Of course, in regards to prostitution, if that is in fact the purpose behind the ban, then why is the overwhelming majority of the prosecution on the women rather than on the men who employ them? And the entire attitude towards that is paternalistic in either case. By making it illegal, you are relegating it to fringes where women can be taken disadvantaged of more easily because they have less legal recourses-rape is even less reported among sex workers because they fear being prosecuted if they report the crimes against them. Why do you think criminalizing something will somehow prevent women from being forced into doing something? It doesn't protect women in the least, it just makes it more dangerous for them.
And not all women who want to go into sex work are forced into it. Many are, but I believe in the case of the places in Nevada where it's been legalized and regulated there are a good many women who both entered the profession legally and who very much enjoy their work.