# What if you find out your daughter is a prostitute **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411 "2010-09-29T00:13:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/21 "2010-09-29T15:25:20Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Hell of a lot better than my \*son \*being a prostitute! šŸ˜ƒ Yes, because womenā€™s truest purpose is to provide sexual service, whereas men are worthy of more options. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/22 "2010-09-29T15:33:16Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@Gatopescado](#): > > > > Hell of a lot better than my \*son \*being a prostitute! šŸ˜ƒ > > Yes, because womenā€™s truest purpose is to provide sexual service, whereas men are worthy of more options. :rolleyes: I think the implication was that heā€™d rather have a whore daughter than a gay son. Who knows! Maybe his response had layers. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/23 "2010-09-29T15:39:25Z")
In part it would depend on if weā€™re talking $10 for a blowjob or $1000 an hour class operation but I could live with it. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/24 "2010-09-29T15:41:01Z")
Parent of three daughters. This is not a possibility for my kids, but for the sake of the hypothetical, I think it would amount to some shade or other of unhappiness depending on circumstances. The degree of danger, legality, consent and motivation would all have to be taken into account. If they were doing it to support an addiction, for instance, I would primarily be concerned about the addiction and see the prostitution as a symptom of that. I guess my concerns would be about health, happiness and autonomy, not morality. A worst case scenario, like a classic streetwalker being pimped out to support an addiction, is obviously not a healthy or happy situation for anyone (especially not for the pimp once I found his ass). The ā€œbest caseā€ scenario I could conceive of, I guess, would be a situation where the daughter in question was operating in a legal bordello with full security, health regimens, safe practices, no coersion or exploitation, full consent and free will, etc. In that scenario (which would still never happen, but just to humor the OP), I could probably learn to live with it, though not ecstatically so. My wife would have a much tougher time with it. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/25 "2010-09-29T16:49:44Z")
I voted non parent, extremely unhappy because I assume you mean illegal prostitution. If she moved to Nevada and picked up at the Bunny Ranch, Iā€™d be significantly less upset. Would I be happy? Na, but I wouldnā€™t be upset at all. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/26 "2010-09-29T17:16:56Z")
As a non-parent: Depends. If she were working as an ā€œescortā€, well it would be her choice. If she were turning tricks on the street to support a pimp and a drug habit, there would be an ā€œinterventionā€, pronto. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/27 "2010-09-29T17:35:37Z")
Even in the silk sheet scenario, unless she were practicing her trade somewhere that prostitution is legal Iā€™d be concerned for her safety and long term mental health, and disappointed in her choice. That assumes it was her choice. If she were somehow coerced then Iā€™d be using\*\* Skaldā€™s \*\*two-by-four-to-the-back-of-the-head method. It being illegal add a layer of concern. I think how I found out would affect my reaction as well. That would be true if my child enlisted, too. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/28 "2010-09-29T17:50:14Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > Non-parent here. Is she a $500 an hour hooker, or a $20 blow job hooker? Different answers. You could be describing the same hooker, depending on how hard sheā€™s willing to workā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/29 "2010-09-29T18:18:17Z")
Iā€™d be alarmed. I read/heard somewhere (and I think itā€™s largely true), there are two kinds of women who go into prostitution ā€“ those who really really love sex (to the exclusion of being satisfied with a relationship), and those who are re-enacting patterns of past abuse. I, personally, wouldnā€™t raise a child to see sex as a commodity to be bought and sold, so Iā€™d probably be flipping my lid trying to figure out what it was that I missed when she was a kid, who hurt her, and when. ---
**Author:** ![Peeta\_Mellark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Peeta\_Mellark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peeta_Mellark)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/30 "2010-09-29T18:55:57Z")
Twenty-year-old male, non-parent. Unhappy. If my daughter went into prostitution, that would indicate to me that somewhere along the way I failed her. Not because I think sex work is inherently wrong, but because in our society itā€™s not a normal or healthy choice. It limits your options in the future and puts you at risk. I used to scoff at the claims that sex workers usually had a background of abuse. I happily nodded my head and wanted to be open-minded and supportive of sex workers who insisted they were happy, healthy people choosing this of their own free will and were entirely safe. Then I stopped listening to the activists and started reading and realized what a big, rosy damn lie they were painting. From this article [http://www.prostitutionresearch.com/ProsViolPosttrauStress.html](http://www.prostitutionresearch.com/ProsViolPosttrauStress.html) > [@](#): > > One hundred and thirty people working as prostitutes in San Francisco were interviewed regarding the extent of violence in their lives and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Fifty-seven percent reported that they had been sexually assaulted as children and 49% reported that they had been physically assaulted as children. > > As adults in prostitution, 82% had been physically assaulted; 83% had been threatened with a weapon; 