Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a New Year. We just passed the toughest and weird year of 2020 undoubtedly. Some of our friends lost their job and some begged to afford a one-time meal for survival. But some parts of society suffered a lot that we might miss in all this mess.
We are living in a society where people are judged by their profession. If you belong to a profession that doesn’t consider respectful and of standards in the eye of society then you have no right to expect respect. One profession is there which is highly demanded but has less respect and that is “prostitution” or Sex workers.
I was reading about the difficulties people faced during lock-down 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 lives 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.
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 try to escape, I don’t think people outside the world realize that there isn’t an escape route for us”.
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 are 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.
Every year thousands of women and girls fall into the hand of traffickers. They trade them in the world, some turn out to be forced labor, 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 labor, 3% for other forms of exploitation. And 50 % of all Trafficked victims are minor (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, education, and make them proficient.
As it is the only source of money left with them because most of them are illiterate and 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.
It is also a major cause for becoming a prostitute, according to them they belong to a poor family mostly from rural areas, and stereotype thinking of parents drag them into the swamp. Their alcoholic husband assaulted and forcefully make fall them into the industry.
You know that people here are judged by their appearances, job, profile, standards and if we talked about sex workers the picture is much more disturbing. They have to face social hate, unwanted pregnancy, social abuse, ovarian issues, HIV/AIDS, Drug addiction.
Their children always feel low in schools, colleges, friend circles, 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? 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 care what pain they left with us”. Calling with the abusive word in public or cracking a joke by their name is disrespectful.
They have to isolate themselves because of aggressive thinking of society, no social gathering, abusive calling is a common practice of what society pays them.
It might 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.
Editor:- Ritish Sharma
Artwork:- Ridhi
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Just amazing... A topic about which people don't want to talk... Well said
Thankyou shivi, yeah society never excepts these things, we have to change our mindset. Wish u a happy new year 😊
Such a sensitive topic !! Very well written👏👏
Thankyou vani for you kind words😊happy new year❤
so sad and thanks for raising awareness to this very important topic! 😢
it was more painful when i was writing this, their life is even more drastic as we imagine.
Thanks for visiting 🙂
I can only I
Against. Thanks for the good work you are doing! ♥️
Its my pleasure Cindy❤ thankyou very much
You’re so welcome!
😊
🤗
Education is one way to help lift people out of poverty. Education gives people more options. Poverty is one of the main causes of prostitution. Thank you, Depak, for your compassion for sex workers. Many times, I think they are the victims here…exploited for greed and the pleasure of others.
Well said cheryl, they are exploited under some arms, education and awareness programs should be made for cessation of taboo.
Thankyou for your kind words🙂
You are brave enough to raise the issue. I agree whatever you described. Using blogging for that purpose is great.
I agree here that “Be the change you want to see in others ”. Good luck 👍
Pleasure to see you here lokesh, I just try to make a change, hope soon this social taboo will be stopped completely.
I am hopeful with you. Yet, can't convince myself that where it'll go.
Indeed
Thank you for highlighting this important issue. These women suffer greatly.
I am glad you loved the post. And yes women suffers mostly.
You are so brave and caring too. This is a topic almost everyone avoids
I am glad by your kind words mariana, we should be together to make a change 🙏.
So much truth in this
Thank you tackling such a sensitive topic
Thankyou for your valuable feedback 😊
Much appreciate
Very wonderful article... I enjoyed reading... True words and in its place and its age
Thanks for your valuable feedback 😊😊
Do visit again
of course and thank you for you effort
My pleasure 😊
You have covered a very sensitive topic. Their life is very tough and cruel. My heart melts when we hear stories of young girls forced into this profession.
Yes its very depressing, but there are many NGOs like snehalaya.org who are working their best to make their life better.
And thank you for being with us..
Well written on a sensitive subject.
I tried my best, blessed you feel it worthy.
We (most of us) turn a blind eye to this subject and that's part of the problem. Thanks for bringing it to the forefront.
Indeed, we mostly forgot that they are a part of our society and assume them inferior.
They are also human beings with different proffesion.
Thankyou for visiting.