OVC-ARC Riverside Online Professional Training Conference 9/9-9/29 2004

WORKSHOP INFORMATION FOR CEU CREDIT

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, PROSTITUTION, AND SEXUAL ABUSE
MELISSA FARLEY, PH.D.

DESCRIPTION
In this workshop we'll discuss prostitution in its context of sex
inequality, childhood sexual abuse, poverty, racism, and family
neglect. With data from 9 countries, we'll summarize what is known
about the psychological and physical harms of prostitution to those in
it.  We'll also discuss how the literature on incest, rape and
intimate partner violence apply to prostitution.  And we'll discuss a
study-in-progress of traumatic brain injury against those in
prostitution - what are the symptoms of TBI  and how are they
differentiated from the other symptoms resulting from prostitution:
PTSD, depression, substance abuse, and dissociation. 


Outline

1.   UNDERSTANDING PROSTITUTION AS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN
     A.  VIOLENCE PRECEDING PROSTITUTION
            1. INCEST AND OTHER SEXUAL ASSAULT
            2. INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
            3. RAPE

 B. VIOLENCE DURING PROSTITUTION
     1. PROSTITUTION AND RAPE ARE NOT SEPARATE CONCEPTS
     2. VERBAL ABUSE
     3. HEALTH PROBLEMS

     C. SOCIAL INVISIBILITY OF PROSTITUTION AS A RISK FACTOR FOR
ADOLESCENTS
      1. CULTURAL NORMALIZATION OF PROSTITUTION BY WITNESSES TO IT
      2. DENIAL

2. DEMOGRAPHICS OF ENTRY INTO PROSTITUTION, BASED ON DATA FROM 9
COUNTRIES
    a. GENDER
      1. EVEN WHEN MEN OR TRANSGENDERED ARE IN PROSTITUTION - THOSE
         WHO APPEAR FEMALE ARE MOST HARMED
      2. HOW GENDER IS CRITICAL TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF PROSTITUTION
    b. RACE/ETHNIC MARGINALIZATION
      1. RACISM AS FACTOR INCREASING VULNERABILITY
      2. RACISM IN THE PROSTITUTION TRANSACTION
    c.  POVERTY
      1. AS FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO ENTRY OF WOMEN (BUT NOT MEN) INTO
         PROSTITUTION
      2. AS FACTOR PREVENTING ESCAPE
      3. US:  WELFARE-TO-PROSTITUTION TREND

    d. DEVELOPMENTAL OR OTHER DISABILITY LEADS TO EARLY VULNERABILITY
       TO SEXUAL ASSAULT


      3. A US STUDY OF HEAD INJURY AMONG 40 WOMEN IN PROSTITUTION
    a. DEMOGRAPHICS: AGE, AGE AT ENTRY, RACE,
    b. TYPES OF INJURIES
    c. COMBINATION OF EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL SEQUELAE


4. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND OTHER SEQUELAE OF PROSTITUTION
    a. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF TBI
        1. ALTERATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS DURING THE HEAD TRAUMA
        2.  LONGER TERM SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING HEADACHE, MEMORY PROBLEMS
    b. DIAGNOSTIC COMPLEXITY
        1. TBI MAY BE CONFUSED WITH DEPRESSION, DISSOCIATION, PTSD,
           SUBSTANCE ABUSE
        2. NO SCREENING OCCURS IN MOST MENTAL HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH,
           CRIMINAL JUSTICE SETTINGS
        C. TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WOMEN ESCAPING PROSTITUTION
         1. LONG TERM RESIDENTIAL AND VOCATIONAL ISSUES
         2. LONG TERM PHYSICAL CARE, INCLUDING ASSESSMENT AND CARE OF
            TBI
         3. LENGTHY PSYCHOTHERAPY TREATMENT REQUIRED FOR WHAT IS
            USUALLY A LIFETIME OF TRAUMA AND BETRAYAL BY THOSE CLOSE
            TO HER
         4. NECESSITY OF PEER SUPPORT FROM OTHER SURVIVORS


LEARNING OBJECTIVES


1. ATTENDEES WILL UNDERSTAND THE DEMOGRAPHIC RISK FACTORS FOR
PROSTITUTION - WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE MARGINALIZED AND VULNERABLE
BECAUSE OF RACE/ETHNICITY, POVERTY, DISABILITY, AND LACK OF
EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPTIONS.
2. ATTENDEES WILL UNDERSTAND THE LITERATURE WHICH SUMMARIZES THE
VIOLENCE IN PROSTITUTION, WHICH IS CONCEPTUALIZED AS INTIMATE PARTNER
OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
3. ATTENDEES WILL UNDERSTAND RESULTS OF  A STUDY OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN
INJURY (TBI) AMONG WOMEN IN PROSTITUTION.
4. ATTENDEES WILL UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE SEQUELAE OF PROSTITUION,
INCLUDING TBI, PTSD, DISSOCIATIVE SYMPTOMS, DEPRESSION, AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE.