IFP Conference September 26, 2008Graduate Program in International Affairs

The New School UniversityMayuri Saxena

Narrowing an Internship FocusInterests Knowledge

Sex workersGender Based ViolenceUrban Poverty

Hindi LanguageIndian Customs and

Culture

Committee for Resource Organization (CORO) for Literacy•Created in 1980s •Originally mission was to close literacy gap in Chembur and Govandi slums in Northeast Mumbai•Today, CORO addresses a multitude of social problems

Sex WorkersCORO runs a confidential project aiding

primarily home based sex workers of the Chembur -Govandi area

Project’s goal is not to stop sex work, but to ensure women are not denied basic rights; to create a forum for healthy discussion and support; and to provide emotional support

Basic RightsSex and Health

Education

Medical Care

Legal Education

ServicesSex and health education sessions

Condom usageHIV/AIDSOther transmittable diseases, sexual and non sexual

Project Doctor On siteMonthly community visitsRegular STD, Blood testing

Free medicinesPolice visitsLegal training Counseling

The Process of Enlisting Sex WorkersSex workers initially

hesitate to join the project

Promise of free medicine

MeetingsTraining and

CounselingPeer enlisting

CORO ProjectInterview 10 sex workers about:

Their perspectives on gender and sexualityLife HistoryFamilyDifficultiesDreams and aspirationsSelf Esteem

Goal: to find similarities and differences between the women’s lives, perspectives, and problems; information to be used by CORO to create Leadership Training Modules

QuestionnaireBackground and FamilyGenderSexualityHealth Socioeconomic StatusProject InvolvementSelf Perception and Expectations

Sample of QuestionsWhat is your role as a woman in the household?What do you think the role of your husband is/should be?When was your first sexual experience (in your life)?Did/do you associate love with physical sex?How often do you work?How many partners have you had so far (approximately)?Has anyone ever abused you emotionally? Physically? If

yes, by whom?Have you ever been depressed? What do you do when you

are depressed?Have you ever hurt yourself?

More Sample QuestionsHave you ever been raped? By whom?Do you get STD testing? How often?Do you use contraceptives? If yes, which one?Do you not use contraceptives if the client

pays moreWhat do you think the community thinks about

you? About sex workers? What do you think about the police? According

to you, what is their perception of sex workers?

ChallengesHesitationTranslationValidity

ResultsMajority low self esteemNo common family

historyEducation levels mixed

from no education – 12th grade

All women became sex workers after marriage and kids, primarily for financial reasons

Majority in early 20s

Women sold by family members

Broken trustHusbands abandoning

wife and children or don’t work b/c alcohol or no job

Most women abused by husbands, regular partners, &/or customers

Results cont’dFew women cutting or

burning themselvesRape cases by

customers and familyLack of family support

during financial crisisLarge expenses

include monthly groceries, electricity and water bills

All educated on condom usage and STD testing

Some didn’t know about condoms before project

1 HIV+ sex worker– found out because of project’s STD testing

After project initiation, all refuse sex work if customer refuses to wear condom

Due to the confidentiality of the project, none of the photos displayed are from the actual project or of the actual constituents

Photo Links 1.

http://www.basesciences.com/UserFiles/2007/7/14/malaria_special.jpg 2. http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/dawessner/ribbon.jpg 3.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lh3.ggpht.com/_GmJklP8OGyo/Ro8mnN8niuI/AAAAAAAABNA/754TJpg2gBY/Condon.JPG&imgrefurl=http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JohneJpTHxpu1JM2MumTqw&h=2200&w=1475&sz=12&hl=en&start=14&um=1&usg=__I5Auhw_uMs8Xqp7TrotuAh0A-Vk=&tbnid=MdKZTD0UDJ6YBM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dindian%2Bsex%2Bworkers%26gbv%3D2%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26ie%3DUTF-8

4. http://www.biharpolice.info/images/indian_police.jpg 5. http://mumbaidailysnapshot.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html 6. http://flickr.com/photos/giselaglb/2319275296/