April 4-6, 2024 • Hyatt Regency • Lexington, KY
Innovations in Health Communication
Innovations in Health Communication
Abstract: Experiencing, Negotiating, and Challenging Stigma Among Brothel-Based and Non-Brothel-Based Sex Workers in India
Introduction:
Stigma is felt, constructed, understood and negotiated differently by different marginalized groups, including different groups among commercial sex workers themselves. Brothel-based sex workers in India have more visibility, and undergo greater social scrutiny, moral surveillance and stigmatization. For the transient sex workers, invisibility and non- identification as sex workers are strategically used to mitigate stigmatization. A significant percentage of sex workers in India operate clandestinely from non-brothel-based settings including public places, such as cinema halls, parks, bus stands, railway stations, hotels/lodges, streets, and highways (Kotiswaran, 2011). There is a serious gap in research on the differences of the impact of stigmatization on identity negotiation, support-seeking, patterns of resource access and service uptake among brothel-based and transient sex workers (Dandona et al., 2005; Ramesh et al., 2012). Brothel-based sex workers and non-brothel-based sex workers are not mutually exclusive categories, as considerable overlap exists (Sinha, 2014). But the variations in the work settings can have significant implications on their health and overall well-being. The current research delineates the differences between the impact of stigmatization on brothel-based and transient sex workers in India and how these two groups negotiate with, and resist stigma in their lives.
Methodology:
Twenty-three brothel-based sex workers and 21 transient sex workers were interviewed. The brothel-based sex workers were recruited by the sex workers’ union called Durbar Mohila Samanway Committee (DMSC) located in Kolkata, Eastern India. All 23 were cisgender females catering to male clients. DMSC helped to recruit three transient sex workers, and the rest of the non-brothel-based interviewees were obtained through snowball sampling. Among the transient interviewees, 17 were cisgender females catering to male clients whereas four identified as transgender individuals also servicing male clients. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with open-ended questions were used. All communication happened in Bengali, the native language of the interviewees, and spoken by the researcher too. The transcripts amounted to 210 pages of translated text and 36 pages of field notes were also recorded. In order to analyze the obtained data a grounded theory approach was used (Lincoln & Denzin, 2003; Strauss & Corbin, 1998). The transcripts were analyzed employing open coding and axial coding (Strauss & Corbin, 1998). Three primary themes emerged from data analysis---these involved a) identity negotiation and disclosure of profession, b) emphasizing labor rights and movement towards legalization of profession c) response to violence
Discussion:
Among transient sex workers, transgender respondents and cisgender females were similar in their hesitation towards identification as sex worker as well as disclosure of profession. They were reluctant to advocate for labor rights and legalization of all aspects of sex work. The current research shows that transient work patterns and non-attachment to designated brothels resulted in greater incidence of violence, lack of a community voice and poorer access to community-based resources and support services in contrast to the containment, stability and superior access offered by brothels. Location within a designated space can optimize access to health information, reduce vulnerability to violence, and enhance the health and wellbeing of the commercial sex workers.
Stigma is felt, constructed, understood and negotiated differently by different marginalized groups, including different groups among commercial sex workers themselves. Brothel-based sex workers in India have more visibility, and undergo greater social scrutiny, moral surveillance and stigmatization. For the transient sex workers, invisibility and non- identification as sex workers are strategically used to mitigate stigmatization. A significant percentage of sex workers in India operate clandestinely from non-brothel-based settings including public places, such as cinema halls, parks, bus stands, railway stations, hotels/lodges, streets, and highways (Kotiswaran, 2011). There is a serious gap in research on the differences of the impact of stigmatization on identity negotiation, support-seeking, patterns of resource access and service uptake among brothel-based and transient sex workers (Dandona et al., 2005; Ramesh et al., 2012). Brothel-based sex workers and non-brothel-based sex workers are not mutually exclusive categories, as considerable overlap exists (Sinha, 2014). But the variations in the work settings can have significant implications on their health and overall well-being. The current research delineates the differences between the impact of stigmatization on brothel-based and transient sex workers in India and how these two groups negotiate with, and resist stigma in their lives.
Methodology:
Twenty-three brothel-based sex workers and 21 transient sex workers were interviewed. The brothel-based sex workers were recruited by the sex workers’ union called Durbar Mohila Samanway Committee (DMSC) located in Kolkata, Eastern India. All 23 were cisgender females catering to male clients. DMSC helped to recruit three transient sex workers, and the rest of the non-brothel-based interviewees were obtained through snowball sampling. Among the transient interviewees, 17 were cisgender females catering to male clients whereas four identified as transgender individuals also servicing male clients. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with open-ended questions were used. All communication happened in Bengali, the native language of the interviewees, and spoken by the researcher too. The transcripts amounted to 210 pages of translated text and 36 pages of field notes were also recorded. In order to analyze the obtained data a grounded theory approach was used (Lincoln & Denzin, 2003; Strauss & Corbin, 1998). The transcripts were analyzed employing open coding and axial coding (Strauss & Corbin, 1998). Three primary themes emerged from data analysis---these involved a) identity negotiation and disclosure of profession, b) emphasizing labor rights and movement towards legalization of profession c) response to violence
Discussion:
Among transient sex workers, transgender respondents and cisgender females were similar in their hesitation towards identification as sex worker as well as disclosure of profession. They were reluctant to advocate for labor rights and legalization of all aspects of sex work. The current research shows that transient work patterns and non-attachment to designated brothels resulted in greater incidence of violence, lack of a community voice and poorer access to community-based resources and support services in contrast to the containment, stability and superior access offered by brothels. Location within a designated space can optimize access to health information, reduce vulnerability to violence, and enhance the health and wellbeing of the commercial sex workers.