Sharvari Karandikar Ph.D. Lindsay B. Gezinski, Ph.D. Stories from the margin: Exploring globalization and gender oppression a red-light area of Mumbai, India. Embrace Difference. Seek Justice. Be the Change.

Location of Study: Mumbai, India

Location of Study: Kamathipura Asia’s largest red-light area (Menen, 2007) Almost 200 years old Majority of the sex workers are victims of trafficking (Menen, 2007)

Purpose of the Study To understand the ongoing structural physical changes in Kamathipura as a result of globalization To understand challenges and difficulties of women and men living in Kamathipura using a case-study approach To understand how globalization impacts men and women differently in Kamathipura

Research Methods Two female sex workers and two male intimate partners were interviewed using in-depth interviewing method. The interviews were open-ended and the respondents were asked to narrate their life stories. All the interviews were conducted in Hindi, a local Indian language, and were audio-taped. For the purpose of analysis, each interview was transcribed and translated back into English. Each interview was written in the form of a narrative.

Study Respondent 1 Ratna Trafficked at the age of 11 from a small village in South India Living in Kamathipura for 19 years Married a client who became her intimate partner and her pimp Earns about $2-$3 a day Lives in a brothel room and pays rent of $1 a day

Study Respondent 2 Manisha Trafficked to sex work at the age of 13 Married at the age of 18 and has 6 children HIV positive and continues to be a sex worker Earns about $1- $2a day Lives on a street and rents brothel room when she gets a client.

Study Respondent 3 Trafficked at age 10 for “zari” embroidery work in Mumbai Started visiting sex workers in Kamathipura and married one of them Currently unemployed and living off of his wife’s income as a sex worker

Study Respondent 4 Born to a sex worker in Kamathipura Grew up with the help of different Day-night shelters in Kamathipura Dropped-out of school and did odd jobs Married to a sex worker and currently “helps” her in her job

Results: Critical Themes Globalization and on-going changes in Kamathipura Negative impact of globalization on the respondents Gender oppression and Kamathipura's globalized surroundings

Globalized context of Kamathipura The government and private contractors occupying property in and around Kamathipura to develop high-rise residential buildings, office properties, shopping malls etc. Mac Donald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) are now open in the vicinity. Brothels have been notified to vacate the premises with no certain alternative for rehabilitation In the past 2 years, number of sex workers has reduced from 5000 to 2000 with no understanding of where women have gone

Negative impact on respondents Respondents reported to be victims of poverty, unemployment, migration and forced labor All the respondents were threatened by authorities to exit Kamathipura Respondents did not receive benefits from any welfare plans and programs No clear plan for rehabilitation after leaving Kamathipura Unable to obtain proofs of residence, birth certificates, voter identification cards and bank accounts due to their “illegal existence.” Without any form of identification, the respondents found it difficult to approach government offices including public hospitals for medical aid.

Gender oppression and Kamathipura's globalized surroundings Among the respondents female sex workers were more severely impacted by globalization Arrested more frequently and the authorities Clients are punished more frequently thereby reducing the business Forced to migrate out of Kamathipura into unfamiliar and dangerous areas to solicit sex NGO’s have reduced their work in the area due to the dwindling numbers of sex workers

Implications for Social Work Practice/Policy There needs to be focused attempted for rehabilitation of sex workers who are forced to move out if the area, Social work organizations need to join hands with government authorities in this effort Alternative residential options need to be provided to the displaced families of Kamathipura Alternative employment options, vocational training programs should be made available to men and women in the area NGO’s should have a networking mechanism to track women who are moving out of Kamathipura to continue working with them and their children

Contact Information Sharvari Karandikar, Ph.D. karandikar-chheda.1@osu.edu Lindsay Gezinski, Ph.D. lindsay.gezinski@utah.edu Thank you!