The study found that being a registered sex offender appeared to have affected these women in the areas of housing and interpersonal relationships, more so than in the areas of employment and harassment. In addition, every respondent reported at least one negative effect on her life as a result of being identified on the public registry. Previous research studies argue that being female and a registered sex offender poses unique problems. However, the effect of the registry on women is unknown. The purpose of this research, therefore, was to explore the experiences of women processed as sex offenders in the criminal justice system and to describe the effects of a public sex offender registry. Specifically, their experiences were assessed in terms of their ability to successfully reintegrate themselves into society. Key areas of focus included their ability to obtain housing and employment along with maintaining key interpersonal relationships with friends and family members. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine female sex offenders in the central Illinois and east Texas regions. Table, notes, and references