Premium
From “ Veshyas ” to “Entertainment Workers”: Evolving Discourses of Bodies, Rights, and Prostitution in India
Author(s) -
Kole Subir K.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
asian politics and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.193
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1943-0787
pISSN - 1943-0779
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-0787.2009.01115.x
Subject(s) - ideology , modernity , position (finance) , gender studies , sex work , sociology , political science , political economy , politics , law , economics , medicine , finance , family medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)
The discursive terrain of prostitution has undergone several changes with modernity/postmodernity. Various groups of feminists hold contentious, often conflicting, ideologies on this issue. Two broad groups emerge from these debates: One takes a clear abolitionist perspective, while the other takes a sex work position. Both these groups actively lobby and join forces with individuals and institutions to influence global and national policy‐making. There is a great degree of variation and overlap within and across each camp. Among those taking a sex work position, some argue that selling sex is equal to using any other part of the body for making a living. This article examines the discursive terrain of prostitution in India, focusing on what it means to treat sex as any other use of the body in commerce. It concludes that prohibition is a prejudice that India must overcome to develop sound public health policies.