Many of the women in bordellos were there because they had few options, they had to make a living and this was the readily available means on the western frontier. In the west, the bawdy house girl filled an obvious need or they would not have survived as long as they did. Many did go on to marry prospectors, cowboys, or even doctors and lawyers and set their lives straight. For some, however, it was the kind of life they wanted and wouldn't do anything else.