BEAUTY MEETS QUALITY; THE QUALITY OF INTERVENTION AMONG FEMALE SEX WORKERS AND THEIR BEHAVIOR CHANGE
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IEC DIVISION OF KASACS HLFPPT
Apr 16, 2010, 1:19:39 AM4/16/10
to bestpractices-kerala
BEAUTY MEETS QUALITY; THE QUALITY OF INTERVENTION AMONG FEMALE SEX
WORKERS AND THEIR BEHAVIOR CHANGE
Consciousness of one’s body and beauty plays a great role in
developing self-esteem, self-respect and self-confidence that,
essential elements for socialization of an individual. Jawahar
Suraksha Project, Alappuzha realized this fact from their experience.
They witnessed how increased beauty consciousness helps the female sex
workers in changing their behavior from unsafe sex practices to safe
sex practices. Jawahar is running a beauty parlor exclusively for
female sex workers in their Drop in Centre (DIC).
The very idea to start beauty parlor, was emanated from a large mirror
installed in the Drop-in-Centre (DIC) by the project to dress up the
female sex workers. The project team observed that the mirror became
the change agent for their personality, especially in their
appearance. It also observed that the changed appearance developed a
kind of confidence among them.
Realizing this, the project started a beauty parlor with the support
of a beautician having beauty clinics in the district. The project
provides free space and necessary basic infrastructure in the DIC for
beauty parlor and the beautician offers up to fifty percent reduction
in the charges for her services to the stakeholders. The project
strived hard to find such a likeminded beautician, who helped the
project in starting a beauty parlor with low investment for items like
a mirror, chair and a table.
The beauty parlor provides quality services like hairdressing,
facials, and manicures to the stakeholders at a reasonable and
affordable rate. Periodically it conducts programmes to educate the
ignorant and illiterate female sex workers about beauty and hygiene.
Motivation from the project team and experience sharing of the
benefited stakeholders attracts a good number of female sex workers,
especially youngsters to avail the services of the clinic conducted
every Wednesday.
Jawahar Suraksha Project believes that self-consciousness on body and
beauty of a female sex worker will definitely enhance her self-esteem,
self-respect and self-confidence. This will boost the speed of
socialization process of female sex workers to lead their life as
normal as possible. The increased self-confidence augments their
negotiation skill for safe sex. The improved self-respect creates an
attitude among them to protect their body and health from illnesses
and abuses. This positive attitude has obviously resulted in increased
health seeking behavior and hygiene practices of the female sex
workers in the district which the project demonstrates with evidence.
The client preferences of the sex workers who availed the services of
the beauty parlor have changed and their demand in the sex circuit has
hiked due to their improved appearance.
The change brought about by the beauty clinic is more visible among
the street based sex workers who left their shabby appearance and life
style. It was observed that several of such beneficiaries of the
beauty parlor changed their operation strategy from street to mobile
phones and it in turn supports the behavior change process. The
changed modus operandi causes reduction in their client volume but at
the same time able to demand more money for sex due to improved
confidence and negotiation skills that indeed avoids low-class
alcoholic clients. The hygiene classes arranged by the beauty parlor
explain condom usage as a practice for sexual hygiene.
‘I thank all my peers and the project team who have lent a hand to me
in understanding my worthiness as a human being and shun all my
inferiority complex. Now, I understand the grandeur of my body and
life, and feel myself as worthy to the society. I won’t spoil my life
in the street. I want to enjoy this one and only life as I can. Now I
am not living on the street but in a rented house. I will purchase a
house soon from my increased income. Now I am careful about my body
and health. I learned to wear dresses neatly and visiting the beauty
parlor regularly to maintain my comeliness. I use condom for
preventing STI and HIV/AIDS.’ a 27 year old female sex worker from
Alappuzha says confidently.
The Project recounts the beauty parlor as one of the best strategies
to maintain regular contact with young female sex workers. The
motivated young sex workers visit the DIC every week to avail the
services of the beauty parlor. The increased regular attendance in the
DIC offers ample space to provide necessary sexual health services to
them on time.
The project is now planning to train some talented and interested CBO
members in beauty technique. With the help of such trained community
members, the project intends to regularize the activities of the
beauty parlor in the DIC.
