Survivors of Sex Trafficking in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

In the literature on trafficking in India there is a crucial dearth of primary data and micro studies that could be used for vulnerability mapping of the source areas and for addressing the risk factors identified. The article is a small attempt to contribute to plugging the gap in the context of Andhra Pradesh, identified as a 'hot spot' in the literature. It is based on case studies of 78 women who had been trafficked from their places of origin in Anantapur district to metropolitan cities across India and who have since returned to their homes. The article attempts to identify the individual and family circumstances that contribute to trafficking, to highlight in particular the gendered vulnerabilities that set these women up for trafficking, and to capture the process of the trafficking experience. The case studies reported here point to the compelling urgency of interventions that will go beyond the forced/voluntary divide in trafficking and sex work.

Predictors of Readiness to Exit Commercial Sexual Exploitation Among Women in India and the U.S.

“…However, in India the participating organizations were more balanced comprising of both type of organizations -those that did provide exit specific services and those that promoted staying in the sex trade. Another interesting finding was the proportion of women entering sex trade due to economic condition and force being higher in India, and entering due to abuse and running away behavior being higher in the U.S. which is consistent with the literature in both countries (Kramer & Berg, 2003;Vindhya & Dev, 2011).…”

“…This is consistent with the extant literature that describes the characteristics of women currently in CSE in India as lacking, or having minimal years of schooling (Dandona et al, 2006;Vindhya & Dev, 2011). Perceived stigma associated with working in the sex trade was also positively associated with readiness to change, while economic conditions as a reason for entry, and an individualist approach were negatively associated with readiness to change for the Indian sample.…”

“…On more than one occasion, women who were rescued and assisted by IOM in the past, re-enter the sex industry for lack of other viable options. Poor socio-economic backgrounds, unemployment or lack of sustainable income, limited or lack of education, and presence of perpetrators have been identified as factors causing entry into CSE, in both India and the U.S. (Belcher & Herr, 2005;Clarke, Clarke, Roe-Sepowitz, & Fey, 2012;Gupta et al, 2009;Kennedy, Klein, Bristowe, Cooper, & Yuille, 2007;Kramer & Berg, 2003;Vindhya & Dev, 2011).…”

“…Even after exiting CSE and attempting to mainstream into societies, some have reported enormous challenges adjusting to life post exit due to the high level of social stigma attached to their involvement in the sex industry and different standards of cultural expectations from women (Hennink & Simkhada, 2004;Mansson & Hedin, 1999;Vindhya & Dev, 2011). Thus, it is important to examine the impact of stigma on the process of exit within different cultural contexts.…”

“…The extant research on CSE has focused on identifying the characteristics of individuals in CSE and the factors causing entry into CSE (Estes & Weiner, 2001;Dandona et al, 2006;Kramer & Berg, 2003;Vindhya & Dev, 2011), experiences while in CSE (Farley et al, 2003;Hossain, Zimmerman, Abas, Light, & Watts, 2010;Panchanadeswaran et al, 2010;Raphael & Shapiro, 2004), addictions to substances (Bowser, Ryan, Smith, & Lockett, 2008;Yahne, Miller, Irvin-Vitela, & Tonigan, 2002), and HIV/AIDS and other STI concerns among this population (Gupta, Reed, Kershaw, & Blankenship, 2011;Halli, Ramesh, O'Neil, Moses, & Blanchard, 2006;Shannon, Bright, Gibson, & Tyndall, 2007;Surratt & Inciardi, 2010). However, the understanding of exit from CSE has seen limited published research, with the little that does exist, being qualitative in nature and conducted predominantly in the West (Dalla, 2006;Mansson & Hedin, 1999;Oselin, 2010;Sanders, 2007), and a handful of studies conducted in non-western countries (Learmonth, Hakala & Keller, 2015;Manopaiboon et al, 2003).…”