14 / 07 / 2025
11 Minute Read

What is a pimp?

 

Although the supply in Switzerland is constantly growing, the demand for prostitution is high and likely always will be. What many of you ignore (or don't want to see) is that the vast majority of this prostitution is forced. In this article, I will explain what a pimp is and show you the operating methods of these highly organized "birds of prey" who (rarely operate alone but rather in organized groups) do everything they can to lure young women, sometimes even minors. Young prey quickly falls under the influence of this "predator," who isolate her from her environment and guide her down the sexual "corridor."

But before I describe in detail what a pimp is, it is first very important to distinguish between two types of prostitution: forced and chosen prostitution.

 

Forced Prostitution versus chosen Prostitution

The pimp primarily operates in a context of forced prostitution. This is often done violently (physical, verbal, and psychological abuse), but can also be done very gently through emotional and affective manipulation of the victim, who does not feel violated or exploited (this is the case, for example, if the victim is in love with their pimp and would do anything to avoid losing their love). By directing, promoting, and controlling the environment in which they drive their victim into prostitution, the pimp reaps the vast majority of the sex worker's earnings, justifying this by protecting her, providing her with room and board, and/or finding clients for her. Sometimes the girl is already involved in the world of prostitution; often it is the pimp who introduces her to this industry. In most cases, pimps operate in street prostitution and/or prostitution in illegal jurisdictions (underground prostitution), as these markets are more lucrative, paradoxically less controlled by authorities, and allow them to exert greater influence over their victims (who feel even more afraid, isolated, and dependent on their pimp). Although more and more pimps are moving their sex workers into apartments (I will discuss this in more detail later in this article), it is this total physical, psychological, and financial control of the pimp over his victim that makes him coercive, controlling, abusive, and therefore dangerous.

Although a pimp can have different profiles and can come from different backgrounds, the pattern of his behavior is almost always the same: he is typically a controlling, manipulative individual who uses charm, threats, or violence to exploit others—usually women—for financial gain through sex work.

In contrast, there is also chosen prostitution. This is less discussed, and it is not the subject of this article, but I believe it is important to emphasize this point. Even though the media systematically portrays prostitution in the darkest light, there are certainly women who choose prostitution as a profession, and their numbers are growing. These women are educated, have degrees, have previously held conventional jobs, and could certainly work in another sector if they wanted to, but they have chosen prostitution for reasons that are entirely up to them. Some will choose to work in an erotic studio, others as independent escorts. In any case, they do so of their own volition, and no one pressures them into this decision, which is their own. These more assertive female profiles are generally not a pimp's preferred targets, and his tactics of influence and intimidation are ineffective against them.

 

The difference between pimping and procuring

Before I discuss pimping further—and now that you're aware that chosen prostitution also exists—I'd like to mention the subtle but important distinction that must be made between two terms: pimping and procuring. There's too much confusion between these two words, which, while closely related, are not similar. Pimping comes from the word "pimp" and describes the behavior of a person who forces another person into prostitution or exploits them. This can be done through physical or psychological pressure, threats, or manipulation. The pimp profits from the prostitution of the exploited person. In the vast majority of cases, pimps are men, while women are less active in this role.

Procuring, on the other hand, is something completely different. It involves arranging prostitution deals, i.e., bringing together clients and sex workers. The procurer receives a commission or other benefit for this arrangement. There doesn't necessarily have to be coercion or exploitation, as is the case with pimping, and this contact usually takes place within a clearly defined legal framework. Working as the manager of an erotic salon, the manager of an escort website, or the managing director of an escort agency are all procuring activities that are legal in Switzerland, for example (they are also legal in many other countries such as Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Austria). Incidentally, the vast majority of the operators of these erotic businesses are women.

Pimping organizes and profits from illegal and/or forced prostitution. Procuring organizes and profits from chosen and legal prostitution.

 

The love story

Now I'll return to the heart of the matter: the pimp. Let's look at how they work.

Pimps target vulnerable young women (mature women are also among their prey, but they prefer younger, naive girls without life experience) and search for them on social media. They charm them by offering to correct their "shortcomings," whether it's their need to belong to a group or to be appreciated, by inviting them on jet-setting excursions and offering them luxury items. The young girls then fall in love with their pimp (or even marry him and have a child with him. At this point, the pimp knows that a mother will do anything for her child...) and end up prostituting themselves for him. This is one of the most common strategies used by Lovers Boys.

 

The recruiter

Some pimps use recruiters—male and female—to attract young girls. They approach them by inviting them to large "parties" in hotel suites or luxury apartments. Some of these recruiters sell dreams to young girls and openly offer them escort work. They smuggle "the good life," the possibility of plastic surgery, and the potential to make a lot of money quickly. If a pimp succeeds in "working" one of the young girls lured in this way on their own account, their recruiter receives a percentage of their earnings.

 

The survival instinct

In some cases, pimps target poor teenage girls or girls who have difficult relationships with their family, who need money to meet their basic needs. They may be troubled youths. Pimps often take control of these girls by fueling their drug addiction to keep them captive.

