system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why is prostitution illegal?
gpt
In historic times, prostitution used to lead to illegitimate children (bastards).  Children raised illegitimately were poor or poorly brought up, leading to an increase in crime.  Prostitution became associated with the ills of society.  Banning it was seen as a solution, and in many places it worked.  Wide-spread, affordable, effective birth control is a relatively modern invention, and its effects haven't been fully realized yet.