413047-Underground-Commercial-Sex-Economy

Actors in the Underground Sex Market
This section considers the actors participating in pimp-managed commercial sex businesses. In addition
to pimps, individuals who engage in sex work, and the customers who purchase sex, other actors can be
involved as support staff or middle managers. Twenty-two respondents (30 percent) reported working
with a bottom, an employee who engages in sex work but also provides management and oversight over
other employees. Eighteen respondents (25 percent) reported paying non-sex work employees to
complete additional tasks associated with the business, such as driving employees to transactions and
providing security. The below section looks at five primary actors within the economy: the pimp, bottom,
non-sex work employees (e.g., bodyguards and drivers), sex workers, and customers. As findings in this
chapter are drawn from interviews with pimp offenders, the roles and responsibilities of each actor
described here are based on the perceptions of pimps.
Pimps
While nearly all respondents described themselves as “business managers,” pimps described their role
within the underground commercial sex market in many different ways. According to Levitt and
Venkatesh (2007), pimps manage most of the pre-transaction preparation, such as finding clients,
choosing a location and time for the sex act, and determining the price of each transaction. Levitt and
Venkatesh (2007, 26) also found that pimps essentially “perform an important marketing and protection
function.” Our findings indicate that some pimps posted advertisements, received client calls, or even
provided call scripts to their employees as a means to maintain control over marketing and transactions.
Yet findings from this study also indicate that pimps vary greatly in the duties they perform within the
UCSE and the level of direct management they impose on employees. Pimps described their role most
frequently as relating to recruiting and instructing their employees, managing finances, and providing
protection and security.
Respondents described themselves as managers who played an important role in the business by
recruiting new employees and teaching their employees how to work within the UCSE. One pimp
explained that he “made sure they did all they were supposed to be doing. Douched themselves, cleaned
themselves, showered themselves” (D9). Another respondent explained that his role was to teach his
employees to make money trading sex safely while evading law enforcement: “I taught them how to make
money better, safer. When they were dealing with people, I told them don’t leave stuff online. The only
thing not recorded is the instant messenger (IM) chat. Take everything from email to IM. Don’t use the
cell phone too much” (G13).
Beyond personnel management, pimps also described their role in financial management. Pimps
routinely kept tight control over earnings. A respondent explained, “If there was a tip, they could keep
that, but otherwise all the money had to be turned in” (A1). Another offender stated that he kept all
earnings in part because he believed his employees would not manage their money appropriately: “Of
course, we get 100 percent. With the 100 percent, you make sure [they have] clothing, food, and medical.
If you give these girls who come from low-income housing $5,000 to $6,000, they’ll be broke in a week.
Spend it on foolishness” (C4). Beyond money management, a respondent also described his role in
security:
All I really did was collect the money and distribute it, or if there was an issue with the
girl’s security, I’d take care of that. They would call or text me. I had the girls go together,
have a buddy. I had a time when I was driving around and couldn’t be everywhere, that’s
when I hired a driver. I would tell the girls that communication is important. If it’s a halfhour
call, and you’re there for an hour, I’m going to think something is wrong and I’m
going to need to go up there. If I have to go up there than I’m going to have to kick in the
door. Because I know if it’s a half-hour call it’ll really be 15 minutes, so I always have the
girls call or send me a text after 15 to let me know how long it will be. The other girl will
call, then I’ll call, and if [I hear] nothing, that’s when it’s a problem. (A7)
Pimps described themselves as essential to employee safety. They often felt that they were responsible for
any issues that may arise while an employee was on a date and sometimes took precautions to ensure
employee safety. A bottom explained, “The pimp acted as bodyguard. He’s on speed dial and walkie talkie.
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