Abstract
Brahmanical patriarchy alongside the close relation of prostitution with human trafficking continues to mould contemporary anti-trafficking and prostitution governance policies in India. This study examines such relationships and breaks down how brahmanical patriarchy as a caste-driven hierarchy between the genders has shaped the historical and contemporary governance of human trafficking and sexual commerce, its political economy and its consequences for marginalised groups. It underlines how, originating in the colonial period, the components of brahmanical patriarchy advanced the marginalisation of women in sexual commerce by influencing anti-trafficking governance. In addition, it has produced the marginalisation of other communities such as religious minorities and immigrants, in contemporary times. This study suggests that it is the intersection of (colonial and/or current) political-economic interests and socio-cultural hierarchies and controls such as brahmanical patriarchy (as in this case of India) that moulds anti-trafficking and prostitution governance measures, continuing the marginalisation of subalterns such as sex workers, migrants and minorities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 667-685 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Third World Quarterly |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 19 Jan 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The author expresses his gratitude to Prof. Karin Astrid Siegmann, Prof. Inge Hutter and Prof. Amrita Chhachhi for their regular support, critical insights and reflections on this work. The author is also thankful to Prof. Simanti Dasgupta and Dr Joop De Wit for their comments and insights on earlier versions of this work. The author also thanks the anonymous peer reviewers for their comments and helpful insights. Last but not least, the author appreciates and thanks his research participants, friends, family and colleagues for being a continuous source of inspiration and support during the progress of this work.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
