Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Tattoos of Girls Under Pimp Control

Dear Friends:

Attached to this email you'll find material documenting the tattooing of prostituted women and girls, as well as a list of "pimp rules". Tattoos are used as marks of pimp "ownership" and control. Such tattoos typically include the name of the pimp and/or in some way denigrate the tattooed individual. They are effectually a type of "brand." In fact, I've even read of a case where a pimp actually branded one of the girls he was prostituting. Tattoos are an important sign of pimp control and serve as a perpetual reminder to the prostituted person that they "belong" to the pimp.

Abolition!

Lisa


Tattoos of Girls Under Pimp Control & Pimp Rules for the Control of Victims
Donna M. Hughes
Professor & Carlson Endowed Chair
University of Rhode Island

August 10, 2009

I’ve read a few responses to the Citizens Against Trafficking Bulletin on “Prostitution in Strip-Clubs in Providence.” Some people have expressed skepticism that girls and women are tattooed and branded by pimps.

I have been collecting evidence of pimps’ practice of tattooing victims for several years. Tattooing, and sometimes branding or scarification, are marks of ownership. It is one of the ways that pimps maintain physical and psychological control over emotionally vulnerable girls.

(Click here for the rest of the bulletin.)

Donna Hughes
Co-founder
Citizens Against Trafficking
http://www.citizensagainsttrafficking.org

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