Sharvari Karandikar Ph.D. Lindsay B. Gezinski, Ph.D .

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. • karandikar-chheda.1@osu.edu • Lindsay Gezinski, Ph.D. • lindsay.gezinski@utah.edu • Thank you!