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Red Light, Blue Light: Prostitutes, Punters and the Police

NCJ Number
178398
Author(s)
Karen Sharpe
Date Published
1998
Length
230 pages
Annotation
This book examines a variety of personal developmental experiences and socio-situational factors that may influence women to enter prostitution, and analyzes how the women define, perceive, and rationalize their activity.
Abstract
The book outlines the backgrounds and circumstances of 40 women working as prostitutes in a city in northern England. The book is divided into nine chapters: (1) outline of research methodology, theories and procedures; (2) the women’s personal developmental backgrounds and motivating factors; (3) sociological and “business” aspects of prostitution in the city; (4) problems and coping strategies; (5) “criminality” of the prostitutes and their association with crime and drug use; (6) general profile of the men who pay for sex; (7) the role of the police; (8) prostitutes’ opinions about “alternate strategies” for their business; and (9) summary of the study’s main points. Tables, appendixes, bibliography, glossary, index