Social Construct of Sex Work in India: Implications for HIV Prevention

Abstract

In India, while female sex workers (FSWs) are one of the groups most susceptible to HIV=AIDS transmission, research and interventions typically sidestep FSWs' stories. The authors use interviews with 20 FSWs to reflect a more recent trend of research that encourages FSWs to tell their stories. Based on the findings that suggest both individual and structural factors influencing women's involvement in sex work, the authors suggest a theoretical framework for designing more comprehensive and culturally grounded intervention strategies targeting this population.

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

“…This decriminalization paves the way for better treatment of sex workers (Cho, Dreher, and Neumayer 2013). But to understand why women in our study entered into sex work, it is important to recognize the social, political, economic, and gender and cultural factors that influence decisions to enter this libidinal market (Sen et al 2014). Among the women in our investigation, the most common reasons for entering sex work were poverty/deprived economic conditions, family discord, negative life circumstances for self or family, coercion by men in their lives (e.g., fathers, husbands), and a desire for financial independence (McClarty et al 2014;Saggurti et al 2011;Swendeman et al 2015).…”

A sociological perspective on India’s journey of legalizing prostitution: An illicit to a lawful activity

“…Women's entry into the prostitution is spurred by social, economic and political factors as well as gender and cultural dynamics (Sen et al 2014). The reasons of women entry into prostitution are categorized under five broad ways: force (as exploitation, deception by known and unknown people, false marriages and being sold into brothel); negative social circumstances (early marriage, lack of basic education, domestic violence, husbands alcoholism and extramarital affairs, worry about caring for children education); economic conditions (paying off debts and loans borne by family, wanting more money, inadequate household conditions, lack of employment and chronic illness of family members); traditional family activity and own choice.…”