Street prostitution, is it a worthwhile occupation? A community perspective on social responsibility

Abstract

This study attempts to understand community perspectives and to explore social responsibilities towards street prostitution. Prostitution or sex work has multiple realities and is a socially constructed phenomenon. Postmodernist debates view prostitution as an occupation (regardless of gender) and not as a crime against women. However, using various social lenses, any activity against the will or ability of an individual is viewed as offensive and assaultive towards morals, beliefs, norms, values, emotions, and so forth. This study used a qualitative and ethnographic research design. Observations and interviews, as research tools, were applied. The data was analyzed using triangulation and crystallization to understand the social reality from different perspectives. The respondents in this study were members of the community, such as, vendors, shopkeepers, businessmen, cab drivers, police officers, and local residents. The results suggest that prostitution is a social problem and is socially constructed requiring social responsibility in addressing the issue and preventing vulnerable juveniles from entering prostitution through persuasion or greed. The findings suggest that areas affected by street prostitution are the regular ‘joints’ interconnecting the main market. Here uninvolved shoppers and passersby, especially woman and girls, are assaulted. This situation needs immediate action to protect the morals and values of the community. While social responsibility is considered pivotal, none of the community respondents in this study demonstrated concern towards street prostitution, which is fast becoming a flourishing trade in the traditional market areas of Kathmandu.

Keywords

• Sex trade
• sex workers
• gender
• social constructivism
• social problem
• socially transmitted disease
• ethnography

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