Who are These Guys? Working Toward an Empirical Typology of Street-Level Pimps

Introduction

Traditionally prostitution was viewed as a consensual act, one person selling sexual favors to a willing buyer. Used in many classes as an example of “Mala Prohibita” when differentiating between “Mala Prohibita” and “Mala in Se” (conduct that is illegal because it is prohibited vs. conduct that is illegal because it is inherently wrong or evil). This is perhaps true about prostitution in its simplest form (an independent adult seller deciding with their own free will to perform sexual acts with another adult individual in exchange for money or other compensation).

However this conceptual understanding is far from the reality of many street level prostitutes who work under a pimp. Indeed as discussed below, working under a pimp is relatively commonplace and the experience is far from consensual and mutually beneficial; between 40%-80 of adult prostitutes (Barry, 1995; Norton-Hawk, 2004; Silbert & Pines, 1983b; Williamson & Cluse-Tolar, 2002; all as seen in Kennedy, Klein, Bristowe, Cooper, & Yuille 2007) and 75% of sexually exploited minors have been involved with pimps (Hughes, Raymond, & Gomez, 2001). This arrangement is more accurately conceptualized as sexual slavery or commercial sexual exploitation. In fact, pimps controlled most if not all money, as well as other aspects of the worker’s life (Williamson & Cluse-Tolar, 2002).

Based on the available literature, pimps appear to be a heterogeneous population. Pimps target their victims and use a variety of techniques the gain their compliance and submission in what can accurately be described as a parasitic relationship. These offenders have a variety of behaviors, motivations, and backgrounds. Unfortunately, while the research discusses differences, it rar...

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