Celia Williamson

Pimp-Controlled Prostitution Still an Integral Part of Street Life

Street-level prostitution is comprised of both pimp-controlled prostitution and independent entrepreneurial prostitution. Although much of the more recent research has focused on the latter group, this work reports on a qualitative study designed to understand pimp-related violence to women involved in pimp-controlled prostitution. In addition, this work contributes to the understandingof the relationships between pimps and pros titutes, the roles that each play, and the social rules of the business. Because these women constitute a significant number of those involved in street-level prostitution, more research is called for that focuses on pimp-controlled prostitution.

Understanding the Experiences of Street Level Prostitutes

Social workers come into contact with street prostitutes through the criminal justice system, child protective services, hospitals and addiction treatment centers. Understanding the motivations, risks, protective strategies and the experience of being a street prostitute is essential for providing meaningful intervention. It is important to understand the phase in which a street prostitute is living to conduct professional assessments and design targeted and effective interventions. This research explores the experiences of women who engage in street level prostitution. Street level prostitution encompasses work on the streets, in cars and motels, dancing in gentlemens clubs, massage parlor work, work at truck stops, and work in crack houses. This paper expands on the developmental phases of prostitution and describes, in particular, the emotional burdens and physical risks of women who enter, live their lives as prostitutes, and exit the prostitution lifestyle.

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: A Network of Underground Players in the Midwest

Trafficking of domestically born children in the United States into the sex trade has been recognized by the U.S. government under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2005. The Midwest has been exposed as a recruitment site for traffickers. Children who have been trafficked into prostitution often experience mental health problems, suffer physical and sexual assaults, have low self-esteem, and are put at risk for HIV/ AIDS and other health problems. This article is based on qualitative interviews with 13 trafficked children from the Midwest. Findings reveal the experiences of victims and the network of players involved in trafficking in the Midwest.

Exiting Prostitution: An Integrated Model

Exiting street-level prostitution is a complex, convoluted process. Few studies have described this process within any formal conceptual framework. This article reviews two general models and two prostitution-specific models and their applicability to the exiting process. Barriers encountered as women attempt to leave the streets are identified. Based on the four models, the barriers, the prostitution literature, and the authors’ experience with prostituted women, a new integrated six-stage model that is comprehensive in scope and sensitive to women’s attempts to exit prostitution is offered as a foundation for continued research on the process of women leaving the streets.

Violence, Risk, and Survival Strategies of Street Prostitution

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the risks and responses of street prostitutes to customer-related violence. Thirteen female street prostitutes, aged 18 to 40, were recruited from a moderate-size, midwestern city in the United States. Eight were non-Hispanic White and five were African American. Respondents participated in individual interviews to identify perceptions of work-related violence, personal risk, and self-protective survival strategies. The constant comparative method was used to analyze data.

Women in Street-based Prostitution A Typology of their Work Styles

Women engaged in street-based prostitution have been studied from a number of perspectives. Little research was found that focused on their work styles. This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of work styles of women involved in street-based prostitution in the Midwest. Of the 53 women interviewed, 12 were or had been involved in Pimp-Controlled prostitution. In Renegade prostitution were 27 women who worked as independent entrepreneurs and were interested in building a substantial client base. The remaining 14 women, involved in Outlaw prostitution, hustled, manipulated, and exploited their customers. Each work style has its own unique features, such as language, ethical behavior, and amount of control over their work activities. Understanding the work styles of prostitute women adds to the body of literature on women involved in street-based prostitution and provides some implications for social work practice and future research.

Risk Factors for Domestic Child Sex Trafficking in the United States.

Despite increased effort to respond to human trafficking at national and state levels, very little empirical research has been conducted on domestic child sex trafficking. This study retrospectively examines associations between multiple risk factors and domestic child sex trafficking (i.e., entry into the commercial sex industry under the age of 18) in a sample of individuals aged 16 and older currently involved in the commercial sex industry (N = 273). Two primary research questions are addressed: (1) What set of risk factors, prior to entering the commercial sex industry, are associated with domestic child sex trafficking and (2) what group differences, if any, exist in risk factors between current or former domestic child sex–trafficking victims and non-trafficked adults engaged in the commercial sex industry? A cross-sectional survey was administered using Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) in five cities in one Midwestern state. Overall, 115 participants (48.3%) were identified as current or former domestic child sex–trafficking victims. Bivariate results suggest that childhood emotional and sexual abuse, rape, ever running away from home, having family members in sex work, and having friends who purchased sex were significantly associated with domestic child sex trafficking. Multivariate results indicate that domestic child sex trafficking victims were significantly more likely to have ever run away and to be a racial/ethnic minority than non-trafficked adults engaged in the commercial sex industry. Findings can inform state-level policies on human trafficking and assist child protection and juvenile justice agencies in developing prevention and intervention responses to commercial sexual exploitation.

Helping victims of prostitution and trafficking: It takes a community

Child sex trafficking and adult women involved in street-based prostitution are two problems affecting the city of Toledo, Ohio. While various agencies worked independently to address these problems, there was no collaborative effort. We decided to organize a year-long roundtable that included people from Toledo-based social service, criminal justice, and health care systems, as well as concerned citizens, church groups, and survivors of prostitution. Our intent was to develop responses that were specific and sensitive not only to the needs of prostituted women and trafficked teens, but also to service providers and members of the community. In this article, we report on our project, its accomplishments, and lessons learned. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved). (journal abstract)

Offenders Who Are Mothers with and without Experience in Prostitution: Differences in Historical Trauma, Current Stressors, and Physical and Mental Health Differences

BACKGROUND Women offenders are a growing population in the criminal justice system; most are mothers. A subset of these women have a history of prostitution. Despite more recent research identifying the needs of women offenders who are mothers, those with and without experience in prostitution are still generally represented in the literature as a homogenous group. METHODS This study examined the differences between mothers who indicated that they had engaged in prostitution with those who had not. The data were from a survey of offending mothers in a Midwestern city and was based on 889 respondents. Approximately 20% of the women indicated that they had engaged in prostitution at some point in their lives. FINDINGS Mothers with histories of prostitution reported more exposure to violence, witnessing crime, living in areas with high drug activity, and having a higher rate of physical and mental health problems. CONCLUSIONS Health care professionals who interact with mothers in the criminal justice system who have histories of prostitution should be careful to assess for a history of trauma and its psychological consequences. Along with increased health care needs, interventions are needed to help these women obtain basic needs such as stable housing outside of high crime and high drug-use areas and to receive targeted psychological services that respond to the unique trauma suffered by this subpopulation of offenders.

The Career Counseling Needs of Mothers in the Criminal Justice System.

The past 2 decades have produced a rapid increase in the numbers of incarcerated mothers. This study investigated both career development and the career counseling needs of mothers in the criminal justice system. A mixed-methods design was employed using both qualitative interviews (n = 1,161) and quantitative survey methods (n = 1,170). Identified needs included counseling regarding continuing education and vocational training, access to health care, and counseling to recover from work in the sex trade.