ABSTRACT
Social background, parental relationships and educational factors have all been suggested as predisposing causes of prostitution. This chapter examines developmental and social factors which may act to motivate women into entering the world of prostitution. In an attempt to gain an insight into the family background of the women working as prostitutes, all forty women were asked a range of questions relating to the circumstances of their home lives, including the marital status of their parents, their relationship with their parents, and their own current domestic arrangements and relationships. Of the forty women interviewed, none had remained at school beyond the age of sixteen; none had gained any formal qualifications. All forty women were unemployed and in receipt of Income Support and various other state benefits. On the road to prostitution the role of the family and friends in the recruitment and introduction process can be seen to be particularly influential.
