1. 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.

2. Location of Study: Mumbai, India

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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

15. Contact Information
Sharvari Karandikar, Ph.D.
Lindsay Gezinski, Ph.D.
Thank you!