# Did Most Prostitutes & Female Porn Stars Get Molested As Children? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 4, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468 "2004-05-04T15:11:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/1 "2004-05-04T15:11:02Z")
I’ve often heard it claimed that women who work as prostitutes or as porn stars usually get into that line of work because they were molested when they were younger. Is there any evidence to suggest that prostitutes/porn stars are more likely to have been molested than women who aren’t prostitutes/porn stars? It would seem to me that a person who was molested might have even _more_ reservations about having sex with strangers than someone who wasn’t. Why should there be any connection between getting molested and doing porn later in life? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/2 "2004-05-04T15:32:37Z")
One theory is that people who are molested/abused have their sexual/moral compass thrown off kilter, particularly in case where the abuse was by family or friends: Daddy loves me; Daddy is good; Daddy touched me, ergo, this type of behaviour is okay. I’m sure that there are plenty of people who are abused that also withdraw instead of “act out”. Here’s some data I pulled from one Canadian study: > [@](#): > > history of childhood sexual abuse > • prostitutes: 38% – 73% > • general pop: 19% to 50% > • male care-giver > > Bagley & Young: > • compared prostitutes & general sample > • 73% vs 29% So there does seem to be some correlation, although that study also indicates it is not causative. ---
**Author:** ![Satyagrahi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f475e1/32.png) [@Satyagrahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satyagrahi)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/3 "2004-05-04T15:46:24Z")
If you can manage to find a copy of this movie, it is fascinating and cuts to the heart of your question: “Some Nudity Required,” written, directed and narrated by Odette Springer. See if you can find it in a video store: It is a documentary about the “B” movie industry, with interviews of several of the female stars. The short answer to your question is, yes, many sex performers and entertainers had unhappy childhoods. The long answer is: see this movie. You won’t regret it. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/4 "2004-05-04T15:57:53Z")
Dunno about porn stars, but I recall seeing some quantitative evidence supporting the connection for prostitution. Not as strong as the connection to drug abuse and “cutting” (self-inflicted non-lethal injuries such as wrist slitting or maceration of the abdomen) but statistically significant. For the “why” part of it, I can only surmise, but if we assume the mindset of a large plurality of non-molested females runs along the lines of “generally lots of males want sex from females pretty much whenever they can get it, I could collect on any of that, but hmm you know what, the absolutely coolest and most appealing prospect would be to have sex with someone I loved and who loved me in return”, getting raped and/or molested a few times probably tends to knock you off that course, deleting the sense of being able to decide when _not_ to have sex and stirring in a big gloppy dose of fury and hurt, and maybe ending up with a mindset that runs more like “generally lots of males want sex from females pretty much whenever they can get it and will force themselves on you if they can and they don’t care how shitty it makes you feel, so maybe the only way a girl can have any sense of control is make them pay for it, and fuck “love”, who’d want to love creatures who’d do what they’ve done to me?” ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/5 "2004-05-04T16:12:13Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > One theory is that people who are molested/abused have their sexual/moral compass thrown off kilter, particularly in case where the abuse was by family or friends: Daddy loves me; Daddy is good; Daddy touched me, ergo, this type of behaviour is okay. I’m sure that there are plenty of people who are abused that also withdraw instead of “act out”. > > Here’s some data I pulled from one Canadian study: > > So there does seem to be some correlation, although that study also indicates it is not causative. I am sorry, but any survey that states 29% of the general female population has been sexually abused as a kid needs its head read, unless it defines sexual abuse so widely to be meaningless. On a more lighter note theonion has a good line this month “Woman Overcomes Years Of Child Abuse To Achieve Porn Stardom” [http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4017&n=3](http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4017&n=3) ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/6 "2004-05-04T16:38:32Z")
> [@scm1001](#): > > I am sorry, but any survey that states 29% of the general female population has been sexually abused as a kid needs its head read, unless it defines sexual abuse so widely to be meaningless. I think you’re deluding yourself - there are many studies that give 25%-30% as a rate for childhood sexual abuse. A prof of mine - a sex counsellor by profession - estimated that 90% of women were sexually abused as children - I’m inclined to think his number is _WAY_ too high and probably more accurately reflects the rate of abuse among his _patients_, however the 30% rate seems about right from all of the reading and research I’ve done on the subject. Additionally, I would guesstimate that of my female friends, probably 3 out of 10 of them were abused as kids. ---
**Author:** ![Satyricon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Satyricon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satyricon)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/7 "2004-05-04T16:42:50Z")
> [@scm1001](#): > > I am sorry, but any survey that states 29% of the general female population has been sexually abused as a kid needs its head read, unless it defines sexual abuse so widely to be meaningless. Sexual abuse has a pretty broad spectrum, and does not pertain only to touching but also includes unwanted verbal comments, which many, many women receive at some point in their lives, particularly during puberty. So that 29% may be more accurate than you think. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/8 "2004-05-04T16:45:36Z")
