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Aspects of Violence in Prostitution (From Perspectives on Rape and Sexual Assault, P 25-36, 1984, June Hopkins, ed. - See NCJ-105029)

NCJ Number
105032
Author(s)
S Cunnington
Date Published
1984
Length
12 pages
Annotation
At the microlevel, prostitutes can be viewed as being in a position of power because they can raise prices, refuse the male's demands, and even resort to violence (e.g., rolling clients). However, in general, men still overtly and covertly engage in violence against women.
Abstract
Historically, women, because of their gender and status, have suffered violent sexual abuse by men. While women today are beginning to break out of constraining female sex-roles, white slavery still exists, and the media continues to encourage violence against women. In addition to cultural forms of violence directed against women, the prostitute is exposed to two additional sources of violence. Pimps, for whom prostitutes often work, may deprive the woman of most of her earnings and may resort to physical violence as a means of control or when earnings fall below expectations. Clients also often resort to violence against prostitutes either because of pathology or out of resentment, shame, or guilt. For most prostitutes, violence comes eventually to be viewed as an occupational hazard. An appendix lists eight incidents of violence by or against prostitutes reported to the Metropolitan Toronto Police (Canada).

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