# Why Do Hookers Utilize Pimps? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 11, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718 "2004-03-11T16:26:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/21 "2011-01-31T06:49:50Z")
Where prostitution is illegal, the pimp can also be a layer of protection between the sex worker/client and the police. One of the reported consequences of the criminalisation policy that was brought in in Sweden in 1999 is that formerly independent sex workers have turned to pimps as a “middleman” because they were finding it too difficult to operate on their own. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/22 "2011-01-31T06:58:31Z")
I had the honour of meeting the Mayflower Madame (Sydney Biddle Barrows) at a business seminar some years ago, and I was impressed. As **Tbaby** attests (although I do not know if she was one of Ms. Barrows’ ladies), Ms. Barrows would not allow her employees to use drugs, she made sure the young ladies were of age, and she made sure that they were doing what they were doing of their own free will. I will say that after speaking with Ms. Barrows, it was difficult thinking of her as a “pimp,” although I suppose that’s what she was. Regardless, I will agree with **Tbaby** that based on my talk with Ms. Barrows that it is possible that escorts can be paid well for their services, and they can leave freely. Of course, this may depend on the service they are working for, but in some services, it is certainly possible. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/23 "2011-01-31T11:12:29Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I imagine if you tried to hook free-lance in some neighborhoods, you’ll find yourself beat up or dead. Or even simpler, the pimp just tips off the local police to this freelance hooker. They come and arrest her. So the police function to keep freelance hookers off the street. Even if they were honest cops, not taking bribes from the pimps, the result is the same. ---
**Author:** ![Keith\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@Keith\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keith_Berry)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/24 "2011-01-31T13:52:02Z")
> [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](#): > > I also seem to recall the theory that the pimp, by taking all of the whore’s money and rationing some of it back to her, and using some of what he takes to provide for her meals and a roof over her head, actually keeps her from blowing it all on drugs in one shot, and thus provides a bizarre sort of economic assistance. I don’t know – nothing that people do is simple, in my experience. I was into the heroin scene in West Baltimore for the better part of 10 years and came to be acquainted with several prostitutes. About half of them had pimps, and the reason they gave for having one was exactly what you stated----the girls felt themselves unable to manage money due to their extreme drug intake, so the pimp provided a sort of financial structure as well as the illusion of protection against unsavory customers (the girls were well aware of this illusion, since there was no way a pimp could protect her from a violent john unless he actually went along to chaparone the “date”). ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/25 "2011-01-31T13:59:23Z")
…er, whorehouses? It would seem that brothels offer many advantages over streetwalking-it is safer and you are less likely to be arrested. There was one such establishment in Boston-the neighbors grew suspicious 9lots of coming and going by clients). Evntually, the place was busted. I allways liked that expression “house of ill repute”. ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/26 "2011-01-31T16:48:12Z")
Zombiiiieeeeee piiiiimmmmpppsss! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/27 "2011-01-31T20:45:09Z")
Hey, better than zombie whores. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/28 "2011-01-31T23:33:34Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Why is being a “pimp” considered cool (among rappers and such)? > > What’s attractive about the “I exploit women and take the money they get from selling their bodies” persona? > > Seriously, I’ve been wondering this for a long time. It’s a leftover from when having multiple wives meant you were rich and important. It’s the same reason having multiple booty calls is considered cool. It means you have POWER. The fact that it is inherently misogynistic is generally only grasped at a higher level thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/29 "2011-01-31T23:52:15Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Tangential question - do pimps get free service whenever they feel like it? Of course they do. Now get back out on the streets and get me my money, Isamu. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/30 "2011-02-01T00:06:08Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Why is being a “pimp” considered cool (among rappers and such)? > > What’s attractive about the “I exploit women and take the money they get from selling their bodies” persona? > > Seriously, I’ve been wondering this for a long time. “Why Snoop be letting his mink drag on the floor? That’s pimp shit, something you wouldn’t know.” Rapers think pimping is cool for the same reason they think everything gangsta is cool. Although “pimpin’” (which aint easy), is only tangentially related to actual prostitute wranglers. Mostly it seems to be a garish display of retro 70s conspicuous consumption. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/31 "2011-02-01T00:41:56Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It’s a leftover from when having multiple wives meant you were rich and important. It’s the same reason having multiple booty calls is considered cool. It means you have POWER. I agree except that I don’t think it’s necessarily a holdover. In the abstract, not just thinking about pimps, being successful with women is something hugely respected by society and I think a primary reason is because men who have hot girlfriend(s) have something that other men wish they had. We respect these guys even though as we look towards the more numerically successful guys they tend to be complete jerks. Note the “player” meme. In terms of pimps, there’s overlap between the player and pimp stereotypes, and in fact sometimes when people call themselves pimps now they actually mean something like player. Or they mean they dress and talk fancy and have power over women. I haven’t seen recent examples of guys who specifically want you to believe they beat and prostitute underage girls. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/32 "2011-02-01T00:57:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Rapers think pimping is cool for the same reason they think everything gangsta is cool. Interesting typo, there. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/33 "2011-02-01T01:26:15Z")
