Dimensions of sex working – A cross comparison of different modes in Kerala

Sex working is the business or practice of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. It is sometimes described as commercial sex or hooking. Sex work is the provision of sexual services for money or goods. The legal status of sex working varies from country to country, from being legal and considered a profession to being punishable by death. From the days of Devadasis to the present world of wireless networking, sex workers have been very evidently seen in the country and rest of the world. This study is based on the experiences from Kerala. Although no one is born as a sex worker, several push and pull factors turn then as sex worker. There are different modes of sex working and attempt is made to understand the push factors in entering into this job? What are the socio-economic conditions of these communities? What is their mode of work? Is there a difference and relative merit over one mode of sex working compared to than other forms? the results of the study show that most of the sex workers entered into the profession due to financial stress at home and sexual assault that they faced at their younger ages. The nature of working varied from mode of sex work they do. All sex workers are aware of their health conditions and undergo periodic checkups. Ageing is a factor in this profession and these women are to be rehabilitated. They wish to continue this profession till they are aged and wish to get rehabilitated by the society by helping them to do other forms of economic activity.