I was reading about the difficulties people faced during lockdown in 2020. But there was one profession that was less discussed and had no media coverage or any help from the government even after millions of sex workers live with us. Some of them are under the profession with their consent, but it paints a sad picture for the rest (actually the majority of them) who are forced to do and have been dragged into this.

It made me think about how this industry works. And I found the dark side of the sex worker’s life. The reality was really heart-rending. I’ve watched previous documentaries and read interviews that I would like to share with you. But before that here are some basic information about sex workers.

Who are Sex Workers?

Any person who provides sex as a service for some amount in return to earn a livelihood. It can be done out of his/her choice but most of the time they are being dragged into this vicious circle. Poverty has some really dark faces. It is just like daily work in an office but here they work in hotels and brothels.

They have a hard life. They work at a very low wage and are exploited several times. I was reading an interview where one sex worker said, “Every time a new girl is brought in and she tries to escape, I don’t think people outside the world realize that there isn’t an escape route for us”.

What Makes Them a Sex Worker?

One who visits the place might wonder that every sex worker who works here is by their choice. But it is hard to believe that 60% to 70% of sex workers in India and around the world have never wanted to do so. They are being brought into this by the people themselves who saw an opportunity to make money out of their poverty.

How Sex Workers Are Being Dragged Into This Profession?

Through Human trafficking

Every year thousands of women and girls fall into the hands of traffickers. They trade them in the world, some turn out to be forced labour, and the rest under prostitution. It paints a sad picture that 75% of trafficked women adopt the practice of prostitution which they never wanted to. United Nations Office on Drug and Crime Report estimates that 79% of women are trafficked for sexual exploitation. 18% for forced labour, 3% for other forms of exploitation. And 50 % of all Trafficked victims are minors (below 18).

There is an organization SNEHALAYA which has done and is doing immense work for rescuing girls from sex trafficking. They empower women and provide them a better life, and education, and make them proficient.

Poverty

It is the only source of money left with them because most of them are illiterate belong to poor families and don’t have any other option. It seems green from the outside. So, many women are even forced by their husbands, and the threat of killing by pimps compelled them for the job unwillingly.

They have to raise their children, send them to school, fulfilling basic amenities, therefore they knowingly get them trapped into this vicious circle of prostitution. There are also high-end sex workers who work beneath the mask, there are some places on the Earth where the cost of pleasure is less than buying a pizza. Some of them are Daulatdia in Bangladesh, GB Road in India, and many others.

Early Marriage and domestic clashes

It is also a major cause for becoming a prostitute, according to them they belong to a poor family mostly from rural areas, and stereotypical thinking of parents drags them into the swamp. Their alcoholic husband assaulted and forcefully made fall them into the industry.

How is the life Of Sex Workers Outside The Brothels?

In today’s society, people are often judged by their appearances, jobs, profiles, and standards and if we talk about sex workers the picture is much more disturbing. They have to face social hate, unwanted pregnancy, social abuse, ovarian issues, HIV/AIDS, and Drug addiction.

Their children always feel low in schools, colleges, friend circles, and social gatherings. No one wants to make them friends because of social taboos. Their life ends around the brothels only.

If they, however, manage to leave the place and want a new beginning within the society still the community will never let them forget by consistently asking, who they are? and where they had come from? What was their earlier profession? In that interview, one sex worker said, “We always try to smile frustrated one but in return who cares what pain they left with us”. Calling the abusive word in public or cracking a joke by their name is disrespectful.

They have to isolate themselves because of the aggressive thinking of society, no social gathering, and abusive calling is a common practice of what society pays them.

What Can Be the Solution to make their life easier?

• Provide esteem: It will be ironic if the land of “Kamasutra” says that there is life without sex. They deserve respect just like any other woman. They are a part of society too. We should also pay some respect to sex workers because sex is never going to decline as of the rising population.
• Social acceptance: In every country society helps in nation-building and society is made by ‘we’ people. Rather than socially abusing each other, we should treat them like any other human beings because they are also human. “Kamasutra/lust” will never be going to decline as long as humanity exists. But discriminating against them for their profession isn’t the way of humanity. We should accept them because they also have a normal family like us.
• Strict law against exploitation: By making sex work legal the government, they should also make a strict law against the evil traffickers and pimps. One should be held responsible for AIDS/HIV and unwanted pregnancy. Forcing someone for sex in the name of a profession is just another face of ‘Rape’. If she says NO, that means NO.

It might be possible that many people find it uncomfortable and hesitant with these kinds of topics as it’s not a regular part of society. But it’s necessary to bring some light to the dark side of sex worker’s life. So I did. The situation might vary between countries and cultures but it’s right to raise a voice as problems are almost the same.

Artwork:- Ridhi

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