Anger, Economy, and Female Agency: Problematizing “Prostitution” and “Sex Work” among the Huli of Papua New Guinea

Wardlow, Holly

doi:10.1086/382628

Cited by 89 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The first is that while most (66%) sub-Saharan Africans live in rural areas, nearly all of these studies are in peri-urban or urban areas (Population Reference Bureau [PRB], 2006). The second is that while this research tends to interpret money exchange in the realm of sexuality as somehow different from EuroAmerican ideas of prostitution, assumptions persist that were they less economically constrained, women would have more sexual power (for exceptions see Cornwall, 2002;Wardlow, 2004). Finally, these studies all miss an important opportunity to identify which women are able to avoid infection and promote their own health, and how they are able to do it.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…That's why I say that the gifts are given voluntarily. (Mariam,age 17) Typical constructions of male-female relationships dominant in public health and other disciplines addressing the AIDS pandemic hold that male-to-female money exchange in sexual partnerships has to be something like prostitution (see Chernoff, 2003;Wardlow, 2004). Or, that sexual exchange is coercive insofar as women are poor and have limited opportunities; in this case, money changing hands among sexual partners could be "nothing but" female exploitation (Zelizer, 2005).…”

Section: Imentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This work has centered on, for instance, the social change brought about by modernity and globalization, which in turn is argued to have altered contemporary sexual relations between women and men (Ankomah, 1992;Leclerc-Madlala, 2003), or on the commanding roles women have over their sexuality (e.g. Bujra, 1975;Cornwall, 2002;Wardlow, 2004), or on the grey area characterizing sex and money linkages more generally (Cole, 2004;Nyanzi et al, 2004;Schoepf, 1993;Wojcicki, 2002). This literature counters accounts of women as invariably vulnerable and begins to acknowledge the cultural milieu in which sexual decisions are made (see also Leclerc-Madlala, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sex, money, and premarital partnerships in southern Malawi

Poulin

2007

Social Science & Medicine

184

150

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In this paper, I argue two main points: (1), the purpose of money exchange in premarital, sexual partnerships in rural Malawi extends beyond the alleviation of female partners' economic constraints, and (2), by elucidating this broader purpose, it becomes possible to recognize where women exert control over their own sexual selves. These findings come from field observations and a rich set of in-depth interviews (N=54), bolstered on occasion by survey data, conducted with young women and men, aged 15 to 24 years, in the Balaka district in the southern region of the country. My research demonstrates that, contrary to typical expectations, money and gift transfers in sexual partnerships are part and parcel of the courting practices of young Malawian women and men. Transfers are as much about the expression of love and commitment as they are about meeting the financial "needs" of women or the acquisition of sex for men. Using narrative information to shed light on the semiotics of the sex-money link, these findings from Malawi offer a new perspective that broadens usual interpretations of "transactional" sex, the understanding of which is critical in fighting AIDS.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sex, money, and premarital partnerships in southern Malawi

Poulin

2007

Social Science & Medicine

184

150

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“…Typical constructions of relationships between men and women in public health and other disciplines addressing the AIDS pandemic tend to hold that male to female money exchange in sexual relationships is similar to prostitution (Wardlow, 2004). Similarly, there is a dominant view that material exchange is coercive and exploitative of women who are poor and have limited opportunities (Kaute-Defo, 2004).…”

Section: Conceptual Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Women’s Bodies are Shops”: Beliefs About Transactional Sex and Implications for Understanding Gender Power and HIV Prevention in Tanzania

et al. 2010

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Although transactional sex has been linked to undesirable sexual health outcomes, there is a lack of clarity as to the meaning of the practice, which appears to extend beyond behaviors related to women's economic circumstances. This article explored the perspectives of parents and unmarried young people on motivations for, and beliefs about, transactional sex in rural Tanzania using an ethnographic research design. Data collection involved 17 focus groups and 46 in-depth interviews with young people aged 14-24 years and parents/caregivers. Transactional sex was widely accepted by both parents and young people. Male parents equated sexual exchange to buying meat from a butcher and interpreted women's demand for exchange before sex with personal power. Young men referred to transactional sex as the easiest way to get a woman to satisfy their sexual desires while also proving their masculinity. Young women perceived themselves as lucky to be created women as they could exploit their sexuality for pleasure and material gain. They felt men were stupid for paying for "goods" (vagina) they could not take away. Mothers were in agreement with their daughters. Although young women saw exploitation of the female body in positive terms, they were also aware of the health risks but ascribed these to bad luck. Interventions aimed at tackling transactional sex in the interests of women's empowerment and as a strategy for HIV prevention need to understand the cultural beliefs associated with the practice that may make it thrive despite the known risks.

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“…'I was angry and I took three men into the bush, and they paid me K2.00 each and after that, I returned and I was eating betelnut near Eriku Store and they arrested me.' She explained that she wanted to make her husband angry-and her behaviour and explanation make sense in many PNG contexts (see Wardlow 2004).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%