gold Diggers' prostitutes? They use their sexuality to part rich men of gifts, holidays, etc. Is this any different to prostitution or escorting, just because it doesn't take place on the streets?

Stats

AGES:

Average age of entry: 14-16 yrs
Average mean age: 31
Average years in prostitution: 11
Percent younger than age 18 at entry: 42%
Threatened with a weapon: 78%

Physically assaulted: 82%
Raped more than five times: 73%
Current or past homelessness: 84%
As a child, was hit or beaten by a caregiver until injured or bruised: 49%
Upset by an attempt to make them do what had been seen in pornography: 32%
Pornography made of her in prostitution: 49%
Drug Addiction: 75%
Alcohol Addiction: 26%

The women who sell their body are of the most venerable part of society.
-They are often forced into it by a need of money to feed addictions.
-They often have a 'pimp' who takes a percentage of their earnings.
-They are often bought into the country for the purpose of prostitution often unknowingly or unwillingly.

The act of prostitution itself is often not the problem, it is the links to drugs, abuse, rape, people trafficking and gang violence.

'Men who pay for sex are indirectly supporting drug dealers and organised crime groups, and funding violence and abuse.' home office.

I personally believe all the above would be eradicated if prostitution was legalised and put in specific places where it could be monitored, The people using prostitutes could be logged so if a prostitute suffers abuse it can be dealt with, there would be support for prostitutes to get out of it and pimps taking their money would be stopped. If this did happen serial killers such as 'The Suffolk Strangler', 'The Yorkshire Ripper' and 'Jack the Ripper' may never have had access to the most venerable sector of society.

Would you leave prostitution: 87%
Need home or safe place: 78%
Need job training: 73%
Need peer support: 50%
Need legal assistance: 42%
Need alcohol and drug treatment: 67%
Self defense training: 49%

The Statistics on this page are from http://powerhouse-ministry.org/annielobert_prostitution.aspx