I think it's both of your answers. For some it'll be a job they tolerate. For others it's a job they like. For others it's a job they strongly dislike and do to eat.

It is noteworthy is that a side-effect of capitalism is we push people towards these sorts of behaviors for money, even if they don't want to do them. Prostitution is one of the better arguments for the existence of some form of living wage...or else benefits for people who can't work, or with children they can't support, and food stamps, and all those sorts of safety nets.

Any form of sexual objectification is the opposite of human empowerment. Risky and promiscuous sexual behavior is often misunderstood, and misjudged, and justified, in an attempt to try to accept it, when in reality, it is a very common symptom of childhood sexual abuse, and represents a confused understanding of thoughts and feelings present in the adult survivor’s subconscious. Fear, as well. They justify the behaviors, almost as a last resort, because they cannot understand why they are compelled to act these behaviors out. They are re-enacting the trauma, in a subconscious attempt to resolve it, with a genuine lack of awareness, that this is occurring. It makes perfect sense when one considers the context, and is not an irrational Response, to horrific abuse. It is a nightmare for the survivor, with little genuine and effective help available to guide them through, what is likely, childhood trauma. But they aren’t who they think they are, and they are definitely not behind help, and of course, redemption. They aren’t crazy, or sick, they are terribly, and very understandably confused. They think they are far more “messed up” than they actually are. It is far more common than I could possibly have known, sadly. My partner revealed this abuse, to me. And subsequently, it seemed to pop up in many aspects of my life, via other friends, students (I was a professor) and so on. Society turns a blind eye to sexual abuse. It is the greatest sin we have committed, as a society, against ourselves and children. The most common form of this abuse, occurring in the home. Can you imagine being forced to live with the person who assaulted or assaults you repeatedly, and lies about it, every day? What would this do a child? To the adult who survived it? Oh, and let’s not forget, expected to “love” the person who hurt and betrayed you the most? Children have to repress memories of this abuse, to survive it. It is a common trauma response to repress aspects of memory, among all severe trauma survivors.

It’s a mistake to link prostitution to capitalism in the first place. If you think there is no prostitution under socialist regimes you probably need to get out more.

Asking questions like this post sometimes are tools of socialists to get people to think of human nature as something someone should change. They don't ask who will decide. Nor do they ask if human nature can be changed by humans to positive effect. These are better questions.

Marxism assumes human nature can be changed. And it assumes Marxists should do the changing, including killing anyone who doesn't go along. History proves them wrong.

Prostitution degrades and reduces the beauty of love making. Making love should be revered as one of the greatest pleasures we can experience. With prostitution all it is, is a mechanization.

Prostitution as an arrangement between consenting adults should have the same standing as any other legal arrangement between consenting adults.