Circumstances, experiences and processes surrounding women's entry into sex work in India

Bibliographic Data

ID15099804
AuthorsLeigh M McClarty (0000-0003-0183-2768, University of Manitoba, corresponding author), Parinita Bhattacharjee (0000-0003-3277-7693, Karnataka Health Promotion Trust), Jenny Blanchard (0000-0002-4701-590X, University of Manitoba), James F Blanchard, Robert Lorway (0000-0001-6923-8832, University of Manitoba), Robert R Lorway, Satyanarayana Ramanaik (0000-0002-0157-7253, Karnataka Health Promotion Trust), Sharmistha Mishra (0000-0001-8492-5470, Imperial College London), Shajy Isac (0000-0002-4272-7748, University of Manitoba), B M Ramesh (Karnataka Health Promotion Trust), Reynold Washington (0000-0003-1245-8425, University of Manitoba), Stephen Moses (University of Manitoba), Marissa Becker (0000-0002-9235-0547, University of Manitoba), Marissa L Becker
Year2014
Volume16
Issue2
Pages149-163
Publication date2014-02-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCulture Health & Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-1058 • E-ISSN: 1464-5351
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13691058.2013.845692
PMID24236895
OpenAlexW2074928448
LanguageEN
Citations received21
References cited35

Evidence suggests that in India, the early stages of a woman's career as a sex worker may be an important period to target for HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention. Before such an intervention is designed and implemented, it is necessary to first understand the life circumstances of women at the start of their sex work careers. We performed a review to bring together available literature pertaining to entry into sex work in India and to highlight knowledge gaps. We found that historical traditions of dedication into sex work, financial insecurity, family discord, violence and coercion, and desire for financial independence are commonly reported reasons for entering into sex work. We also found that families and the broader sex worker community play an important role in the early stages of a woman's sex work career. We suggest that HIV-prevention programmes in India would substantially benefit from a deeper understanding of the life circumstances of new and young women sex workers. Further research should be conducted focusing on family and community involvement in women's entry into sex work, and on the important period of time after a woman's first commercial sex encounter, but before self-identification as a sex worker

Business · Female sex · Financial independence · Psychiatry · Sex work · Sex workers · Sociology · Demography · Gender Studies · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · Medicine · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology

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