> [@chronos](#): > > interesting typo, there. not another one of those threads! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/34 "2011-02-01T07:01:44Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > ..er, whorehouses? It would seem that brothels offer many advantages over streetwalking-it is safer and you are less likely to be arrested. Many of the ‘whorehouses’ seem to have moved online, and become what is called outcall services. A client locates them online (or via flyers or bar rag papers), phones them, and arranges for a girl to come to his house/office/hotel room, or to meet them at a specified location (usually a motel that rents rooms by the hour). And the “less likely to be arrested” part – that isn’t always true. Such houses (or advertised outcall services) soon become known to local cops, and it’s pretty easy for local vice cops to visit the whorehouse or phone an outcall service and then bust them. Probably easier than going out in the cold, mean streets to get a hooker. A few years ago, that caused disagreements with the police department here. People complained, so the local vice squad started busting the whorehouse and outcall services here. Because that was easy for them to do. But citizens complained that it was the streetwalking hookers that were causing problems, and the johns who would approach any woman on the street or standing at a bus stop and make offers. Those were the ones the public wanted arrested – the others were quiet and non-disruptive to citizens, and should have been a much lower priority. But the police department didn’t do it that way. (There were suggestions from some citizens that the vice squad was targeting whorehouses & outcall services because they were more able to pay bribes to be left alone.) ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/35 "2011-02-01T10:41:36Z")
While I don’t have direct experience, at a guess I would think the “protection” part of pimping isn’t necessarily a racket. Whenever you do something illegal for a living, you can’t go to the cops any more, no matter the reason. Which makes one extremely vulnerable to \*other \*people who do illegal things for a living. FWIW, that’s the main appeal of organized crime and the Mafia as well - sure, you got to give them a piece of your action, but when Joey The Wrench is a phone call away people don’t try to rough you up & nick your stuff so often. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/36 "2011-02-01T13:48:29Z")
Although I don’t know the career path to enter the pimping trade — school careers advice never offered this option — the blog ‘The Airing of Grievances’ nicked an \*\*[actual business plan](http://aofg.blogs.com/the_airing_of_grievances/2010/12/pimpin-aint-easy.html)\*\*from ‘Youth Radio’ last December. _Youth Radio was doing an investigation on trafficking and came across some pimp’s business plan. It’s every bit as ridiculous and awesome as you might have guessed. Apparently pimps are exactly how we’ve stereotyped them!_ ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/37 "2011-02-01T13:51:52Z")
They’re pimpin’ _everybody_ out here! ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/38 "2011-02-01T13:55:38Z")
Uh… it posted whilst I was still typing… It’s very like any business motivational course… * * * **[Youth Radio](http://www.youthradio.org/news/pimp-business-plan)** The FBI estimates that a mid-level trafficker can make more than $500,000 dollars a year by marketing just four girls. Transcript: Keep It Pimpin (Note: Places where text is missing marked with ellipses) Keep It Pimpin More serious about my money and future…this pimpin like it’s a business (only except their best) Take care my bitches more better …Other ways to work my hoes (internet, int. feature dancers, int. stud) Discover hoes from all over (jail house) Small cities nationwide got hoes that…to be discovered. Stay in high pursuit looking for a prostitute. Don’t never get too comfortable or lazy in my position. Maintain and campaign (everything I do or buy. Make sure it’s a campaign tool) …My word is my bond (keep it pimpin!) Attend the Players Ball in Vegas (cross country pimpin! Establish my name internationally) Take my game to the next level (from the concrete streets, to the executive suites). Pimp or Die, Mack or Cry (play to win and plan to the end) Set up a international operation (have five hoes on every coast …Every hoe take a vow to hoeing! …first, ass last! If I’m gonna take a chance, then I’m gonna the hoes money in advance! Put my city on the map and establish my own players… Stack money to the ceiling (safety deposit box) Cash cars (buy not good cash cars that way I will…have cars if something goes bad.) Minimize my budget (cash cars, houses, etc.) Keep a good photographer (Split Second Video/Kings Flea Market) Get in touch with Big Al out of Florida * * * **Take care my bitches more better !** ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/39 "2011-02-01T14:58:24Z")
Watch the Henry Winkler/Michael Keaton movie [_Night Shift_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084412/). Sure, it’s a comedy, and hardly a documentary, but given the OP (zombified) question, I’d say it can still give a decent answer. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718/40 "2011-02-01T15:36:49Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Rapers think pimping is cool for the same reason they think everything gangsta is cool. The word is “rapist”, not “raper”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hookers-utilize-pimps/233718.md?page=3)