Violence in Indoor and Outdoor Prostitution Venues

Abstract

This study measured the prevalence of violence that customers, managers, pimps, and intimate partners perpetrated against 222 women in indoor and outdoor prostitution venues in Chicago, Illinois. Violence occurred in all of the prostitution activities but differed in frequency and severity. Women outdoors generally reported higher levels of physical violence, but women in indoor venues were frequently victims of sexual violence and being threatened with weapons. These findings indicate that women across prostitution venues are often victims of violence, arguing against the depiction of indoor sex trade activities as harmless, consensual entertainment.