 

Drugs and/or Rape

To lure their prey, some pimps resort to a more radical method: drugging them after meeting them at "parties." This technique aims to "break" and "deprogram" them, particularly by raping them repeatedly, ultimately leading them to prostitute themselves. The young girls are regularly transported from apartment to apartment, then from city to city...

 

From streets to apartments...

As I mentioned earlier in this article, pimps are no longer exclusively found on the streets. In fact, they are increasingly found in private apartments too. The pimp rents a place for the two or three girls he supervises. They all sleep under the same roof, and when the girls have clients, they systematically go to the kitchen or another room where the pimp is waiting to hand over all the money they have received from their clients before having sex with them.

At the end of the day, it is the pimp who distributes the profits to each girl, keeping at least half (often more) for himself.

Having the women work in an apartment is not only more convenient for everyone, but also more convenient for them (the pimps), as they can directly control the girls. Therefore, in this industry, apartments rented by two or three "girlfriends" (who supposedly each rent a room) are shared for practical reasons: The pimp is constantly present but always invisible to the clients. Sometimes he can be found in the lobby of the building, outside smoking... In any case, he is never far away.

 

Some of them are looking for a pimp

As surprising as it may seem, some young women will offer their services to pimps who can be found in bars, shopping malls, or even certain schoolyards/universities. Sometimes underage, sometimes adults, they therefore want to "provoke" and highlight their "luxurious" lifestyle. This phenomenon particularly affects poor, uneducated girls who have nothing but dream of a life of luxury and freedom.

 

SOME REALITIES OF THE PIMPING NETWORKS

 

Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook

The Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram networks are used by pimps to recruit their future victims. By scanning their profiles, they learn a lot about their private lives. Thanks to the young girls' comments, the pimps can identify when they are more vulnerable to lure.

 

Shopping malls

Pimps regularly roam shopping malls, popular places for young girls to recruit.

 

Threats and violence

Young women under the influence of a pimp are often victims of violence. This is how a pimp exerts control over them. They are skilled manipulators, and they also use threats to keep their "prey" in their clutches. For example, they might threaten to tell their parents what they are doing or hurt their little brother.

 

His initials tattooed as a sign of ownership

Most often, a pimp has a "narcissistic" and "manipulative" profile and even demand that the girl be tattooed with his name or a symbol representing him. All young women who "work for him" have the same tattoo. This practice, widespread in the industry, is called branding. If you ask them whose name is tattooed on their thigh, finger, shoulder, or neck, they'll tell you: It's their deceased brother or their father...

That's why you'll see many girls (often very young) in this industry with tattoos that are sometimes a bit strange.

Of course, I'm not saying that all tattooed sex workers have a pimp, no. Some are tattooed voluntarily. The vast majority, however, are not, even if they'd like us to believe otherwise.

 

Recruited minors

Young girls can be recruited from the age of 14. These "more fragile" girls are thus more easily "controlled" and are more likely to develop a romantic relationship with their pimp. In some Eastern European countries (whose names I won't mention), a large percentage of working girls sent to Western Europe are actually minors...

 

A lot of money

Pimps earn a lot of money, money they collect for each girl under their yoke. Some girls receive a percentage of the proceeds, while others will never see the color of their money. In any case, the pimp can make the girl believe she's "earning money" or that he's saving it for her (who often doesn't have a bank account).

 

Not all do drugs

Some of the girls have drug problems, so their pimp gets them "addicted." However, these are less easy to "control" due to impulsiveness issues caused by regular consumption. So, despite what one might think, many young girls don't consume drugs or alcohol at the behest of the pimp, who can promote them at a better "price." Others prefer to remain "vigilant" in the presence of customers and therefore, will choose to stay away from drugs.

 

Not easy to stop them

The investigation process to catch a pimp is long and rigorous. Evidence is often difficult to obtain, especially if the young girls have developed a romantic affair under their control. Furthermore, the fact that pimps are constantly on the move complicates the police's work.

 

Where do these girls work?

The vast majority are prostitute and work on the streets or in clubs, where they are more easily controlled. However, you can also find them in erotic studios, brothels, or even private apartments, where there are usually several of them. The fear and pressure of their pimps often force them to lower the prices of their services and end up doing sex work, sometimes for a few Swiss francs.

 

Pimping : What responsibility do clients bear?

Many clients choose to turn a deaf ear. They choose not to be concerned. Choosing the services of a girl forced into prostitution means indirectly participating in and facilitating her exploitation.

Why make this choice when, with a little research, you can meet a woman who chose this path on her own will, who is not forced, and who even enjoys her work?

As I mentioned at the very beginning of this article, there is another face of prostitution. It's less common, but it exists, even though no one likes to talk about it. Adult, psychologically stable, sometimes even highly educated women who have deliberately chosen this industry and are not forced to do what they don't want to do.

Pimping is almost always associated with some form of human exploitation. Human trafficking refers to the illegal trade and exploitation of people, often through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. This occurs for purposes such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, or involuntary servitude. It is considered a serious violation of human rights and is one of the fastest-growing criminal industries in the world.

Dear clients, open your eyes, stop being passive accomplices and take your share of responsibility...

 

Janet – The Velvet Rooms

 

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