HISTORICALLY, SOCIAL SCIENTISTS HAVE PAINTED THE PROSTITUTE AS A VICTIM OF SOCIETY, A POOR SOUL ENSLAVED BY HER PIMP. THIS PICTURE PROBABLY RESULTS FROM THE FACT THAT PROSTITUTION LAWS ARE SELECTIVELY ENFORCED AND THE ONLY WOMEN PICKED UP ARE THOSE WHO ACTIVELY SOLICIT ON THE STREETS OR WHO ARE DRUG ADDICTS. THE HIGH-CLASS CALL GIRL OR THE WAITRESS OR SECRETARY WHO SELLS SEXUAL FAVORS ON THE SIDE SELDOM COMES TO POLICE, AND THUS RESEARCHERS', ATTENTION. MANY WOMEN WILLINGLY CHOOSE PROSTITUTION, MANY EARN AS MUCH AS $50,000 A YEAR, AND MOST OPENLY DISDAIN THE ROUTINE OF THE TRADITIONAL WOMAN'S LIFE. THE PIMP-PROSTITUTE RELATIONSHIP IS ALSO SEEN AS TWO-WAY, WITH GIRLS ACTIVELY SOLICITING PIMPS WHO CAN GIVE THEM MORE STATUS AND BETTER MONEY. RESEARCH AMONG PROSTITUTES INDICATES THAT THE FACTORS WHICH ENABLE A WOMAN TO ACCEPT THE DEVIANT STATUS INHERENT IN PROSTITUTION ARE EXPOSURE TO THE PROSTITUTION LIFE STYLE, POOR PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND NEGATIVE SEXUAL EXPERIENCES. MOST OF THE WOMEN WERE VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT; MOST LEFT HOME BEFORE AGE 17. INCEST AND RAPE WERE COMMONLY REPORTED, AS WAS NEGATIVE LABELING BECAUSE THE GIRL DATED MANY BOYS. THESE EXPERIENCES LED TO A NEGATIVE OR SEXUALLY OBJECTIFIED SELF-IMAGE. PROSTITUTION LAWS, AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN AND ENFORCED, ARE CALLED VICTIMIZING BECAUSE THEY AFFECT ONLY POORER PROSTITUTES, AND MEN INVOLVED ARE USUALLY NEVER ARRESTED. A HEALTH-CARD SYSTEM IS URGED. DECRIMINALIZATION IS CALLED THE ONLY VIABLE ALTERNATIVE BECAUSE AS LONG AS SOCIETY LIMITS OCCUPATIONAL CHOICES FOR WOMEN, PROSTITUTION WILL BE A VIABLE PROFESSION. NOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE APPENDED. (GLR)