Sex work, Sex workers and Intersectionalities

Abstract

This discussion on various forms of sex-work and related professions (like bar dancers, devadasi and the workers occupying diferent identity positions of caste and gender) who are part of this labour network, I have tried to highlight the varied issues that the sex-workers face. In doing so, my attempt has been to point out how an intersectional approach is useful to examine the category of sexworker as it brings to light the various issues that workers might face owing to their gender, caste, class position in the society. Sex work and Sex workers cannot be confated into one category, and there is need for more intersectional analysis to highlight the specifc issues that sex-workers face. Caste and gender in intersection with sex-work opens various questions and problems, related to visibility, increased vulnerability, and caste-based occupation. As pointed out earlier there are controversies within the Dalit-Bahujan feminists too regarding their position on sex-work and related professions. I think these contests can be points of deliberation for the future of politics of sex-work.