Constructing Notions of Success when Resisting Violence: The Case of Street Prostitutes

• In Event: 512 - Section on Sex and Gender Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 18. Violence, Gender, and Resistance

Abstract

Numerous studies examine the range of precautionary strategies women use to counter physical and sexual assaults at the hands of men, highlighting which ones are more effective in actually thwarting attacks. Female street prostitutes are a population who experience extraordinarily high rates of violence stemming from their work, and also implement various strategies to offset it. However, when it comes to this population, little is known about their perceptions of success with these tactics. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 25 female street prostitutes in Detroit, Michigan, we analyze the various ways women resist street-based violence, the factors that impact their perceptions of strategy effectiveness, and the implications of these views. We find that one’s heightened sense of control over encounters, ability to draw on informal social relationships, and enhancement of skill set elevate her notions of tactical success.

Author

• Sharon S. Oselin, University of California-Riverside