Crack and Prostitution: Gender, Myths, and Experiences

Abstract

This paper presents the results from in-depth interviews with 30 crack-using women also working in the sex trade to support their drug use. The gender roles perspective highlights traditional beliefs from past decades about the appeal of cocaine to women, its effects on their sexuality, and the reasons they become prostitutes. These are contrasted with the harsh realities of the dangers and marginalization faced by female crack users who work the streets in the contemporary sex trade. These women operate at the lowest levels of street drug use and prostitution, experience a considerable amount of violence and sexual exploitation, and are subject to riskier practices in their sex work. Their crack addiction fuels this extreme vulnerability and contributes to their highly deviant and stigmatized social image. We conclude that, similar to findings in other studies, the increase in crack consumption and availability has had serious negative repercussions for poor women who were, or became, involved in the sex trade. Moreover, the powerful appeal of crack to these women poses a challenge for harm reduction alternatives and other services that might improve their health and safety.