It is better for prostitu- tion to be decriminalized. And this brings us more directly to the policies most feminists now advocate against the economic associates of whores, and which prostitute activists decry. The meaning of abolition is fairly clear. Legalization refers to some form of state controlled prostitution, for example, the creation of red light districts. For example, some countries in Europe indicate whether someone is a prostitute on her passport, and other countries automatically refuse entry to her on that basis.
Decriminalization is the opposite of legalization.
With startling consistency, the Prostitutes' Rights Movement calls for the decriminalization of all aspects of prostitution. You will sometimes hear anti-prostitution feminists describe their position as 'decriminalization with the goal of abolition'. But, in using the term 'decriminalization', each side means something very different. Prostitute activists mean that all aspects of prostitution must be legally tolerated. Namely, they are now arresting the men.