scholarly journals Sex Workers, Stigma and Self-Image: Evidence from Kolkata Brothels

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-45
Author(s):  
Sayantan Ghosal ◽  
Smarajit Jana ◽  
Anandi Mani ◽  
Sandip Mitra ◽  
Sanchari Roy
Keyword(s):  
Sex Workers ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Internalized Stigma ◽  
Life Choices ◽  
Marginalized Groups ◽  
Self Image ◽  
Randomized Field Experiment ◽  
Preventive Health Behavior ◽  
And Behavior

This paper studies the link between self-image and behavior among those who face stigma due to poverty and social exclusion. Using a randomized field experiment with sex workers in Kolkata (India), we examine whether a psychological intervention to mitigate adverse effects of internalized stigma can induce behavior change. We find significant improvements in participants’ self-image, their savings choices and health clinic visits. Administrative data confirm that these changes in savings and preventive health behavior persist fifteen and 21 months later respectively. Our findings highlight the potential of purely psychological interventions to improve life choices and outcomes of marginalized groups.

“HIV Is Our Friend”

2020 ◽  
pp. 29-52
Author(s):  
Chaitanya Lakkimsetti
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Initial Response ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Leadership Role ◽  
Sex Worker ◽  
Aids Epidemic ◽  
Marginalized Groups ◽  
Sexually Marginalized ◽  
Hiv Aids

This chapter provides an overview of HIV/AIDS policies as well as how sexually marginalized groups are drawn into biopower programs as “high-risk” groups. In 1983, when HIV/AIDS was first detected among sex workers in India, the state’s initial response was to blame the sex workers themselves as well as to forcefully test them and confine them in prison. However, it proved impossible to incarcerate every sex worker and to stop the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Instead, I argue, ultimately a consensus formed that supported giving marginalized groups a leadership role in tackling the epidemic. Drawing on ethnographic observations and the HIV/AIDS policy of the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), this chapter also highlights how these biopower projects deepened the involvement of high-risk groups as they moved from simple prevention to behavioral change. Ultimately, communities became extensions of biopower projects as they implemented these programs at the day-to-day level.

scholarly journals “Nothing About Us Without Us”: Reading Protests against Oppressive Knowledge Production as Guidelines for Solidarity Research

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilara Yarbrough
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Relevant Research ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Sex Worker ◽  
Marginalized Communities ◽  
Marginalized Groups ◽  
Ethical Policy ◽  
Production Practice ◽  
Academic Researchers

Drawing from my analysis of sex worker and homeless protests as well as my experience doing ethnographic research with people experiencing homelessness and people in the sex trade, I put forth recommendations for ethical, policy-relevant research with groups of people who experience routine, normalized violence, and who are frequently silenced and misrepresented by academics and policy makers. This article analyzes protests against what activists identify as oppressive knowledge production by “outsiders” who are not sex workers or homeless. Protest events against research “about us without us” occurred between 2012 and 2015, and targeted academic researchers and policymakers. I draw lessons from marginalized groups’ protests against knowledge production by outsider “experts” to present three problems with traditional poverty research: pathologization, paternalism, and extractive exotification. I use my observations of protests and service provision to develop guidelines for solidarity research, a knowledge production practice that prioritizes the needs and perspectives of marginalized communities.

Behavior, Knowledge, Attitude, and Other Characteristics of Men Who Had Sex With Female Commercial Sex Workers in Kenya

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rathavuth Hong
Keyword(s):  
Sex Workers ◽  
Sexual Practices ◽  
Commercial Sex ◽  
Reverse Causality ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Commercial Sex Workers ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Prevention Methods ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Female Commercial Sex Workers

We examined sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, behavior, and attitude of men who had sex with commercial sex workers (CSWs) in Kenya. About 15% of the men had sex with CSWs. Men who had two or more partners, were away from home five or more times in the past year, and used condoms consistently with their last three partners were likely to have had sex with CSWs (odds ratio [OR] = 2.70, p = .000; OR = 1.43, p = .044; OR = 2.50, p = .000, respectively). Men with better knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention methods were likely to have had sex with CSWs (OR = 1.62, p = .004). As expected, having had sex with CSWs was associated with higher risk of sexually transmitted infection (OR = 3.62, p = .000). This unexpected association between knowledge and behavior could be bidirectional or reverse causality. Nonetheless, knowledge in prevention has not been translated to practice and change in behavior. These processes require continuous efforts, including assertive campaigns on sexual practices and behaviors.

HIV, sexually transmitted infections and sexual practices among male sex workers attending a sexual health clinic in Melbourne, Australia, 2010-2018

2020 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn M. Turek ◽  
Christopher K. Fairley ◽  
Marjan Tabesh ◽  
Tiffany R. Phillips ◽  
Catriona S. Bradshaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Sexual Practices ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Male Sex Workers ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Male Sex

The Effect of a School-Based Helper Program on Adolescent Self-Image, Attitudes, and Behavior

1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 429-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galen E. Switzer ◽  
Roberta G. Simmons ◽  
Mary Amanda Dew ◽  
Jeanne M. Regalski ◽  
Chi-Hsein Wang
Keyword(s):  
School Based ◽  
Self Image ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attitudes And Behavior

Private sex workers’ engagement with sexual health services: an online survey

Sexual Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 93
Author(s):  
C. Thng ◽  
E. Blackledge ◽  
R. McIver ◽  
L. Watchirs Smith ◽  
A. McNulty
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Sex Work ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Throat Swab ◽  
Cervical Screening ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Gp Services

This study examined where private sex workers (PSW) present for sexual health services, disclosure, services received, and their satisfaction with care. An online anonymous survey was conducted via SurveyMonkey (surveymonkey.com). Among the 53 participants, 42% attended a sexual health clinic, 24% attended a general practitioner (GP) and 34% attended both. Participants attending GPs were less likely to be offered a throat swab and opportunities for cervical screening, contraception and vaccination were often missed in both service models. Participants attending GPs were less likely to disclose sex work and were less satisfied. Better awareness of the sexual health needs of PSWs is important in GP services.

scholarly journals The Limits of Hegemony?

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-30
Author(s):  
Ľuboš Blaha
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Patterns ◽  
Public Official ◽  
Business World ◽  
The Public ◽  
Official Discourse ◽  
Marginalized Groups ◽  
The Social ◽  
Regulative Principle ◽  
The Media ◽  
And Behavior

Abstract In this study I will try to put forward the views of the social theorists and critics who consider “postmodern culture” (Jameson) as deeply manipulative. The fundamental patterns of the system of the ideology preach to the spread of the values of consumerism, individualism and hedonism (Fromm). As the study shows, the media play a key role in spreading these values (Chomsky). The media became the main “ideological apparatus” (Althusser) and the business world, the world of culture and politics is controlled by these media. Economic system thus gains support of the population and can reproduce itself. According to some interpretations there is no escape from the environment of the systemic manipulation (Jameson, Foucault, Marcuse), but there are also opinions according to which systemic indoctrination can intervene only in the public - official discourse, but not culture and behavior patterns of marginalized groups (Scott, Bloch, Williams). I will try to interpret and analyze systematically these two intuitive views. In this context, I will develop the thesis that the value of truth, not as an epistemologically or metaphysically regulative principle, but as a socio-emancipating force which can have in the environment of the absolute manipulation a decisive impact in the formulation of alternative to the current (post)modern global-capitalist society. The study is based on the author's book Matrix of Capitalism: Is the Revolution Coming? (Veda, Bratislava 2011).

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