85% of women involved in prostitution report a history of childhood sexual abuse
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“Crack is like a rollercoaster ride. Once you start, you can't get off that train for a while...” |
Becky was arrested and brought to jail many times. There, she met women engaged in street prostitution, and she was introduced to their lifestyle. Becky told me she was so innocent at the time, even though she had already been exchanging sex for drugs, she did not realize she could be exchanging sex for money. Women engaged in the lifestyle told Becky to find a specific woman who was known for being involved in street prostitution for a long time. When Becky was released from jail, she went downtown and found the woman sleeping on the ground outside St. Francis House. The woman began to teach Becky how to walk the streets. Becky said she became infatuated with the street life, and wanted to be the best at it. She was the youngest and the freshest, so she made a lot of money. She remembers buying herself a laptop, clothes, and fancy jewelry to maintain her business. |
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“I was so green, I was so immature and naive...” |
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“We asked God to point us to at least one woman that night...” |
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“No one has ever shown any care before...that's why we go in search of our sisters...” |
Romeo vs. Gorilla Pimps by Hailey Anderton
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Becky described to me the different kinds of pimps she encountered in the streets. She said was mostly involved with romeo pimps, pimps that psychologically manipulate and usually establish themselves as a boyfriend figure. She also recalled encountering a well-known gorilla/guerilla pimp, which is a pimp that controls by violence and physical force, but she made sure to avoid him at all costs. Recently, that man was sentenced to prison for life. |
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“...I could always lean on them.” |
“At this point, I'm just tired... to a tired I've never felt before, where I really just want out.” |
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“...it's hard for us women to find refuge and find places we can go to be safe” |
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“Just those little steps in my life took me to where I am today.” |
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