Glossary of Terms

1. The What
a. Sex trafficking: “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the
purpose of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud or coercion
or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not obtained 19 years of age.” Trafficking in
Person’s Act (Proof of force, fraud or coercion is not needed for minors)
b. CSEC/CSEY-Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children/Youth
c. DMST- Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: US citizens trafficked under the age of 18
d. Sextortion: A pimp/trafficker and or “buyers” gets victims to take pictures of videos of themselves in a
sexual manner that are then used to blackmail the victim and manipulate them into the sex trade.
e. Familial Trafficking: when a victim is controlled and exploited by family members
f. Survival Sex: trading sex for basic needs like food, shelter, drugs, etc.
g. Gang trafficking:
2. The Who
a. Boyfriend/Casanova or Finesse/Boo/Romeo Pimp: a person who charms their victim into the life by
playing the role of boyfriend who financially benefits from victim sexual exploitation
b. Gorilla pimp- a person who uses violence to force their victims into the sex industry
c. Madam: a female, typically older, who organizes and runs the trafficking of victims. She may or may not
have been a victim herself
d. Bottom Bitch or Bottom: a victim that supervises, trains and potentially punishes other victims alongside
the pimp/trafficker. Typically, there are benefits to this position such as a lower quota to fill.
e. Runner: the person that watches over the victim/buyer transaction on the street
f. Daddy/Papi: term used to refer to the pimp.
g. Wife/Sister Wife/ Wifie: terms used by women under the same trafficker
h. Prostitute/bitch/ho/whore/worker/dancer: one of many terms used to refer to the victims controlled by
their pimp or trafficker (not an exhaustive list)
i. Stable/Family: refers to the group of victims controlled by pimp or trafficker
j. Buyer/John/Client/Trick: person who purchases sex
3. The Where
a. The Life/The Game/The Street: subculture of trafficking
b. The Track/Stroll/ Cut/ Blade: an area of town where victims are solicited for sex
c. Brothel/Cathouse: establishment where commercial sex acts are performed (this could be any building)
and there is often a person who keeps victims in and police out
d. Kiddie Stroll: an area where younger victims are sold
e. Lot Lizard: a derogatory term for victims that work truck stops
4. Other important phrases
a. Seasoning: “ a combination or psychological manipulation, intimidation, gang rape, sodomy, beatings,
etc., designed to break down a victim’s resistance and ensure compliance” (shared Hope International)
b. Breaking: Victims are required to turn their earnings over to a pimp. To “break a bitch” is common after
a trick/date.
c. Turning a Trick/ Hitting a Lick: performing a sex act for money or goods.
d. Caught a case: trafficker/pimp or victim gets charged with a crime.
e. Out of pocket: when a victim disobeys the rules of a pimp
f. Squaring Up: Attempting to get out of the life of prostitution.