what effect does being a prostitute have on the psyche of the woman?

Question

if a woman sells her body to pay for drugs habit, would this affect the way she feels about herself? does prostitution in general affect a woman's self esteem / self-worth or is it just a job like any other?

Answer 1

First of all define prostitution.
Even a wife can be termed a prostitute with her husband being the only client. In return for sex with her husband she gets money, luxuries, a house etc.
In other words it is just how society views a relationship that affects the psyche of a woman. As marraige is accepted in society, a woman feels good about it. As prostitution is not, a woman may fall, in her own self esteem.

Answer 2

A very difficult question, and the answers are as varied as the women who do it. Hollywood would lead you to believe (like "Pretty Woman") that every hooker is really just a misunderstood girl with a heart of gold.
If she is selling her body to support a drug habit, chances are she has already lost any self esteem/self worth she may have had. Otherwise, she wouldnt be addicted to drugs in the first place.
Most women (with any kind of body) could make far more in a strip club and not have to worry about pimps, being alone with strange men and social diseases.
Some have small children at home and do it only a few days a month when the ADC or food stamps run out.
Some do it for the same reason people sell drugs, fast non-taxable income with little work.
Some are forced into it by boyfriends/pimps that "they love".
And yes, some do it because they feel it is easy money and better than working 9-5 for minimum wage.
Look at the Heidi Fleiss case or the "Mayflower Madam"
These women were getting hundreds, sometimes thousands to service celebreties like Charlie Sheen.
Some women even feel they are in complete control because they go with the johns they want, work what hours they want and perform the sex they want.

But yes, sadly the woman selling her body to support a drug habit is trapped in an endless cycle and doing tricks, buying the drug and getting high, sobering up and heading out again to start the cycle all over again. They will do anything to get that fix and often will not accept a regular job because they can't make enough to support their habit.

Answer 3

It depends on many things, why did the woman become a prostitute to begin with, was it because she was molested as a child? or was it because she was supporting a drug habit ? was it because she had no father figure in her life and a pimp turned her out? or she could be trying to make a way to survive while she was going to school.? last but not least she is just a business woman who is selling a commodity that is in demand. All these factors would have something to do with her mental state and how prostitution will effect it.

Answer 4

Come on, what does common sense tell you? Do you think she jumps for joy every morning and cant wait to get stuck in? If it was me, I'd have to take drugs just to numb the pain. A lot of prostitutes are treated with such little respect by men that its criminal. Being a prostitute is considered the lowest of the low in society - this is often why women are beaten up and abused by their male clients. Would you want YOUR daughter to do this? Do you think it would have an impact on HER sense of self worth?

Answer 5

when a woman do prostitution, she just keeps her esteem/worth aside because she always does it as the last resort. And if she does this as a short cut to earn money, then she has no esteem like words in her dictionary. She just says (like some Hindi film heroins or models), what is there in opening the legs for some seconds, it makes no difference... Just enjoy the glamour...

Answer 6

Sex is usually an expression of love and commitment. Obviously in a prostitute, it is neither. You're using a woman for sex - that's it. Do you respect her? Does she have any dignity? It depends on the man's attitude towards sex. Most men still call a girl a "slapper" etc while the man, who is looking for sex, is looked up to and regarded as "a bit of a lad". While men despise the women who give them sex, it must affect their psyche. Men might talk about sex non stop, but they're so confused by their attitudes towards the woman who supply it, that it must be denegrating.
Personally, I think if you enjoy it, it is your choice. Could there possibly be a prosittute who enjoys her job, though?

Answer 7

There are two types of working girls and there is a world of difference between the two.

You have one that sells her body for drugs,on the street.

Then you have the one that works in luxurious apartments and has a more upmarket clientele,now these types of girls sell there body to keep themselves in a particular lifestyle.

I would guess selling yourself for drugs in itself being on a habit degrades your self esteem on the other hand selling your body to accommodate a particular lifestyle would show high self esteem and self worth.

Not all working girls are on drugs.The ones who see the job from a business prospective and enjoy the company of men and sex have had successful careers meeting influential men and travelling the world.

Answer 8

chances are turning to prostitution wasnt much of a choice. To feed her habit it may have been the only thing she thought she had to sell. She may not be able to keep a job due to addiction but selling the only thing she has left maybe her only gaurentee of getting the funds. The self knowledge of her addiction would have been the first attack to her self easteem/worth.

Answer 9

Prostitution is legal in the UK, in the Netherlands, in Germany, etc.

Does it affect the woman? I'm sure it does, in some way. It depends if you're on the street or in a flat as well. Some girls do it to send money to their family. Some do it to save money. Some do it to buy drugs. I think it's too complicated to generalise.

But I would think that if you start doing it when you're young (and 18-20 IS young for that type of job), you might be influenced by it. Maybe you'll get used to get money very easily; maybe you'll see men as sex objects or sex addicts... It also depends on the type of men you meet. Some clients are very respectful. Most are, actually. But it still is a weird job.

I also think it depends on your attitude toward sex. the woman I knew liked sex, but she liked it with men she loved. She wouldn't have had one-night stand! I know it seems weird, but... That's life.

I have nothing against prostitutes (I used to babysit for one - her kid was... 11!) and nothing against clients... as long as they are respectful... and don't go for under-aged girls.

Answer 10

It effcts her dramtically. Loss of weight and appetite. Lowered self esteem is the main thing, this can lead to suicide in the long run. Not to mention the drugs themselves could kill her. Then there is the rIsk of HIV and AIDS as well.
I know, I just went through all that crap. Don't tell the cops, they don't give a sh*t
Johnno