Exposing the "Pretty Woman" Myth: A Qualitative Examination of the Lives of Female Streetwalking Prostitutes

Journal of Sex Research, Nov, 2000 by Rochelle L. Dalla

Many routes to prostitution exist, as do avenues for beginning the recovery process. Not all women wanting assistance will seek help, and not all women seeking help will leave the streets. Recognizing prostitution-involved women as embedded within unique social and ecological contexts is vital for intervention to effectively meet their individual needs. The purpose of this investigation was to examine, in depth, points of divergence and patterns of similarity among women engaged in streetwalking prostitution. The primary goal was to examine streetwalking women as individuals, first and foremost. Recognizing the unique qualities and characteristics of women engaged in streetwalking will allow for a new dialogue to emerge, with subsequent implications for policy, practice, and social awareness. Attention centered on three primary life segments, including (a) childhood and life events prior to prostitution entry, (b) life in the game, and (c) leaving the streets.

METHOD

Participants

Forty-three women comprised the final sample, a subgroup of 5 were chosen and their developmental experiences are described at length (see Table 1: Demographic information for the entire sample of 43 and the subgroup of 5 is displayed). Participants ranged in age from 19 to 56 (mean = 33.37). Most identified themselves as White (n = 20) or Black (n = 18); five were Native American. The majority lived in shelters (n = 16) or were incarcerated (n = 14). Others lived alone or with their children (n = 4), with a parent (n = 2), with friends (n = 1), or with their partners/husbands (n = 6). Years of education ranged from seven to college experience (mean = 9.3 years). Most (n = 40) of the women were no longer involved in prostitution-related activities, although length of time since the last incident of prostitution varied dramatically, from less than 6 months (n = 17), to 6 months to 1 year (n = 13), to 1 or more years (n = 10). The majority (n = 41) reported that they had been addicted to drugs; drugs of choice included alcohol and crack cocaine. Length of sobriety largely corresponded with length of time since last incident of prostitution.

Table 1. Demographic Information: Total Sample and Subgroup

Variables                         Total sample          Subgroup
                                    (n = 43)            (n = 5)
Age
  Mean                                33.3                38.8
  Mode                                37.0
  Range                              19 - 56            30 - 56
Race/ethnicity (n)
  Black                                18                  2
  White                                20                  3
  Native American                       5
Marital status (n)
  Never married                        22                  2
  Married                              10                  1
  Divorced                              9                  1
  Separated                             2                  1
Residence (n)
  Shelter                              16                  2
  Friends                               3                  1
  Prison                               14
  Partner/husband                       6                  1
  Alone/with children                   4                  1
Education
  Mean                                 9.3                11.6
  Range                             7th - 2 yr.         9th - 2 yr.
                                    college             college
  GED (n)                              14                  1
Employed(a) (n)                        21                  4
Children
  Mothers (n)                          38                  5
  Number of children (total)          105(b)              21
    Mean                              2.4                 4.2
    Range                             1 - 7              2 - 7
  Child(ren)'s Residence (n)
    Mother                             10                  1
    Father                             19                  4
    Grandparent                         9                  1
    On Own                             14                  5
    Foster Care                        22                  7
    Adopted                             8
    Aunt                               12
    Otherc                             11                  3
Prostitution
  Age at entry
    Mean                              19.4                19.6
    Mode                              18
    Range                            11 - 31             14- 31
  Time in sex industry(d)
    Mean                           11.45 yrs.           19 yrs.
    Range                        6 mos. - 44 yrs.     7 - 44 yrs.
Drugs(e) (n)                            41                 5
Drug abuse (n)
  Preprostitution                      16                  1
  Concurrent with prostitution          8                  1
  Postprostitution                     17                  3