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Indoor Sex Workers in Punjab: A Qualitative Enquiry

Rachana Sharma (Department of Sociology, Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, Punjab, India)

People, Spaces and Places in Gendered Environments

ISBN: 978-1-83797-894-6, eISBN: 978-1-83797-893-9

Publication date: 3 June 2024

Abstract

Scholarly works on sex work and sex workers are mostly confined to discourses on human trafficking and the incidence of HIV/STIs among sex workers. Although crucial, this restricted focus has neglected the reality that sex workers are a diverse community, and while their challenges may appear to be linked at first glance, they differ greatly. While extensive research has been conducted on sex workers working in more open settings like brothels, hotels, and streets, there is a scarcity of research on sex workers working in more private spaces, such as, for instance, their own homes. Within the hierarchy of sex workers, home-based sex workers (HBSWs) among the indoor sex workers dominate commercial sex transactions. However, they are often overlooked due to their covert nature and invisible landscape. This chapter addresses the knowledge gap by examining the work lives and conditions of home-based female sex workers (FHBSWs) in Punjab. The study analyzes the complex lives of sex workers who use their home as both a family unit and a workplace. A detailed analysis of the risks and vulnerabilities they face in their daily lives and their coping strategies is also examined in this chapter. The study points out that although working from home may have positive outcomes for sex workers, the integration of sex work into the home environment exposes them to several challenges. Hence, the study emphasizes the need for tailoring interventions for sex workers who operate in different physical environments so that their unique needs and challenges are well addressed.

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Acknowledgements

Acknowledgments

I want to express my gratitude to all the study participants for sharing their personal stories. To ensure data anonymity, pseudonyms have been used in this study. I would like to thank Balbir Kaur, M.A. Sociology student, for pilot testing, conducting two interviews with the sex workers, and getting some qualitative insights from the field. Also, I want to thank the field staff of Amritsar-based NGOs for their guidance. Finally, I thank the reviewers for taking the necessary time and efforts to review and their help in improving the quality of the manuscript.

Citation

Sharma, R. (2024), "Indoor Sex Workers in Punjab: A Qualitative Enquiry", Demos, V.(V). and Segal, M.T. (Ed.) People, Spaces and Places in Gendered Environments (Advances in Gender Research, Vol. 34), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 99-116. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1529-212620240000034006

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited