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Street sex workers have experienced a lot of difficulties in the process and consequence of selling sex for money. This study intended explore the lived experiences of street sex workers in Bahir Dar City Administration. Phenomenological approach wasusedto explore the lived experience of street sex workers.Nine street sex workers were purposely approached and deeply interviewed about their background, occupational history, health profile; clients’ profile; business related information; experience with security personnel; coping strategies and exiting plan. framework developed by Patton and the interpretive phenomenological analysiswere used.
The study showed that street sex workers joined the sex business due to couple and related factors asimmediate financial needs, family breakdowns, parents’ death and conflicts with step mothers and fathers. The street sex workers have suffered from degrading environment of sex works. They have faced couple of violence from their clients, passersby and security personnel. The violence includes physical, sexual and economic violence. They have also developed harsh views towards police men and other community guards because security personnel disrupt sex workers’ working environment by chasing them; not providing sufficient protection; having prejudice about street sex workers and exploiting the financially and sexually. Street sex workers have different coping mechanisms in the moments of violence. Their strategies are developed at the cost of their interests, and rights which include avoiding potential conflict with clients, tolerating irritating behavior, facing the problems and their work and life styles. As a result of sex business, street sex workers faced health problem; physical injuries from clients and security personnel; economic stress because of additional habits and basic expenditures and financial exploitation by clients. treatment as object by clients and incapability feeling. Besides, they felt shameful to join their families.
The researcher’s recommendations include provision of technical and vocational trainings and seed money; counseling services and encouraging sex workers of well-to-do families to re-join their families; helping girls not quit their education; clarifying legal status of commercial sex work for security personnel and monitor their actions; and others.
Key words: Street Sex Work; Lived Experiences |
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