The Sexual Exploitation of Girls in the United States

Abstract

The role of women in the sex trafficking of minors in the United States has received limited research attention. Case study analysis of 49 female pimps from federal, state, and local cases were analyzed to explore whether there were differences in the penalties given to females when compared with their male co-defendants, and cross-case analysis was conducted to identify themes that represent female pimp typologies. Both prison sentence and probation sentences were significantly lower for female co-defendants when compared with their male co-defendants. Five discrete typologies were developed including Bottom, Madam/Business Partner, Family, Girilla, and Handler. Each of these had unique features regarding violence toward their minor victims, co-defendants, actions during the sexual exploitation of the minor, and sentencing outcomes. Implications for practice and future research were recommended.

Sex Work and the Politics of Space: Case Studies of Sex Workers in Argentina and Ecuador

“…When using the term brothel, I generally refer to a commercial sex premise owned by a non-sex worker third party, and I specify if referring to a sex worker-owned business. private work, where sex workers may not have protection from client violence unless they pay a guard or pimp, who may also exert violence [39,[48][49][50].…”

Analyzing the Demand Aspect of Sex Trafficking: Addressing the Market through Legislation and Tactics

“…Although African-American offenders appear to constitute a disproportionately large percentage of arrested and convicted pimps and traffickers [6], it is unclear whether they are representative of all pimps or whether African-American offenders are more likely to be arrested and convicted. Reported entry points into pimping are varied and include family experience with pimping or prostitution, neighborhood context and community influence, transitioning from drug dealing, recruitment by women in prostitution, and mentorship by other pimps [40]. Female pimps can enter into pimping from formerly being prostituted individuals themselves [40].…”

“…Reported entry points into pimping are varied and include family experience with pimping or prostitution, neighborhood context and community influence, transitioning from drug dealing, recruitment by women in prostitution, and mentorship by other pimps [40]. Female pimps can enter into pimping from formerly being prostituted individuals themselves [40]. They include madams or business partners, who manage activity within a structured brothel, women who traffic their children or other family members, women who help their sons or husbands with pimping, women who are complicit and peripherally involved in pimping, and "bottoms" women who work for a pimp and also recruit, train, and discipline other women who work for the pimp [7].…”

“…The penal code explicitly states that an individual commits the offense of trafficking in persons if he receives a benefit from participating in a venture that involves trafficking or engages in sexual conduct with a trafficked person [39]. Under these provisions, a buyer would be guilty of a second degree felony or a first degree felony if the purchased victim was a minor [40].…”

Prostitution Myth Endorsement

“…Prostitution, defined as trading sex for money or other items of value, has been subjected to a host of normative labels; it is commonly described as the “world’s oldest profession” and often as a “victimless crime.” These characterizations obscure the reality of the sex trade (Farrell & Fahy, 2016; Hickle & Roe-Sepowitz, 2016; Reid, Huard, & Haskell, 2015; Roe-Sepowitz, Gallagher, Risinger, & Hickle, 2015; Varma, Gillespie, McCracken, & Greenbaum, 2015) and promote the commodification of men, women, and children. Public attitudes toward prostitution have supported social structures that facilitate the sexual exploitation of women in particular and have influenced adverse responses to victims in terms of mental and physical health services and policy (Franklin, 2008; Kissil & Davey, 2010).…”