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

Abandonment, either literal or symbolic, emerged as a second defining characteristic and was evident in the lives of 28 of the female participants. Literal abandonment, such as that described above by Amy, Barb, and Sam, occurred most typically through parental death or desertion. Parental alcoholism, drug abuse, mental instability, and severe domestic violence resulted in feelings of emotional (or symbolic) abandonment, as well. Symbolic abandonment also comprised instances when sexual abuse was reported but ignored. When she told her mother her stepfather was sexually abusing her, for instance, one participant explained, verbatim, her mother's reaction: "That's between you and him." Similarly, after disclosing sexual abuse from her uncle, another participant was told by her mother, "... sometimes things happen and you just have to let them go." Because of parental death, domestic violence, or drug abuse, nine of the women were removed from their families of origin and placed in foster care. Many moved from one foster home to another; these situations rarely provided a sense of stability or cohesion. One of the participants, for instance, noted having been in 27 different foster homes by the age of 18. Three reported being sexually abused within their foster homes.

Not surprisingly, leaving home appeared more attractive than staying for many of the women. Seventeen of the women ran away from home (or their foster homes) before or during early adolescence (ages 11-13). Several of the women reported running away to be with their boyfriends, others simply hitched rides with truckers and other strangers to unknown destinations. Five of the women noted traveling from one state to another, never staying in any one place more than a few months. One young woman described spending several years traveling intermittently with various carnivals. She felt the strongest interpersonal connections with street people and carnival friends, stating, "Just because you have [family] doesn't mean they're going to be there for you ... sometimes you have to learn to detach to save yourself."

Life in the game. The average age of entry into prostitution was 19.4 years. Length of time involved in prostitution activities varied. Seven women reported short term involvement (ranging from 5 months to 3 years; mean = 1.6 years; mode = 1 year). Thirty-six reported long term involvement (3.1 to 41 years; mean = 12.9 years; mode = 15 years). Drug abuse and economic necessity were described as the primary reasons for entering the sex industry.

Forty-one of the participants reported drug abuse (drug usage as routine part of their lives). Sixteen of those women were drawn to prostitution to support an established drug habit; eight reported that prostitution entry and drug abuse occurred simultaneously. Crack cocaine was the drug of choice, although heroin, alcohol, and marijuana were also used frequently. One participant explained her addiction to crack by stating, "One hit is too many, one-thousand hits are not enough." Several reported, "There's no reason to be out there if not for the drugs." Still, 41% reported entering prostitution out of (real or perceived) economic necessity. Nine runaways exchanged sexual services for rides, shelter, and food. Twelve others reported that income generated from prostitution paid their rent and fed their children. Amy, described above, was a single mother of two, lacking familial support, education, and marketable skills when she began regular prostitution activity. She engaged in street-level sex work because "I needed it [the money] to survive." She explained further, however, "It's [prostitution] quick and easy money, tax free, but it could cost you your life, and it does cost you your self-worth." Others simply enjoyed the lifestyle they were afforded through prostitution-related activities. "The money," noted one participant, "is more addicting than anything else." Despite economic need propelling these women into prostitution, they were not necessarily drug free. Fifty-three percent reported recreational drug use before prostitution entry, and 76% reported becoming regular users following prostitution entry.(3) Interesting also is that, following routine and consistent drug use, these women often reported that their rates for sexual services declined precipitously (an ironic twist), findings which parallel those described by Feucht (1993).