Whether a woman enters the sex industry by choice or by force, fraud, or coercion, as in the case of trafficking, overwhelming research indicates the following:

More women are employed by the sex industry than any other time in history

There are more strip clubs in the United States than any other nation in the world

Between 66-90% of women in the sex industry were sexually abused as children

The shame and secrecy surrounding sexual abuse make it difficult to get accurate data regarding incidents what kind of these incidents among women in the sex industry. The studies that have been done reveal that…

Compared to the general population, women in the sex industry experience
higher rates of…

• Substance Abuse Issues
• Rape and Violent Assault
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Domestic Violence
• Depression
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Rates comparable to war veterans)

89% of women in the sex industry said they wanted to escape, but had no other means for survival

The average age of entry into prostitution 12-14 yrs

73% of women in prostitution have been raped more than five times

Trafficking in women is the second largest global organized crime today, generating approximately US$12 billion a year

70% of females who are trafficked are trafficked into the commercial sex industry

There 1.39 million victims of commercial sexual servitude worldwide

The women in this industry face a myriad of issues that impact their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Many feel desperately isolated and alone. Because their hurts and needs are multi-faceted, the approach to assisting them in the recovery process needs to be holistic as well.

Treasures is the first and only organization of its kind in the Los Angeles area.

*Data gathered from more than 30 journal articles featuring research on women in the sex industry & the work of Dr. Melissa Farley.
List of works cited available upon request.