Paper details

Paper authors	Rose Bashwira, Matilde Carrillo, Katheryn Crespo, María Inés Cubides Kovacsics, Silke Heumann, Clea Kahn, Karin Astrid Siegmann, Asneidis Vega
In panel on	Coping strategies of affected people in a resource-constrained environment
Paper presenter(s) will be presenting	In-Person & Online

Abstract

Transactional sex is a common livelihood strategy for people in humanitarian contexts. It may be a central or complementary strategy and may be conducted within the framework of an existing sex industry or as a more informal or impromptu practice, and the conditions under which it takes place can vary immensely. Although marked by unequal power relations, often exacerbated by a situation of existential need, transactional sex can help people navigate complex and precarious circumstances and secure the livelihoods of their entire family. This paper presents the findings of a mixed methods study which looked at humanitarian service providers’ perceptions of transactional sex, the context(s) in which it takes place, and the needs and experiences of people practicing it as well as the availability, accessibility and appropriateness of services. It explores how norms, standards and practices in the humanitarian sector, often shaped by prevailing concepts of gender, sexuality and race, facilitate a poor understanding of the phenomenon and misperceptions of people practicing transactional sex and the context in which it takes place, creating barriers to the provision and uptake of effective support.

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