NCJ Number
59038
Date Published
1979
Length
151 pages
Annotation
FEMALE JUVENILES OFTEN RUN AWAY FROM HOME AND GO INTO PROSTITUTION BECAUSE OF NEGATIVE IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT AND LACK OF MEANINGFUL ALTERNATIVES. INTERVENTION SHOULD BUILD SELF-ESTEEM AND OFFER VOCATIONAL CHOICES.
Abstract
A SURVEY OF THE LITERATURE, INTERVIEWS WITH GIRLS UNDER 18 WHO HAD ENGAGED IN PROSTITUTION, AND INTERVIEWS WITH COUNSELORS WHO WORK WITH THESE GIRLS WERE USED TO COLLECT DATA FOR DEVELOPING A PICTURE OF THE ADOLESCENT PROSTITUTE. THE GIRLS DEVELOP LOW SELF-ESTEEM AS THE RESULT OF NEGATIVE HOME, SCHOOL, AND PEER EXPERIENCES. CHILD ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE, AND NEGLECT ARE OFTEN FOUND IN THEIR HOME BACKGROUNDS, ALTHOUGH SOME GIRLS COMPLAIN ONLY THAT THEY WERE TREATED AS AN IMPERSONAL OBJECT. THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM CONTRIBUTES TO PROSTITUTION BY OVERRACTING TO MINOR CRIME COMMITTED BY YOUNG WOMEN. PROSTITUTES OFTEN HAVE A HISTORY OF FOSTER HOME AND INSTITUTIONAL PLACEMENTS MADE TO 'PROTECT' THEM. INSTEAD, THESE PLACEMENTS 'CRIMINALIZE' THEM AND COMPOUND THEIR OTHER PROBLEMS. GIRLS IN TROUBLE NEED MORE MEANINGFUL COUNSELING AIMED AT HELPING THEM REGAIN SELF-ESTEEM. THEY ALSO NEED NONDETERIORATING PLACES TO LIVE WHEN THEY RUN AWAY FROM HOME, EMANCIPATION IN SOME CASES, AND PROVISIONS FOR JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATION. COUNSELORS MUST DEVELOP A REALISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HUSTLER SUBCULTURE TO THE ADOLESCENT PROSTITUTE. IF THE GIRL DEVELOPS SELF-ESTEEM, BECOMES ANGRY AT THE VICTIM ROLE IMPOSED BY THE PIMP, AND IS GIVEN ALTERNATIVES, CHANGE IS POSSIBLE. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (GLR)