NCJ Number
64014
Journal
Revue internationale de criminologie et de police technique Volume: 32 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY-MARCH 1979) Pages: 62-66
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
ATTITUDES OF FRENCH PROSTITUTES TOWARD THEMSELVES AND THEIR EFFECTS OF THEIR LIFE STYLES ARE EXPLORED.
Abstract
THERE ARE NUMEROUS DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROSTITUTES, ALL WITH VARYING LIFE STYLES--WHAT IS SLAVERY FOR ONE IS THE HIGH LIFE FOR ANOTHER. BUT THE VOCABULARY OF MOST PROSTITUTES SIMULTANEOUSLY BETRAYS ASPIRATIONS TO RESPECTABILITY AND ADMITS FAMILIARITY WITH A VULGAR WORLD; ALMOST ALL EXPRESS THE RETICENCE THEY FELT IN LAUNCHING THEIR DEVIANT CAREERS. DESCRIPTIONS BY PROSTITUTES OF A MONOTONOUS, IMPERSONAL LIFE AND OF BEING TREATED AS AN OBJECT REVEAL A PROCESS OF DEPERSONALIZATION. MANY PROSTITUTES LEAD A DOUBLE EXISTENCE, AS ORDINARY WOMEN BY DAY AND VULGAR PROSTITUTES BY NIGHT, SEEKING RESPECTABILITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CHILDREN. PROSTITUTES FIND IT DIFFICULT TO QUIT BECAUSE OF THE GOOD PAY WHICH THEY CAN EARN WITHOUT REFERENCES, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, OR REGULAR HOURS. PANDERING HAS CHANGED RECENTLY FROM A FULL-TIME ACTIVITY TO A PART-TIME JOB PURSUED UNDER COVER OF A PROFESSION. PANDERERS FREQUENTLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PROSTITUTES AND SOMETIMES EVEN TORTURE THEM. FROM THE STANDPOINT OF CLIENTS, PROSTITUTES ARE NOT EVEN REALLY WOMEN. THE PROSTITUTE'S WORK REFLECTS THE DEGRADATION OF SOCIETY AND GIVES TESTIMONY OF REPRESSION, INSULTS, AND TERRIBLE TREATMENT OVER MANY CENTURIES. ACCORDING TO THE FINDINGS OF THE 1979 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS, PROSTITUTION AND ITS NEGATIVE EFFECTS ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH HUMAN DIGNITY AND ENDANGER INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. WHILE FRANCE CONSENTED TO THE U.N. AGREEMENT, THE AGREEMENT'S PRINCIPLES HAVE YET TO BE PUT INTO PRACTICE. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)