Sister Oppressions: A Comparison of Wife Battering and Prostitution

• NCJ Number: 205049
• Journal: Journal of Trauma Practice Volume: 2 Issue: 3/4 Dated: 2003 Pages: 17-32
• Author(s): Christine Stark; Carol Hodgson
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research Paper
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article draws comparisons between domestic violence and prostitution, asserting that prostitution is the battery of women and girls.

Abstract

Although prostituted women and girls suffer sexual, physical, and emotional violence in much the same manner as battered women, prostitutes are often not treated as victims of violence by treatment service providers. The authors assert that there are more similarities than differences between domestic violence and prostitution and, as such, service providers should treat prostitution as battery. Many similarities are drawn between domestic violence and prostitution, including similarities between the victims, the perpetrators, and the types of services that best address the problem. The connections between pornography, woman battering, and prostitution are discussed as the authors argue that all three are interconnected and pornography plays a central role in both domestic violence and prostitution. Other similarities between domestic violence and prostitution include the techniques used by batterers and pimps to control women, high homelessness rates, physical injuries, problems accessing healthcare, substance abuse, and problems accessing treatment. The harm suffered by prostituted women, although very similar to the harm suffered by other victims of violence, is not culturally, politically, or socially recognized. When prostitutes and women victimized by pornography attempt to access social support systems, they need to be understood as victims of violence and assisted in such a manner. Programs should be developed specifically for prostituted girls and women in conjunction with battered women’s shelters and homeless shelters. Anti-rape organizations, homeless shelters, and health care facilities should reach out to prostituted women. More generally, social justice and health care organizations must publicly state that prostitution and pornography are forms of violence against women and should be treated accordingly. Through this type of recognition of prostituted women as legitimate victims of violence, those who have been prostituted become humanized. Notes, references