> [@scm1001](#): > > I am sorry, but any survey that states 29% of the general female population has been sexually abused as a kid needs its head read, unless it defines sexual abuse so widely to be meaningless. > On a more lighter note theonion has a good line this month > “Woman Overcomes Years Of Child Abuse To Achieve Porn Stardom” > [http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4017&n=3](http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4017&n=3) HAHAHA. The onion is hilarious in small doses, too bad they want payment now. 29% isnt unbelievable, i have heard 1/4 of women are raped. But that 29% may include things like ‘being groped’ or ‘verbal sexual innuendos’ that only happened once or something along those lines. > **[Childhood victimization and subsequent risk for promiscuity, prostitution,...](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8916528/?dopt=Abstract)** > > These findings strongly support a relationship between childhood victimization and subsequent prostitution. The presumed causal sequence between childhood victimization and teenage pregnancy may need to be reevaluated. RESULTS: Early childhood abuse and/or neglect was a significant predictor of prostitution for females (odds ratio [OR] = 2.96). For females, sexual abuse (OR = 2.54) and neglect (OR = 2.58) were associated with prostitution, whereas physical abuse was only marginally associated. Childhood abuse and neglect were not associated with increased risk for promiscuity or teenage pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: These findings strongly support a relationship between childhood victimization and subsequent prostitution. The presumed causal sequence between childhood victimization and teenage pregnancy may need to be reevaluated. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/9 "2004-05-04T16:52:06Z")
Here are a few cites: From [http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/176\_10\_200502/and10179\_fm.html:](http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/176_10_200502/and10179_fm.html:) > [@](#): > > The adjusted prevalence estimate in males was 5.1% **and in females 27.5%,** which corresponds with rates in comparable countries. From [http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/pblct/forum/e07/e071f\_e.shtml:](http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/pblct/forum/e07/e071f_e.shtml:) > [@](#): > > Canadian researchers have also found that 20%-30% of prepubescent children have been sexually abused.(3) From [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list\_uids=9033559&dopt=Abstract:](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9033559&dopt=Abstract:) > [@](#): > > PARTICIPANTS: 710 Women randomly selected from Australian federal electoral rolls. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-four women (20%) had experienced CSA. From [http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/factsheet/fsabuse2.htm:](http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/factsheet/fsabuse2.htm:) > [@](#): > > The National Resource Council estimates the percent of the U.S. population which has been sexually abused to range from a low of 20-24 percent to a high of 54-62 percent of the population; the higher estimate includes sexualized exposure without touching.1 The largest retrospective study on the prevalence of child sexual abuse found 27 percent of women and 16 percent of men reported abuse.4 I can find more if you like. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/10 "2004-05-04T17:06:44Z")
I don’t know about the porn industry, but I’ve known plenty of molested girls who were streetwalkers at some point. I see it as a result of the defense mechanism-‘It didn’t mean anything. It was just my body. What happens to my body isn’t important.’ If the molester lives with the girl, she may run away. She finds herself without money or job skills. Having convinced herself that what happens to her body isn’t important, she sees no problem letting strangers touch or enter it for money. ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/11 "2004-05-04T17:18:50Z")
hmmm I may have been a bit glib when I questioned the statistics. The incidence of terrible sexual abuse (the sort that would naturally lead to drug abuse, and prostitution) seems thankfully fairly low. The one-off exposure, or grope or worse is much higher, probably at least 20-30%. (good paper here [http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/jan20/fleming/fleming.html](http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/jan20/fleming/fleming.html) ) Though by that criterion I would call myself molested at least three times growing up, though none had more than a passing minor effect (though I suppose I still remember them) The problem is that the term “sexual abuse” covers too large a territory. So when you hear statistics like half of all female prisoners report they were abused, you may think that that explains their criminality. However, if by the same criterion, 30% of all women report the same thing then it becomes meaningless. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/12 "2004-05-04T17:27:54Z")
> [@Satyricon](#): > > Sexual abuse has a pretty broad spectrum, and does not pertain only to touching but also includes unwanted verbal comments, which many, many women receive at some point in their lives, particularly during puberty. So that 29% may be more accurate than you think. My psychology teacher liked to tell us to be sceptical of all surveys involving any particular behavior as perception is often out of kilter with reality. Sexual abuse, like drug abuse is such a overly broad term that any survey about it is useless due to its vagueness. I heard some mental health worker actually state that any childhood sexual activity is child abuse. I also heard from another that abuse directed from a male authority figure upon a female minor likewise is tantamount to sexual abuse. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/13 "2004-05-04T17:42:58Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > I also heard from another that abuse directed from a male authority figure upon a female minor likewise is tantamount to sexual abuse. So you _don’t_ think that abuse from a male authority figure toward a female minor is abuse? Perhaps you meant sexual contact between a male authority figure and a female minor. For instance a school principal and his 16 year old student. Or a male physician and his underage patient. Or perhaps a male sports coach and his underage athlete? You would have a hard time convincing me that any of those scenarios are _NOT_ abusive. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/14 "2004-05-04T17:49:50Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > So you _don’t_ think that abuse from a male authority figure toward a female minor is abuse? > > Perhaps you meant sexual contact between a male authority figure and a female minor. For instance a school principal and his 16 year old student. Or a male physician and his underage patient. Or perhaps a male sports coach and his underage athlete? > > You would have a hard time convincing me that any of those scenarios are _NOT_ abusive. I think what he was saying is that some people define _abuse of any kind_ perpetrated by an adult male upon a minor female _as sexual abuse_. I would disagree with such a definition. Not all abuse is sexual abuse, even if it’s a man doing it to a girl. And I am very skeptical of the idea that _comments_ should be defined as _sexual abuse_ unless the the comments are particularly vile and repeated, such as for harassment. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/15 "2004-05-04T17:50:10Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > So you _don’t_ think that abuse from a male authority figure toward a female minor is abuse? > > Perhaps you meant sexual contact between a male authority figure and a female minor. For instance a school principal and his 16 year old student. Or a male physician and his underage patient. Or perhaps a male sports coach and his underage athlete? > > You would have a hard time convincing me that any of those scenarios are _NOT_ abusive. I interpreted the statement as saying that **any type** of abuse – e.g. physical, verbal – even if it had **no** sexual aspect to it – e.g. a punch, calling someone stupid – would be called **sexual** abuse if it involved a male authority figure abusing a minor female. I don’t find that viewpoint defensible. ---
**Author:** ![Cillasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Cillasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cillasi)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/16 "2004-05-04T18:26:26Z")
Many women discount the sexual abuse they endured as children. In fact, many men do too. We tend to equate sexual abuse to forcible rape and minimize the “keys in the pocket” uncles, the “ticklers” and “playing doctor” with the cousin who is 10 years or more older than you. I think there are many more non-prostitutes who were molested as children - they’ve just discounted or forgot their experiences. Just going by what I have elicited from friends about childhood experiences, I’d say that at least 50% and maybe as much as 75% of all children are victims of some sort of molestation. Molestation is often non-scary and often does not feel bad especially if the perpetrator can avoid getting caught up in sexual urgency (i.e., hard breathing, increased pressure, self-focus, etc.). Coupled with the fact that sexual predators tend to give money, gifts and supply other benefits to the children they molest, a child’s psyche can get pretty twisted. What some children figure out is that they can exert a lot of control over adults if they can spark sexual interest. I believe some victims will translate this into a life of prostitution or other sexual arts (stripping, S&D, S&M, etc.). Just as many probably go on to live relatively normal lives, marrying, having children, etc. However, I don’t think you can pigeonhole what drives people into prostitution any more than you can pigeonhole what causes people to become anything other than heterosexual or what causes criminal or sexually perverted behavior. What must also be considered is that prior to the recent public exposure and criminalization of child molestation, most times, the molested were the ones punished, or so it seemed. When molestation is uncovered and the only result is that the victim is forbidden to be around a beloved family member or friend, that victim feels punished. It was seldom that circumstances were explained to the child and the child never realized that what the perpetrator was doing was wrong. With today’s heightened awareness and willingness to expose perpetrators and educate children, things may slowly begin to change. What everyone needs to remember is that molestation does not have to be violent or unpleasant. In the words of an acquaintance’s 12-year old daughter who ended up pregnant by her stepfather after several years of undetected molestation - “But I liked it.” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/17 "2004-05-04T18:36:46Z")
If something is not scary, doesn’t feel bad, is forgotten, and discounted – in other words has no immediate or future harmful consequences, does it make sense to classify it as molestation or abuse? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/18 "2004-05-04T18:40:32Z")
Let me clarify that in posing the above question, I’m talking about behaviour that is not overtly sexual – in other words, no physical touching of sex organs or erogenous zones, etc. – certainly nothing that could result in pregnancy. What are the bounds here? I think before we start making decisions about what to do about abuse or sexual abuse, we have to agree on some common-sense boundaries of what it is. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/19 "2004-05-04T19:07:12Z")
**Cillasi** , I’d never heard of tickling classified as abuse or molestation before. Can you please clarify? Do you consider all tickling abusive? ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468/20 "2004-05-04T19:18:57Z")
My wife is a psychotherapist, and while I don’t believe she’s ever had a professional porn actress as a client (we won’t go into amatuers), she has had quite a few strippers. She reports that from her professional experience, many more had been sexually abuses than had not suffered the same abuse. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-most-prostitutes-female-porn-stars-get-molested-as-children/243468.md?page=2)