BEST PRACTICE DOCUMENTATION UNIT
IEC DIVISION
KERALA STATE AIDS CONTROL SOCIETY
THIRUVANAMTHAPURAM, KERALA
……………..
--
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WORKERS AND THEIR BEHAVIOR CHANGE
Consciousness of one’s body and beauty plays a great role in
developing self-esteem, self-respect and self-confidence that,
essential elements for socialization of an individual. Jawahar
Suraksha Project, Alappuzha realized this fact from their experience.
They witnessed how increased beauty consciousness helps the female sex
workers in changing their behavior from unsafe sex practices to safe
sex practices. Jawahar is running a beauty parlor exclusively for
female sex workers in their Drop in Centre (DIC).
The very idea to start beauty parlor, was emanated from a large mirror
installed in the Drop-in-Centre (DIC) by the project to dress up the
female sex workers. The project team observed that the mirror became
the change agent for their personality, especially in their
appearance. It also observed that the changed appearance developed a
kind of confidence among them.
Realizing this, the project started a beauty parlor with the support
of a beautician having beauty clinics in the district. The project
provides free space and necessary basic infrastructure in the DIC for
beauty parlor and the beautician offers up to fifty percent reduction
in the charges for her services to the stakeholders. The project
strived hard to find such a likeminded beautician, who helped the
project in starting a beauty parlor with low investment for items like
a mirror, chair and a table.
The beauty parlor provides quality services like hairdressing,
facials, and manicures to the stakeholders at a reasonable and
affordable rate. Periodically it conducts programmes to educate the
ignorant and illiterate female sex workers about beauty and hygiene.
Motivation from the project team and experience sharing of the
benefited stakeholders attracts a good number of female sex workers,
especially youngsters to avail the services of the clinic conducted
every Wednesday.
Jawahar Suraksha Project believes that self-consciousness on body and
beauty of a female sex worker will definitely enhance her self-esteem,
self-respect and self-confidence. This will boost the speed of
socialization process of female sex workers to lead their life as
normal as possible. The increased self-confidence augments their
negotiation skill for safe sex. The improved self-respect creates an
attitude among them to protect their body and health from illnesses
and abuses. This positive attitude has obviously resulted in increased
health seeking behavior and hygiene practices of the female sex
workers in the district which the project demonstrates with evidence.
The client preferences of the sex workers who availed the services of
the beauty parlor have changed and their demand in the sex circuit has
hiked due to their improved appearance.
The change brought about by the beauty clinic is more visible among
the street based sex workers who left their shabby appearance and life
style. It was observed that several of such beneficiaries of the
beauty parlor changed their operation strategy from street to mobile
phones and it in turn supports the behavior change process. The
changed modus operandi causes reduction in their client volume but at
the same time able to demand more money for sex due to improved
confidence and negotiation skills that indeed avoids low-class
alcoholic clients. The hygiene classes arranged by the beauty parlor
explain condom usage as a practice for sexual hygiene.
‘I thank all my peers and the project team who have lent a hand to me
in understanding my worthiness as a human being and shun all my
inferiority complex. Now, I understand the grandeur of my body and
life, and feel myself as worthy to the society. I won’t spoil my life
in the street. I want to enjoy this one and only life as I can. Now I
am not living on the street but in a rented house. I will purchase a
house soon from my increased income. Now I am careful about my body
and health. I learned to wear dresses neatly and visiting the beauty
parlor regularly to maintain my comeliness. I use condom for
preventing STI and HIV/AIDS.’ a 27 year old female sex worker from
Alappuzha says confidently.
The Project recounts the beauty parlor as one of the best strategies
to maintain regular contact with young female sex workers. The
motivated young sex workers visit the DIC every week to avail the
services of the beauty parlor. The increased regular attendance in the
DIC offers ample space to provide necessary sexual health services to
them on time.
The project is now planning to train some talented and interested CBO
members in beauty technique. With the help of such trained community
members, the project intends to regularize the activities of the
beauty parlor in the DIC.
BEST PRACTICE DOCUMENTATION UNIT
IEC DIVISION
KERALA STATE AIDS CONTROL SOCIETY
THIRUVANAMTHAPURAM, KERALA
……………..
--
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