“Women living on the street” 

This is a phrase often used by Street Safe as a catch-all to include women who live significantly below the federal poverty line and, as a result, are homeless or precariously housed and may sell sex on the street occasionally or daily. Oftentimes, the women also struggle with addiction and mental health issues and much more likely to be victims of domestic violence.

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What to call a person selling sex

A prostitute is defined as someone who exchanges sexual favors for money, drugs, or other desirable commodities. However, Street Safe rarely uses this term. The preferred phrase on the street is “doing dates,” which is the only term we use when talking with the women we serve. When we are in a setting, usually professional, where we need to be more clear, we say a “person who sells sex.” It’s factually accurate and we’ve the least amount of pushback on that phrase from other agencies and advocates.

 

What to call the person buying sex

We don’t really care what term is used. On the street, they they call the customer a “date,” so we often use that. When we need to be more professional, we say a “person who buys sex.” We don’t really like the term “trick,” but if it’s being used by a woman who does dates, she can use whatever term she wants