Annotated Bibliography
Maher, L., & Curtis, R. (1992). Women on the edge of crime: Crack cocaine and the changing contexts of street-level sex work in New York City. Crime, law and social change , 18 (3), 221-258.
The article, Women on the edge of crime: Crack cocaine, and the changing contexts of street-level sex work in New York City, argue that changes in the prostitution market have led to the shift in the structure, functioning, and locales of the drug market. The authors outline that the hostility in the street environment, market conditions, nature of prostitution, and victimization of women has led to the rising cases of their participation in assault and criminal activities.
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The authors' conceptualized the concept in the study by utilizing the triangulation method. Using different sources of information, it was depicted that the feminism concept is associated with deviance, apparent crime, and other forms of unacceptable acts. The shortcomings are viewed from the context of economic, physical, and economic abuse. Maher and Curtis established that engagement in prostitution contributes to vices such as stealing and assaulting sex clients for survival purposes.
The data was collected from existing literature, the criminal justice system, and visiting the neighborhoods in New York City with many commercial women sex workers. The data was collected using observations and interviews. The authors used narrative analysis in analyzing the data collected.
The discussion and the article's conclusion argue that women are becoming more vulnerable and victimized, leading to their involvement in the crime. The expansion of the informal economy in New York has contributed to increased risks of violent victimization for women sex workers. The researchers also established that violence, cocaine, and marijuana, and selling drugs among women respond to violence from men.
The data collection using observation and interviews limited the authors from finding the precise information on the relationship between women sex workers and crime. The authors' should have utilized a target sampling plan since it reflects a large number of participants. The data collection method allows for the purposeful and creation of a systematic plan that can be used to research a specific population within the identified group of people. If the authors had used the method, they could have received periodic updates necessary to acquire in-depth information related to the involvement of women sex workers in crime.
Based on the article's findings, criminal activity such as the use and sell drugs and engaging in violent activities is only a response mechanism to violence that women face from men. However, I find the information dissimilar to what I have learned in the semester and outside the class. According to Meyer et al. (2019), there is a strong relationship between women involved in sex work in both violent and acquisitive crimes. Based on the interviews that they carried out, out of 82% of prisoners, Meyer et al. (2019) established that 60% were sex workers (Meyer et al., 2019). The findings are attributed to their susceptibility to crime due to being disadvantaged economically. The majority of them engage in the lucrative business of selling drugs to their clients and the general public for survival.
I agree with the conclusion of the article. According to Meyer et al. (2019), women face violence from men who solicit sexual services without paying or using force. The problem results in psychological distress that subjects women sex workers to use drugs to face violent clients. Nonetheless, the women sex workers face perilous circumstances associated with an exchange between sex and money. The idea of engaging in commercial sexual activities without an unknown person is a risk. Thus, the use of drugs improves confidence and improves the fighting attitude in case the clients become violent. However, drugs are associated with altering one's normal behavior, a problem that subjects a prostitute to assault their clients even if they are peaceful.
References
Maher, L., & Curtis, R. (1992). Women on the edge of crime: Crack cocaine and the changing contexts of street-level sex work in New York City. Crime, law and social change , 18 (3), 221-258.
Meyer, J. P., Isaacs, K., El-Shahawy, O., Burlew, A. K., & Wechsberg, W. (2019). Research on women with substance use disorders: reviewing progress and developing a research and implementation roadmap. Drug and alcohol dependence , 197 , 158-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.01.017
