THE FIRST STUDY WAS CONDUCTED BETWEEN 1970 AND 1972 WITH A SAMPLE OF 72 ADULT PROSTITUTES AND 20 ADOLESCENT PROSTITUTES CONTACTED ON THE STREET AND IN JAIL. THE SECOND STUDY, CONDUCTED DURING 1974-1975, INCLUDED 136 PROSTITUTES CONTACTED IN THE SAME WAY; 68 OF THESE SUBJECTS WERE ALSO DEFINED AS ADDICTS. BOTH STUDIES INVOLVED QUESTIONNAIRES, INTERVIEWS, AND ETHNOGRAPHIC FIELD OBSERVATION; ALL DATA ARE THEREFORE 'SELF-REPORT.' INFORMATION ON 'NORMAL' FEMALE SEXUAL EXPERIENCE WAS OBTAINED LARGELY FROM STUDIES CONDUCTED BY KINSEY AND ASSOCIATES. THE PROSTITUTES HAD IN COMMON MANY NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES NOT FOUND OR FOUND LESS OFTEN IN OTHER POPULATIONS OF YOUNG WOMEN. THESE INCLUDE INCESTUOUS AND/OR COERCED SEX, LACK OF PARENTAL GUIDANCE, INTERCOURSE AT A YOUNG AGE, AND FEW OR NO MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH MALES. THESE WOMEN HAD DISCOVERED THAT SEX COULD LEAD TO A KIND OF STATUS, EVEN THOUGH THAT STATUS IS NEGATIVELY LABELED BY THE WIDER CULTURE. IN A SOCIETY THAT VALUES WOMEN ON THE BASIS OF THEIR SEXUALITY, A WOMAN WHO VIEWS HERSELF AS 'DEBASED' MAY SEE PROSTITUTION AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE. SUPPORTING STATISTICS AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).