68% had been raped while working as prostitutes; and 84% reported current or past homelessness. If my daughter became a prostitute, I failed as a father. There are better than even chances that someone sexually assaulted her as a child. Sure, she might be some high end call girl making $1000 a night and sipping champagne with (likely disease riddled) politicians, or she might be on the street getting raped and beaten and threatened with weapons. Even if sheā€™s the high end call girl, sheā€™s still at risk. Disease, assault, arrest or just having her face splashed around the tabloids after taking a particularly well-known client. Itā€™s somewhat difficult to find a normal job after something like that, Iā€™d wager. I wouldnā€™t disown her. I wouldnā€™t fly into a rage. I wouldnā€™t feel that it was wrong for her to have a lot of sex of her choosing. But I would be unhappy and worried and want to know why she had chosen this path instead of a safer one. ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/31 "2010-09-29T20:56:19Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > > [@EvilTOJ](#): > > > > I have a daughter whoā€™s 15, almost 16. My reasons for liking it or not depend on the reasons. If itā€™s because sheā€™s a junkie and needs cash for her habit, or thinks sheā€™s worthless and thinks she canā€™t do any better, then yes Iā€™m against it. If itā€™s because she knows some clientele, or thinks itā€™s fun and an easy way to make money for now, or treats it like any other job then yes Iā€™m for it. > > I agree with this. Wow, I canā€™t believe nobody commented on this. Two people who are totally fine with their child being a prostitute because they think ā€œitā€™s fun and an easy way to make money for now. . .ā€ Youā€™ve got to be kidding me. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/32 "2010-09-29T21:12:31Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > Wow, I canā€™t believe nobody commented on this. Two people who are totally fine with their child being a prostitute because they think ā€œitā€™s fun and an easy way to make money for now. . .ā€ Youā€™ve got to be kidding me. A fact of life that is not going to go away is that there is one way a reasonably attractive young woman can always make money. Thatā€™s been true since Ur. So the question becomes how much money and at what personal cost? High-end prostitution is widely acknowledged as the dirty secret behind how many women afforded the expensive educations that made it possible for them to become professionals. I would never want a daughter of mine to have no other choice, but I could not fault her for choosing it as an option. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/33 "2010-09-29T21:30:47Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > > [@even\_sven](#): > > > > I agree with this. > > Wow, I canā€™t believe nobody commented on this. Two people who are totally fine with their child being a prostitute because they think ā€œitā€™s fun and an easy way to make money for now. . .ā€ Youā€™ve got to be kidding me. So? There is a place in the country where prostitution is legal. If my daughter were to go there for a fun and easy way to make money, thatā€™s her choice. No harm, no foul. I also wouldnā€™t care if said hypothetical daughter wanted to be a stripper either. Donā€™t get me wrong, I think everyone would rather their kids use their intellect over their bodies, but as long as no harm is being done, who cares? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/34 "2010-09-29T21:55:30Z")
Calling it ā€œfun and easyā€ just sounds flippant and naive. I canā€™t believe itā€™s either, no matter what the level. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/35 "2010-09-29T22:14:27Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Calling it ā€œfun and easyā€ just sounds flippant and naive. I canā€™t believe itā€™s either, no matter what the level. Have you ever watched the HBO docu-series Cathouse? Or had any lengthy discussions with legal prostitutes in Nevada brothels? ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/36 "2010-09-29T22:29:11Z")
I live in Melbourne where its legal and have had conversations as part of my job. Talking with the ones who have left it vs the ones who are still in it can give you very different stories. Otara ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/37 "2010-09-29T22:51:35Z")
Non-parent, didnā€™t vote, donā€™t want to skew the poll results. Would my daughter be a high-class hooker? Would she be hot? And would I be able to afford her? O, cā€™mon, _someone_ had to shit on the thread. šŸ˜› Seriously (really), count me as ā€œNon-parent who would be extremely unhappy.ā€ I have no moral qualms over prostitution per se, but thatā€™s a job for worse parentsā€™ daughters, not my own daughter. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/38 "2010-09-29T23:01:52Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Non-parent, didnā€™t vote, donā€™t want to skew the poll results. How can you you possibly skew the poll results when thereā€™s an option specifically for you? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/39 "2010-09-29T23:04:08Z")
Depends. Is she happy? Is she making a good living? Does she have a Jewish boyfriend? ---
**Author:** ![Peeta\_Mellark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Peeta\_Mellark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peeta_Mellark)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411/40 "2010-09-29T23:05:04Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@Balthisar](#): > > > > Non-parent, didnā€™t vote, donā€™t want to skew the poll results. > > How can you you possibly skew the poll results when thereā€™s an option specifically for you? Doesnā€™t want to alter the beautiful poll as it stands now by voting and, thus, changing the ratio between answers. Very noble. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-find-out-your-daughter-is-a-prostitute/555411.md?page=3)