Saturday, 15 January 2005 - 12:00 PM

This presentation is part of: Poster Session II

Typology of Street Level Prostitution: Reclaiming Work with the Vulnerable, Poor, and Oppressed

Since the introduction of crack-cocaine into street level prostitution and the rising rates of both customer-related violence and high-risk heterosexual HIV transmission, helping professionals have become increasingly alarmed about the well-being of women involved in sex work. Professional helpers across the country have struggled to develop effective interventions to reduce the risks found among this population of vulnerable, poor, and oppressed women. Helpers are limited, in part, by a monolithic portrayal of the street level prostitute and the absence of relevant research that delineates the types of street level prostitutes and the degree to which common risk factors are associated with each type. It is suggested here that the type of street level prostitute significantly shapes the lifestyles of women and therefore impacts their involvement with risk factors commonly associated with street level prostitution, namely, HIV/AIDS, violence, drug abuse, and physical and emotional well-being. Types” are defined as women grouped together because of particular behaviors and roles that are influenced by social norms, peers, working conditions, work routines, and occupational ideology. In the fields of health and human services, limited understanding of the various types of street level prostitutes, leads to one-size-fits all assessments. Limited assessments contribute to partially effective interventions. Outreach efforts, peer support projects, and case management programs currently being employed across the U.S. may be more or less effective with various types of street level prostitutes. The findings of this study identified a typology of street level prostitutes, namely, Conventional Pimp-Controlled Prostitutes, Renegade Prostitutes, and Outlaw Prostitutes. The study identifies how women involved in street level prostitution identified themselves and within this identification, how women managed common risk factors. Ultimately helping professionals who are targeting this population will be provided the information they need to offer increasingly effective programming that is informed by the knowledge base and tailored to the needs of street level prostitutes in order to slow the spread of HIV and reduce other prostitution-related risk factors. This qualitative grounded theory research was guided by one major question: What are the common types of street level prostitutes and in what ways are these types related to 4 risk factors (HIV, drug abuse, violence, and emotional and physical deterioration)?” While focusing on common types of street level prostitutes, attention was given to those moderating and mediating variables. Findings from qualitative interviews were used to respond to the presence of context, attention to shared cultural practices, and occupational norms found in the typology of women in street level prostitution. A snowball technique was used to engage the participation of 45 adult women who were currently involved or who had exited prostitution up to 90 days prior to the interview. All of the women had been involved in street level prostitution as defined as women whose primary prostitution activities occurred on the streets and in cars. Twenty-eight (28) African American and 17 European American women participated in the study. Interviews lasted between one and two hours. All data was transcribed verbatim and analyzed using grounded theory methodology.

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