Identity Management as a Coping Strategy for Stigmatization: The Case of Indian Sex Workers in a Libidinal Market

Abstract

Poor women can face stigmas about indolence, moral turpitude, and substance abuse. This stigmatized condition includes female sex workers, who live and work in situations that exacerbate impoverishment and bring societal exclusion and shame. We situate our arguments at the nexus of poverty and stigma and examine the value of identity formation and reformation in the context of female sex workers in India. These women face restrictions to meet basic needs and remain in the profession despite significant challenges. Our study reveals five identity pathways in their collective consciousness: protector, sacred, commoditized, provider, and eudaimonic/self-acceptance. They come together as themes that reflect these women's lived experiences who were forced to endure systemic violence in relative silence. We use and advance arguments provided by Hill, Ozanne, and Viswanathan and their various colleagues to frame our current understanding of their plight. We contribute to theory by revealing that these identities have positive consequences for personal reconfiguration under conditions of vulnerability. Finally, our results indicate that public policy should recognize the value of self-identities that support resistance in a marginalized marketplace. Sensitizing stakeholders, including policy makers, to destigmatization may also help sex workers gain the courage of their convictions to leave the profession.

‘Pressure creates diamonds’/‘fire refines gold’: Conceptualizing coping capital

“…Quite possibly, in Bourdieu’s terms, the development of such strong relationships may generate coping capital (as well as social capital) arising from dealing with the difficulties of homelessness. Similar capital may also develop from sex workers’ coping strategies in a libidinal market, which include connecting with similar others who share their life circumstances (Mitra et al, 2022 ). Table 2 highlights consumer research studies that may be leveraged to investigate or reinvestigate the applicability of coping capital.…”

Scaling Social Impact: Marketing to Grow Nonprofit Solutions

“…By including these nonprofit leaders as members of our team, we gained a deeper understanding of the scaling process and firsthand accounts of the marketing practices used to scale social impact (Davis, Ozanne, and Hill 2016; Ozanne et al 2017). In doing so, we adhere to methodological precedent for including nonprofit collaborators as research team members (Mitra et al 2022; Ozanne and Ozanne 2021). Following Ozanne et al’s (2017) relational engagement approach, we view these leaders as partners in the research.…”

Gettingrealabout consumer poverty: Deep processes for transformative action

“…Adkins and Ozanne (2005) find that the low literate consumers, who are also often impoverished, face multiple stereotypes that lead to negative evaluations, and find their identity devalued in the marketplace. Mitra et al (2022) highlight the stigmatized working conditions of female sex workers in India as they attempt to meet their basic needs working in conditions which exacerbate their impoverishment The poor are constrained in their ability to engage in the market and fulfillment of traditional roles as consumers and marginalized from mainstream society and reinforcing the stigma of being labeled unwanted, abnormal, and flawed consumers (Bauman, 2004).…”

“…Adkins & Ozanne, 2005; Belk et al, 2003; Hill, 2002a, Hill, 2002b; Hill & Gaines, 2007; Mitra et al, 2022; Olson et al, 2016…”

“…Mitra et al (2022) highlight the stigmatized working conditions of female sex workers in India as they attempt to meet their basic needs working in conditions which exacerbate their impoverishment…”