Sex workers lived experiences of Stigma In Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Since Immemorial society has always perceived sex work as immoral even though it is a source of income to the sex workers. Sex work breeds stigma to those who practice it. Studies on stigma among sex workers have been documented worldwide, but very few have looked at it from the sex workers' perspective, especially in Kenya. Using stigma narratives from 28 respondents practicing sex work, selected using purposive, snowball, and direct sampling techniques, this paper shows sex work being a livelihood to many sex workers they use various means to sustain it despite the stigma they face in their everyday life. This paper then argues that stigma remains a major social problem among sex workers despite the various constructions on sex work. This is portrayed through narratives by the interviewed sex workers who have experienced stigma from family, neighbors, religious institutions, law enforcers, and health providers. The stigma is manifested either physically or through verbal abuse. Due to the stigma experienced as a result of their work, sex workers have devised personal and collective ways of dealing with it. In the quest to develop strategies and interventions that may help curb the stigma faced by sex workers, there is a need to identify the sources of the stigma and how it is manifested.