Gender and Sexuality in India

This book offers a detailed analysis of the experiences of sex workers in India. Based on ethnographic fieldwork, the book describes the lives of sex workers, drawing out themes of agency; notions of gender and sexuality; and women's engagement with the HIV 'industry'. The analysis provides a novel critique of the medicalised focus of HIV prevention and suggests alternative discourses on women's sexuality, sexual behaviour and desire.

Salla Sariola is a research associate in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Durham. Currently researching international medical research collaboration, bioethics and governance of clinical trials in Sri Lanka, her research interests include anthropology of science and technology, global health, and gender and sexuality.

1. Introduction 2. Contextualizing Sex Work in Chennai 3. Women in Sex Work 4. What happened to 2.2 Million People? 5. Negotiating the Problems of Selling Sex 6. Alternative Discourses of Sex and Sexuality 7. Conclusion