Re: Sex workers demand legal reform, 3 March, International Day of Sex Workers' Rights

March 7, 2011

One might or might not wrest some decriminalization from the law makers. But the

real fight is in the minds of people. In the opinion of the society.

Though it is not the goal, it will be a long, long while before anyone could get

" Certified Sexworker " on to their visiting cards and resumes without wolf

whistles or dirty looks.

IMHO, decriminalization will help the women face arbitrary arrest and detention

by police. They have a separate struggle with the thugs, pimps and johns.

Decriminalization (or even legalization) cannot get them societal toleration.

We can forget social acceptance. Just like rickshaw pullers. They are not

illegal, we all need them but we cannot imagine advising our children to take up

the profession. You take up some professions, while other profession take you

up.

There will always be a Veblenian matrix to the social desirability function of

vocations. Sexworkers, streetsweepers, domestic maids, and many other

professionals will be at the bottom of the barrel from this Veblenian point of

view.

To expect that the society will change their outlook through a legislation is

naive. Look at what is happening in the areas of Dowry harassment, PNDT,

Domestic violence or even the infamous 'income beyond known means'.

Laws do not mean much as long as people have their own ideas of what is wrong or

right, moral or immoral, ethical or unethical. Many people simply believe that

one CAN give and take dowry or even harass the wife for it.

Similarly many couple sincerely believe that it is difficult to bring upa girl

child and can abort a female fetus without much cringing of the conscience.

Many men as well as women still believe that an occasional slap or a whack on

the back for a wife is perfectly acceptable. Many officials (including even very

highly placed ones) believe that it is not wrong to accept gratification for

their official line of work.

Add the religion brigade to the melee and you can imagine the decibel levels.

C Ananda Rao

e-mail: <anandarao313@...>

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