Working girls: a study of youthful involvement in Calgary street prostitution

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dc.contributor.advisorBrannigan, Augustine
dc.contributor.authorGibbs Van Brunschot, Erin Elan
dc.coverage.spatial200000662en
dc.coverage.spatial200000680en
dc.date.accessioned2005-07-27T23:32:57Z
dc.date.available2005-07-27T23:32:57Z
dc.date.issued1991
dc.descriptionBibliography: p. 169-177.en
dc.description.abstractThis exploratory study considers the phenomenon of youthful participation in prostitution in Calgary from a number of angles - all of which reiterate the pathology/rational choice dilemma that typically characterizes involvement in prostitution. Viewing juvenile prostitution as a form of pathology - the young person as a victim - or as rational choice - the young person as making a rational choice in light of the circumstances he or she faces - is explored through the use of various methods, designed to highlight both macro and micro perspectives. The history of prostitution law in Canada epitomizes the pathology/rational choice quandary. Never has prostitution itself been illegal, only activities associated with it. The involvement of juveniles in prostitution emphasizes this dilemma through the simultaneous application of both the Young Offenders Act and the Child Welfare Act - one stressing responsibility, the other protection. This duality is reflected to some degree in the sentencing patterns of youths compared with adults. Examination of extra-legal factors, however, emphasizes gender - although it is confounded with role, i.e. prostitute or customer - as a more important determinant than age of offender in sentencing outcome. Thirty-six male and female prostitutes were interviewed, including eleven juveniles. Interviews with these respondents comprised the micro-examination of prostitution. Their opinions were probed in order to get the 'street level' interpretation of their involvement in prostitution, and the motivations that keep these young people on the street. Finally, our focus broadens once again to a macro perspective. The phenomenon of juvenile prostitution is considered through a comparison of other criminal activity that young people are involved in; the economic situation of young people more generally; family structure; and education levels. It was determined that from a macro-perspective the phenomenon of juvenile prostitution as increasing or decreasing ultimately depends on one's perspective - absolute numbers of arrests indicate an increase in the phenomenon, whereas proportions of juveniles arrested indicate that juvenile prostitution is declining.
dc.format.extentx, 187 leaves ; 30 cm.en
dc.identifier.citationGibbs Van Brunschot, E. E. (1991). Working girls: a study of youthful involvement in Calgary street prostitution (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/19642en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/19642
dc.identifier.isbn0315752122en
dc.identifier.lccHQ 150 C3 G53 1991en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/24538
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject.lccHQ 150 C3 G53 1991en
dc.subject.lcshProstitution, Juvenile - Alberta - Calgary
dc.subject.lcshProstitution, Alberta - Calgary
dc.titleWorking girls: a study of youthful involvement in Calgary street prostitution
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineSociology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts (MA)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
ucalgary.thesis.notesoffsiteen
ucalgary.thesis.uarcreleaseyen
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