Re: SEXPLOITATION? What is at stake in Cuba?

[Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx <xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yoshie Furuhashi wrote:

> Xxxx:
>
> >Sex workers should be organized to end their own oppression or
> >unionized within
> >the capitalist state to improve their own conditions, which is what they are
> >doing  in many parts of the world, actually.
>
>

> >Now, you are talking.  Very good.  This sets you apart from moralist 
> >>feminists.
>
>


        :)


GIRLS AS SEX WORKERS: SITUATION AND TRENDS IN MONGOLIA

http://www.wirc.mn/research/page4.htm

The interviewees family circumstances were relevant to the reasons for engaging 
in
sex work. 33.3% of girls were from Chingeltei district of Ulaanbaatar and 60% of
those girls live in ghers. It was common that most of them were from low income
families and 12% of them were homeless living in basements and entrances of
residential apartments. 11% of them were from Darkhan and Erdenet - industrial
towns north of Ulaanbaatar. This shows that the number of street children is
increasing in towns outside of Ulaanbaatar, and it was not difficult for 
children
to migrate to the capital from these towns as they are connected by rail.

10 girls interviewed live in families with 6-9 members. The majority of girls 
live
in single parent homes with their mothers or fathers. Parents of 6 girls were
unemployed and unable to feed their families. Parents of 5 girls were seriously
sick or disabled and could not afford their families costs. According to the
interviewees a few girls from wealthier families may engage in sex work from 
time
to time.

The following is an example of a girl who became a sex worker due to sexual 
abuse
by her adopted father:


Example 1. 16 years old H described her life in detail. She lived in Sharyn Gol 
in
the north of the country. She was adopted to a childless family when she was 
very
young. After her adoption the family had three more children born of their own 
and
they had good life. When she was in the 3rd grade (11 years) she was raped by 
her
adopted father in absence of her mother. She told her mother and the police 
about
this incidence, however, she was then forced to leave the home. She came to
Ulaanbatar and now works near the auto and rail-way stations.


4. Health status, knowledge and attitude

One of the major issues of the survey is the health condition of the girls. 
During
the participatory interviews the girls told us they were willing to undertake
medical checks. They were concerned about their health status but they knew 
little
about prevention and had limited access to responsive medical services. Over 
60% of
them were medically checked 1-5 months ago. Most of them were tested during the
Khot Ail project activities. They were repeatedly told us that they wanted 
frequent
medical check ups. When they did have health checks it would be as a group and 
they
would seldom visit a doctor alone. Since they were isolated from their close 
adults
and relatives the most of them did not receive health advice or attention.  STDs
have become a common problem for them and 30% of the interviewees stated they 
may
have STDs or might be sick. Over 50% of them answered they did not have
STDs however, during the interviews they told us that they had treatment for 
STDs
one or more times. (90% of them or 36 girls answered that they knew what STDs 
were
and it may show that they had prior experience of illness) They answered that 
they
were aware of STDs but as they were paid they had sex without asking whether the
client had STDs. We wanted to know whether the girls were aware of prevention. 
75%
of them answered about the condom use and 12.5% answered it is necessary to 
wash.

Table shows the level of knowledge of girls on the STDs prevention

N=40

Most of interviewees answered that the condom usage prevents STDs, pregnancy and
AIDS. However, 67% of them said that they did not familiar with proper usage of
condoms. Most said that clients did not want to use condoms. They recognised 
that
usually they were under the clients? control (who pay) and could not demand the
condom usage or other preventive measures.

Many of the interviewees had been pregnant which showed their inability to use
contraception. 7.5% of them had IUDs. The frequency of abortion is high among 
them.

Table shows the pregnancy prevention methods

5. The psychological situation

The girls displayed serious psychological traumas as a result of involvement in 
sex
work. Most of them have lost their belief in their future or have suffered from
STDs and are physically and psychologically traumatized. They have difficulty in
planning and organizing their daily life. Due to their situation problems it is
required to make enormous strength of will to overcome. When asked why they 
engage
in sex work they focus are money for survival. They are unable to look beyond 
their
daily subsistence.

The girls display psychological inbalance, loneliness, lack of confidence, anger
towards others and extraversion. They are appear depressed, tend not to trust
others, lack belief in societal and adults? care. They are acculturated into the
lifestylee and values of sex work. They feel more confident when they are 
earning
as this is the main source of self esteem. Most of the time they are tense, feel
embarassed, ashamed and endangered. During interview the girl sex workers 
disclosed
that they believe sex work is wrong, dirty and they feel the need to hide. Due 
to
the difficulties and psychological imbalance they are drawn to alcohol, 
cigarettes
and illegal group activities.

