This chapter is grounded in the black feminist theme of “unique experiences” among African-American women attempting to earn money after work and welfare have disappeared in Rough-like environments. Clearly the disappearance of work and welfare has implications for women’s HIV risk and protective factors. For example, as work disappeared among men, the clientele for sex work changed over time. Women asserted that sex work is very much a part of trickle-down economics in that when there is a recession in general or massive job loss in sectors dominated by males, the demand for sex work is diminished. Women discussed how men who, in the past, had spent hundreds of dollars partying with sex workers, curtailed or eliminated this activity altogether over the last four years during our country’s economic downturn. In addition to joblessness, welfare reform also resulted in a new group of women taking to the streets to perform sex as a survival strategy. Moreover, men who have sex with men have emerged as additional competition among female sex workers. This oversupply of sex workers makes the Rough a buyers’ market for the most part, with Johns being able to demand what they want at reduced prices. Thus, the impact of joblessness in the inner city and welfare reform has resulted in a change of terms and players in the sex trade. This change has led to women in the Rough becoming more creative

in how they make a living in the Rough. This chapter specifically highlights how such strategies and tactics to earn money can serve as HIV risk and protective factors.