Women engaging in transactional sex and working in prostitution: Practices and underlying factors of the sex trade in South Kivu, the Democratic Republic of Congo
Abstract
Transactional sex and prostitution form a significant part of everyday urban life in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The report is based on a survey among 480 sex workers engaged in prostitution and focus groups in milieux where there is a lot of transactional sex, where material exchange is embedded in broader social relations. These are in higher education, urban poor areas, offices, trade and religious milieux. Stepping away from discourses on morality and victimhood, the report takes an angle of livelihoods and women's agency. Transactional sex in humanitarian crises is mostly associated with what is often called 바카라 사이트˜survival sex바카라 사이트™: sexual exchange in order to meet basic needs, often the needs of the entire family. However, the distinction between 바카라 사이트˜needs바카라 사이트™ (survival sex) and 바카라 사이트˜wants바카라 사이트™ (consumer sex) appears too simplistic, and the report proposes to replace the value-laden and imprecise term of 바카라 사이트˜consumer sex바카라 사이트™ by 바카라 사이트˜strategic sex바카라 사이트™. Engaging in transactional sex leaves women vulnerable to health, physical and emotional risks including rape, though the latter is rarely recognised by victims. To better protect and educate women, six recommendations are proposed.
Citation
Mwapu, I.; Hilhorst, D.; Mashanda, M.; Bahananga, M.; Mugenzi, R. Women engaging in transactional sex and working in prostitution: Practices and underlying factors of the sex trade in South Kivu, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Secure Livelihoods Research Consortium, Overseas Development Institute (ODI), London, UK (2016) 68 pp. [SLRC Report 10]
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