Slang is widely used among the girls with specific words: "segsree" - stealing 
the
clients? (others) money and "muria" - cheating the people. The girls display
bravado at times, but also show guilt and dissatisfaction and usually blame
themselves inside for what they have done.

The girls use slang also have different understanding of widely used vocabular. 
For
instance, th word "friend" in general means close person whom you may trust. But
the girls understand this word to mean the person who can keep their work 
secret.
They have been forced into isolation from the wider community. In many cases the
children left their own homes in search of love and care. In this situation they
were vulnerable to exploitation by pimps who appeared to offer love and care.

The girls usually work in the evening. They gather around 3p.m and 11p.m is the
"rush hour" when they are busiest. Half of interviewees told us that they work
every day. If they earn a lot of money they can have a rest for a few days. 
Usually
they work during summer.

The most of girls have 5-10 clients per week or 2-3 clients per night. Some 
nights
are busier than others. Sometimes when a girl is hired for the whole night there
are 5 or 6 men that she is forced to have sex with.

The age of clients is from 13 to 65. Most clients are men between the ages of
25-45. There are also a number of foreign clients. Boys of 13-14 hire the girls 
to
have their first sexual experience. The girls usually work under the clients?
control and a girl aged 18, who works near the "Ard" cinema told that her 
clients
are mainly single men over 35 who had been in prison. She said that younger men 
are
very aggressive and
domineering.

The fees differ due to the location. Girls working in front of the Ulaanbaatar
hotel are paid 5-6000 tugrugs per hour, 10-15,000 per night. Girls working near 
the
auto and rail-way stations are paid 2-3000 tugrugs per hour and 6-8000 per 
night.
Their income varies greatly from night to night and depending on the season. The
girls report that they only have enough for subsistence.

Their work style is the same, they gather in crowded places where sex workers
gather.

Some girls boasted that they are admiring some of girls who were not scared of
strangers, and they could spend night in any conditions. This was a role model 
that
other girls tried to follow.

The girls interviewed have been sex workers from 2 months to 4 years. Some say 
they
find the clients themselves, and is tend to hide/protect the pimps. 40% of the 
girl
sex workers answered that they have pimps. They pay half or more than half to 
their
income to pimps, who include policemen, elder children living on the streets and
adult workers.

There are organised groups working in "segsree" and "muria". The girl sex 
workers
are unable to protect themselves and so tend to be part of the above mentioned
organised crimes. At the initial stage the pimps? play major role but as girls
become more independent the pimps? aggressive attitude irritates them. They are
forced to pay more than half of their money to pimps.

Four. The reasons for sex work

According to the survey and answers to the questionnair, there are number of
factors from society, family, and the surrounding environment that lead girls 
into
sex work.





66.7% of the girls answered that they became sex workers to earn money and 38.9%
because it was part of street life. Most of the girls live on the street. Some 
of
their families also live on the street.

The factors and reasons: Inadequate home environment, poverty, conflict in the
family, lack of appropriate relationships among parents and children. The 
parents
ignore the psychological changes of their teenager children and they tend to 
leave
home because of various conflicts, violence and misunderstandings. The girls
already living on the streed tend to be drawn to sex work when they are out of
their parents? care, love and attention.

a. poverty. Girls of poor families are close to street life. They can go out to
find food in the street and also meet some strangers who draw them into gang
activities and sex work. Some are also victims of violence and rape.

violence. Most of girls were victims of violence. Sexual violence was dominant. 
6
out of 18 girls became sex worker after being raped. 6 girls experienced 
violence
in their first sexual encouter.when they first started sexual life.

Money was the priority issue. 61% of the interviewees prioritized money. 33% 
were
prioritizing housing and job. Some told about being with the family surrounded 
by
love and care. Some were prioritizing regular health/medical checks. Gsw 
answered
that they were glad for their friends who show concern and allow girls stay in
their homes.

The girls could not give up sex work now because they need housing, money and 
job
for survival. 66% of the interviewees answered that they would like to give up 
sex
work. However, 27% did not intend to give up sex work though all girls answered
that sex work was not right thing to do. Enormous strengths of will and great
efforts are needed to assist the girls to change their lifestyle. Most girls
answered that they were looking for some kind of external factor that would 
assist
them to change their life or give up sex work when they earn enough for life.

Some girls returned home when they were very home sick however, it was very
difficult for them to tolerate unfriendly and negative attitude from their
neighbours who knew what they were engaged in. Unfortunately, they had no other 
way
than returning to the street. Many of the girls interviewed stated that they 
were
dreaming of having normal and happy life.




--

Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
PhD Student
Department of Political Science
SUNY at Albany
Nelson A. Rockefeller College
135 Western Ave.; Milne 102
Albany, NY 12222



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