Why would a girl use a pimp?  Most stories about pimps are that they take a great deal of the girls money and do not give them much in return.  Wouldn't it just be better for the girl to travel with 1-2 friends that work with them.  They split the costs of the hotel, and do not have some guy (pimp) being abusive to them?

There are not many stories of nice pimps.

A pimp, in a legal context, could be an agent, a madam, an assistant, and could even be an adult child who lives with a provider, as he is living off the earnings.

Presuming you mean the stereotypical "pimp"; someone who has a few ladies working for him/her and he/she takes the majority or in some cases all of the money, and physically or mentally abuses the workers, I think of it much like an abusive relationship. The women (or men) often find that this person provides some sort of protection/father/mother-like experience (security? love?) and are willing to live that way in exchange for this experience. Chances are the people who find themselves in these situations (on both sides) would be in a similar situation (a controlling or abusive relationship, perhaps even a gang) even if they were not in the business. I don't think it is specific to this industry.

But I am not a psychologist. So I could be completely wrong.

FEAR..

This parasites find women in bad situations, often runaways from sexually and physically abusive homes, and at first show them a great deal of kindness and protection. They introduce them to drugs if the ladies are not on them.

They then start asking for favors. Then the abuse starts. These ladies are somewhat pre-programmed to take the abuse and at this time dependent on the pimp for drugs, protection, and often there very support. Plus the pimp finds ways to threaten them in ways the lady just can't defend.

They are in fact reduced to slaves in their mind and have very little choice but to do what the pimp/trafficker wishes of them. Fear and need keeps them in line. Very sad.

I am close to a lady this happened to. She was saved when her pimp was busted for drugs. That was her out. Sad thing these ladies feel because of the legal status of prostitution the ladies can't go to the cops for help. They are trapped. Can't get out on their own can't get help in their mind.

Good thing most ladies are not trafficked/pimped, but one is far to many.

with a couple people to whom this has happened. In one case, she ended up leaving the guy only to quickly involve herself in another similar relationship. It's what she was familiar with and she just didn't have what it took to get away, I guess.

In the other case, she escaped because the guy was arrested on bench warrants. That last case was particularly awful, but she's doing great now and has never gone back into a crap relationship. She's extremely independent, and works for an airline now.

But as "evil" as these pimps seem, we have to remember that the majority have also come from extremely abusive homes. Not an excuse, but a clue as to where to address the problem. Domestic violence and child abuse.

And you said the operative word in your post GIRLS!

The theory of a pimp, male or female, is to have someone manage the business, and keep you "safe". Protection, stability, shelter, and unconditional love. It can be appealing for some, and others really don't know better and get "chosen". As a creature, females can be unstable and highly emotional, so making decisions without foreseeing consequences could be very dangerous. With a pimp in charge of most decisions, the girl should have nothing to worry about except for keeping the goods in check to produce the cash, to keep everyone happy.

With a lack of self esteem and self worth, it's easy prey for a girl to have a pimp because there is no other way for her to do what she does. It is actually quite common and almost glamorous to have a pimp, when they do grow tired of the situation, their lack of exposure to the real word and accessibility to their options are often so limited, it leaves them stuck.

The abuse, in many forms not just physical, is for the establishment of control and dominance over the girl. If she stays powerless and submissive, there is a better chance the abuse may not happen. Then it makes it easier for her to do nothing and stay. A pimp knows this and uses the abuse to their advantage.

On a lighter note and to answer the age old question: Is pimpin easy? Hell no, pimpin ain't easy!

In the real world there are no nice pimps

I think that imp is an ugly word. I refer that providers use the word "Assistant."

To me, a pimp is a guy that gets a woman hooked on drugs and then beats her and rewards her with more drugs by having her "turn tricks." A pimp will readily punish a girl for providing bad service to a hobbyist. I hope that girls on this board do not have pimps in this sense. However, a few months back, I heard from a white provider in the Deep South of Alabama that many girls are pimped out by young black guys staying at the same hotel where the girls provide service. The pimp takes a certain cut of the money in exchange for drugs and "safety."

This is why the girls working as escorts in Mexico have it better. They work for a "Padrote" that only sets up the dates, facilitates their transportation to the various hotels and collects when the deed is done. Padrotes are more like Assistants than pimps. I actually drink with two of the Padrotes that I use in Mexico and they are both good family men.

Not meant to put anyone down directly, just a generalization in relation to the OP's questioning about the philosophy/ actions of pimps. Sorry if you took it out of context. We can't always be perfect.

they're called agency owners. While some agency owners are simply "bosses" managing the scheduling, screening, and taking a cut from the ladies, it can be difficult to distinguish from the complete outside whether most situations are on the up and up (so to speak), or whether the agency owner is a glamorized pimp in the sense of utilizing abuse and fear tactics with his/her ladies. Stories abound of many "respectable" agency owners who used threats/fear tactics and attempts to damage the reputation of ladies who wished to leave their agency for another, or wished to become independent providers. As such, I feel the gray area between these two categories of "pimp" and "agency owner" is far to foggy to really discern which end of the spectrum any such individual is on.

Rather than try to separate pimps from agency owners, if we were to throw both under the same category and outlaw any "managing" individual or group from profiting off of an act of prostitution while at the same time decriminalizing the act itself, we'd thin out a lot of the bad guys "managing" these women, further discourage human trafficking, and provide a real opportunity for the women to come forth when pimping/abuse or known trafficking instances did occur (since their own activity would no longer be listed as criminal).