Chrysanthi Leon
Associate Professor of Sociology And Criminal Justice, University of Delaware
Key Findings
- Prostitute women share resources, mentor one another, and offer solidarity and moral support to each other, all of which their strong friendships.
- Relationships between females in prostitution helps individuals cope with stigma.
Description
In the article, “Relationships Among Stigmatized Women Engaged in Street-Level Prostitution: Coping with Stigma and Stigma Management,” Leon and her co-author examine relationships between female prostitutes and the impact of their stigmatized profession. The researchers conducted interviews and focus groups with 76 women engaged in street-level prostitution in three mid-Atlantic urban areas who were enrolled in prostitution diversion programs. The results showed that female prostitutes shared resources, mentored one another, and offered solidarity and moral support to each other, indicating their strong friendships. The authors note that the relationships between females in prostitution helps them cope with stigma.