Human Sexuality and Prostitution Women
olicy P B rief
UMBC Policy Brief No. 6 – August 2007
Department of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250
Determinants of Behavior Among Women Choosing to Engage in Street Level Prostitution by Lyn Stankiewicz Murphy
About the Author
Lyn Murphy is an assistant professor and the Director of Professional Development at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. Her area of research focuses on program development for women involved in street-level prostitution. She is particularly interested in the behavioral determinants that influence women to choose a lifestyle of prostitution and the economic effects of this behavior on society. The long-term goal of her research is to develop communitybased infrastructures that will reduce and ultimately prevent the incidence of women engaged in street-level prostitution. Dr. Murphy received her B.S.N. from Carlow College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her Masters in Nursing from the University of Maryland School of Nursing, her M.B.A from the University of Baltimore, and her Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. This Policy Brief is adapted from her dissertation.
Issue
Female prostitution is a concern from both a public health and an economic perspective. Despite the enormity of this issue, little is known about why women choose to engage in this type of behavior, given the many risks prostitution presents. Even less is known about how to intervene and interrupt the complex cycle of prostitution. Women involved in prostitution are a highly marginalized population who are rarely recognized as individuals with life histories. If we are able to explore the dimensions of these women’s lives and better understand the issues behind the behavior of prostitution, we can create a better match between what exists and what is needed, with the goal being treatment, and ultimately, prevention of this behavior.
Background
UMBC Policy Brief No. 6 – August 2007
Department of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250
Determinants of Behavior Among Women Choosing to Engage in Street Level Prostitution by Lyn Stankiewicz Murphy
About the Author
Lyn Murphy is an assistant professor and the Director of Professional Development at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. Her area of research focuses on program development for women involved in street-level prostitution. She is particularly interested in the behavioral determinants that influence women to choose a lifestyle of prostitution and the economic effects of this behavior on society. The long-term goal of her research is to develop communitybased infrastructures that will reduce and ultimately prevent the incidence of women engaged in street-level prostitution. Dr. Murphy received her B.S.N. from Carlow College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her Masters in Nursing from the University of Maryland School of Nursing, her M.B.A from the University of Baltimore, and her Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. This Policy Brief is adapted from her dissertation.
Issue
Female prostitution is a concern from both a public health and an economic perspective. Despite the enormity of this issue, little is known about why women choose to engage in this type of behavior, given the many risks prostitution presents. Even less is known about how to intervene and interrupt the complex cycle of prostitution. Women involved in prostitution are a highly marginalized population who are rarely recognized as individuals with life histories. If we are able to explore the dimensions of these women’s lives and better understand the issues behind the behavior of prostitution, we can create a better match between what exists and what is needed, with the goal being treatment, and ultimately, prevention of this behavior.
Background