Situation Analysis of Commercial Sex workers in Banke District (A Case Study of Nepalgunj Municipality, Banke)

Abstract

This study has been carried out to fulfill some general and specific objectives. To analyze the socio-economic and demographic characteristics are general and to find out the reason entering in commercial sex, current working condition of sex workers, future perspectives of sex workers, estimate size of female sex workers and find out the average income from sex business of commercial sex workers. This study has been presented into seven chapter. The first chapter deals with general background of the commercial sex workers, statement of the problem, objective and significance of the study. The second chapter presents literature review with some specific topic: 2.1. Theoretical literature (i)Evolution of commercial sex (ii) Evolution of commercial sex in Nepal (iii)Why women and girls are engaged in commercial sex work? (iv) Who are clients? (v) Human Rights and commercial sex (vi) Law and commercial sex(vii) Commercial sex workers and their problems in present. 2.2. Empirical literature, 2.3. Conceptual framework. In Third Chapter comprises methodology. In this research the study area is based on Banke district in Nepalgunj, descriptive research design, purposive sampling design and direct interview method of data collection are included in this chapter. Socio-economic and demographic characterstics of sex workers that include, 4.1.Individual characteristics (i) Age, (ii) caste/ethnicity (iii) educational status,(iv) Marital status. 4.2. Household characteristics (i) Father's occupation (ii)Family composition of respondents. 4.3. Demographic characteristic: (i)Migration status (ii) Relationship with husband (iii) Status of children are interpreted in the fourth chapter. It is found that 15 to 55 age group, 60.0 percent literate, 64 percent ever married, 33 (66%) of commercial sex workers are from agriculture sector or their father's profession is agriculture, 30 percent reported to have family with15members, 15 (30%) percent migrant from Bardiya district which is the highest percent among the places. Basically such sex workers are from socially and economically disadvantage group. Chapter five interprets about sexual beahviour and working condition of commercial sex workers. It examines the sex workers' first occupation before involving in sex trade, smoking and alcoholic beahviour of sex workers,reasons for entering in commercial sex work, time duration of commercial sex, 5 living arrangement, first sexual relationship, attraction are needed to be involved in sex trade, reasons for continuing the profession, income from sex trade, types of client, treatment by clients, number of clients visiting sex workers, place for sex service, source of contact to clients, reason for not going to hotel and restaurant, time given for a client, response on sexual intercourse.Basically this chapter shows the majority of sex worker 20 (40%) due to the lack of food and clothing, out of 50 interview respondents 17 (34%)said that their previous occupation was daily wages, according to the respondent's reported that 27 (54%) have alcoholic and smoking habits, 15 (30%) are working in sex trade since 3 to 4 years, highest percent of respondents (28%)reported they were living alone as rent. Majority of sex workers 20 (40%)reported that they had their first sex relation with their husband, highest percent of sex worker (36%) reported that glamorous make up is the best way to attract clients, 17 (34%) reported that they were continuing the profession for fulfillment of family needs, 8 (16%) respondents were reported that their weekly income 4000-5500 from sex trade. The highest percent 21 (42%)drivers clients visit sex workers, majority of sex workers 20 (40%) reported that they feel an unwanted participant for earning, 20 (40%) reported that they used to be with the clients as they demand, 36 Percent shows respondents visit to clients by hotel/restaurant, the most of the common place of sex worker sproviding sex service is in client's room (32%). Sixth chapter deals with social norms and values and perception of sex workers include attitude of respondents towards their profession, social concept on commercial sex workers, family concept in commercial sex, networking of sex workers, concept in legal status of commercial sex profession, assistance from social organization. It is found that majority of them 27 (54%) reported that they would leave the profession, highest percent of sex workers 25 (50%)reported that they were hatred by the social units, about half of the respondents reported that their family/husband knew their profession. 23 (46%) sex workers reported to support others females to be involved in commercial sex, majority of the sex workers 33 (66%) were in favour of legalization, a large number of sex workers 35 (70%) reported that they got help from the social organization. The last seventh chapter deals with all chapter's summary, findings,conclusions and recommendations. 6