NCJ Number
101134
Date Published
1985
Length
241 pages
Annotation
Using interview data collected over 25 years (1959-84), this study presents demographic and psychological profiles of prostitutes and their clients.
Abstract
A total of 154 prostitutes working in a variety of contexts in Northeastern, Eastern, and Southern States were interviewed. Descriptions of the organizational contexts of prostitution cover street prostitution, brothels, truck stops, hotels-motels, roadside lounges, resident homes, massage parlors, and call girls. The prostitute's profile encompasses demographic characteristics; childhood upbringing, perceptions, and experiences; preprostitution sexual and work experience; and motivations for entering and continuing in prostitution. A description of the prostitute's life addresses the sexual services provided, attitudes toward clients, police contacts, drugs, disease, relationship to conventional society, relationship with the pimp, and the prostitute's life after leaving the profession. The sexual responses of the prostitute are examined in a separate chapter. The amateur prostitute is profiled and differentiated from the professional prostitute. The prostitute's client is profiled in the areas of age, education, occupation, marital status and satisfaction, and motivation for patronizing prostitutes. The concluding chapter considers the legal and social aspects of prostitution. Glossary and 69-item bibliography.