Fieldwork on Prostitution in the Era of Aids- Response

This article provided an insiders look into the lives of prostitutes, something that most people try to ignore. In todays society people try to sweep prostitution and human trafficking under the rug and pretend that it does not exist. Sterk, however, allowed us an interesting look at the era of prostitution. One thing that was particularly interesting to me was that the world of prostitution is truly a culture of its own. Sterk talked about the different types of prostitutes: the street walker, the hooked prostitutes, the prostituting addicts and the crack prostitutes and how each one of them provides a layer in their culture. She also highlights the relationship between the prostitutes and the pimps. It is still unfathomable to me how the men in this "society" treat the women as if they were a commodity or an investment. Overall this article highlighted the life of prostitution as a culture in society. Stark did a great job of letting us into a world that we don't often see. I was also impressed with her courage to go up and talk to the women. The world of prostitution is not a warm and inviting one so for her to reach out and interview the prostitutes is commendable. I hope that this article made people think about prostitution and its detrimental effects on our society.