"Hey, mister, want to have some fun?": heavy everyday life of new York prostitutes in the 1980-ies

Sex, drugs and crime, the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to new York 1980-ies. The city was drowning in crisis, and all this was accompanied by low social responsibility of citizens. In the Central Park you can find drugs for every taste, and pimps prostitutes freely walked the streets. The memory of prostitution 80s carefully stored in photos and stories representatives of the ambiguous profession.

Source: CameraLabs

Unique, but a difficult time pushing women to find the means to survive, and prostitution was one of the easiest and affordable options. In combination with a drug that has been used most of the girls in this profession, was a searing mix of audacity and despair. Prostitute could find about the tunnel, on the outskirts of the city. She approached the car, standing in traffic and flirted with the driver: "Hey, mister, want to have some fun?"

Several moments captured Steven Siegel. Photographer takes to the streets of new York for over 30 years. Among his works there are hundreds on which the town is depicted as it was in the 80s. the photographs preserved and moments from the life of prostitutes, with all the details, typical of the time.

One woman who worked as a prostitute in the 80-ies, in an interview for Newcity shared memories about the specifics of their profession. Here are some highlights from her story:

"... When you go out, you don't think about the danger. First and foremost, I am so high, like a kite on methamphetamine. These guys are rude and repulsive, but I can enjoy myself because I'm on drugs".

"... I'm white, so I have no pimp. But black girls who have pimps, saying that some of their wives was found strangled near the Northern Avenue. You hear this all the time – in a dumpster girl was found dead. And everyone's like".

"What's the danger? And what is it not? You can Rob, rape, cheat, beat, stab, shoot, strangle, to kidnap and, of course, arrested. You can get the disease, sexually transmitted."

"I was pregnant once. This is what the world needs – meth-and-alcohol-dependent child from John. You don't think about the danger, because when you're stoned you think you're bulletproof. Besides, there is something special that you put yourself at risk, and then survive. It makes you feel safe. All who have had an injury, no matter he got it in the war or on the street, you know it."

"I completely dependent on having to sit in the car. No other dependencies. It's money, sex, attention, love, drugs, alcohol, control, excitement, adventure, ego, street theatre, fortune, and the thrill of it. The greater the danger the greater the relief. Every time you think you don't just lucky, and indestructible. I think you're cool."