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Legal
and Moral Issues of a Massage Parlor
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Lexically a massage parlor is an establishment that offers therapeutic massage. But ‘also lexically’ it is an establishment that offers illicit sexual services under the guise of therapeutic massage. It is no wonder thus that government agencies look upon massage parlors with a frown. The federal government recognizes that sometimes massage parlors are fronts for prostitution, and that sex trafficking is used to supply the prostitutes.
In the U.S., regulations are being put in place to separate massage from massage parlors. This might leave a massage parlor not a legitimage palce for masasge but only a sensuality spot. While they abound in many states, a number of interstate massage parlors serve lonely truck drivers and travelers. Again, theft and disease are commonly reported in people patronizing them.
Etiquette in a Massage Parlor
Given the nexus between massage parlors and prostitution, customers are advised to follow a set of rules of etiquette. Many customers think that since they are paying for the services at the massage parlor, they do not have to follow any code of manners. This is deplorable and any customer attending a parlor must follow some basic rules. These are:
The nature of massage service gives many people an air of arrogance against the massage therapist. It is obligatory to speak to the massage therapist politely and with respect since they are professional service providers and not personal servants.
Massage is a sensual experience, mostly giving arousal to sexual desire. It is important to remember that you are not in the parlor for sex. Hence, as a customer you are not allowed to make any sexual comments to the therapist.
It is not prohibited to give tip to a massage therapist. However, such condescension should not be in exchange of sexual favor from the therapist. In the US, this is not legal. In Canada, exchange of money for sexual favors between two consenting adults is not illegal.
Massage Clinics
The legal and moral issues associated with getting service at a massage parlor reveal massage clinics as a better choice for customers. In massage clinics, therapy concentrates on muscles only as against massage parlors where sexual stimulation might be offered. Certified massage therapists are working at such clinics. Here, the service providers can be male or female while in parlors it is often the fair sex for sexual reasons. Also, no tips are given at massage clinics and few legal or moral concerns are involved in massage clinics.
