Migrant Women in Sex Work: Does urban space impact self-(re)presentation in Hillbrow, Johannesburg? allvoices.com Elsa Oliveira A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Coursework and Dissertation) Forced Migration Studies Programme University of the Witwatersrand 474666 Supervisor(s): Dr. Joanna Vearey Marlise Richter 2011 I, ELSA OLIVEIRA do solemnly declare that is thesis is a construction of my own work. In addition, this thesis and all of its contents has not been used as a submission for any other degree or submitted at any other university. Elsa Oliveira Johannesburg, February 2011 i This is the Telekom Tower in Hillbrow. I took a photograph because when I first came to Hillbrow it was the first thing that I noticed when I got lost. Pinky When I saw this group of kids playing netball in Barnato Park, I was reminded of my daughter Karen back home in Zimbabwe. Shorty ii Sex Work The whore is despised by the hypocritical world because she has made a realistic assessment of her assets and does not have to rely on fraud to make a living. In an area of human relations where fraud is regular practice between the sexes, her honesty is regarded with a mocking wonder. Angela Carter What it comes down to is this: the grocer, the butcher, the baker, the merchant, the landlord, the druggist, the liquor dealer, the policeman, the doctor, the city father and the politician -- these are the people who make money out of prostitution, these are the real reapers of the wages of sin. Polly Adler Representation Nothing puts up so much resistance to representation as the real. Gaillard Representation of the world, like the world itself, is the work of men; they describe it from their own point of view, which they confuse with the absolute truth. Simone de Beauvoir Self-Representation As the ego cogito, subjectivity is the consciousness that represents something, relates this representation back to itself, and so gathers with itself. Martin Heidegger A lot of artists feel passionately about what’s occurring in the world and they become interested in the question of agency- the representation of the self and the relationship between self and state. Geraldine Barlow Photography While there is perhaps a province in which the photograph can tell us nothing more than what we see with our own eyes, there is another in which it proves to us how little our eyes permit us to see. Dorothea Lange iii Abstract Rationale: Urbanization is rapidly taking place in Africa: fifty percent of the continent‘s population is expected to be living in urban areas by 2030 (Kok and Collinson in Vearey 2010b). Both internal1 and cross-border migrants2 are moving into South Africa’s urban centers at a faster rate than her neighboring countries; approximately 60 percent of the population is estimated to be urban (ibid). The worldwide increase in urbanization requires that research recognize the trajectories of people moving into these urban spaces, as well as the experiences that people encounter as they navigate urban centers (Kihato, 2010, Landau 2006a, 2006b, Vearey 2010a, 2010b, Venables, 2010). Many migrants in inner-city Johannesburg engage in unconventional survival strategies, including sex work (e.g. Richter 2010). Although sex work is considered an informal livelihood strategy, it is currently illegal in South Africa (UNAIDS, 2009). Research on sex work in South Africa is limited; however, there is significant evidence that sex workers in inner-city Johannesburg experience unsafe, unhealthy- often times violent- working and living conditions (e.g. Nyangairi, 2010, Richeter, 2010). This research is primarily interested in exploring the ways in which “marginalized” urban migrant groups choose to represent themselves versus the incomplete (re) presentation that is often relegated to them. A focus on representation will provide an opportunity for policy makers, programmers and academics to gain insight and better comprehend the experiences of migrant urban populations. In this case, the researcher is looking specifically at migrant women who sell sex as an entry point into the larger issues of (re) presentation among individuals and communities who are often described as “vulnerable” and/or “marginal”. Aim: The aim of this research project is to explore how migrant women who sell sex in Hillbrow, Johannesburg (re) present themselves, and how (or not) urban space affects these self- (re) presentations. Methods: The epistemological framework for the methodologies used in this study was Participatory Action Research (PAR), and the primary data collection methodology used consisted of an eleven-day participatory photo project where the research participants were given digital cameras and asked to photograph the “story” that they would like to share. Upon completion of the participatory photo workshop, five research participants were randomly selected to participate in 2-3 sessions of in-depth, semi-structured narrative interviews where the researcher explored the choice of photos taken, as well as the reasons why the photos were selected to (re) present themselves. Conclusion: This study has shown that use of Participatory Action Research as an epistemological framework is both conducive and appropriate when researching ‘hard to reach’ groups of people residing in complex urban areas. Furthermore, this research signals the need for greater inclusion of participants in studies aimed at understanding individual/group experience, especially when working with marginalized communities. This study also reveals a host of future research opportunities for those interested in exploring: (1) identity in urban space/urban health, (2) livelihood experiences/strategies of people living in densely populated urban spaces, (3) issues of belonging and access to health care, (4) impacts of structural violence on the lives of migrant women sex workers, (6) ways that perceptions and representations are impacted in group settings, and (5) the use of ‘innovative methodologies’ as a viable tool in social science research. Keywords: migrant women sex workers; sex work, inner-city Johannesburg; Hillbrow; Participatory Action Research; narrative interviews; life stories; advocacy; qualitative methods; representation; urban. 1 Internal migrants are those who have moved within their countries of birth. 2 Cross border migrants are those who have crossed borders. iv Acknowledgements This work would not have been possible without the input of people who encouraged and assisted me. I would like to thank my supervisors, Dr. Joanna Vearey and Marlise Richter for their constant encouragement and support. Dr. Vearey is an inspiration and a mentor who has taught me to believe in the power of images as a vehicle for social change. I have never met a professor so creative and diligent. The importance that you place on making sure that ‘voice’ is heard has given me great hope in the world of academia. Thank you. Marlise, your unwavering commitment in your advocacy for dignity and human rights for sex workers is to be applauded and admired. This study was indeed a team effort; I would not have managed to complete it without the constant encouragement, feedback and insight that you both offered; very few Master’s students have the opportunity to engage with such dynamic, fun and committed supervisors. Many people have been involved in the research and fieldwork process that contributed to this thesis. In particular, I would like to thank Bekie, Matthews, Jacklynne, Tambudzai, and all of the PDP students from Market Photo Workshop. Your work was incredible, but your dedication to social transformation is even more amazing. I would also like to thank Sisonke Sex Worker Movement for your help during the project. A special thanks to Pamela and Sibongile for arranging space and recruiting research participants. Thank you to Emilie for filling in the blanks when we needed you to. Thank you to RHRU for providing the space for the workshop and the interviews. Thank you all- this research would not have been possible without the help, time and support that you offered. Many thanks to the staff at FMSP, for your work, and your commitment to the field of social research. You have been supportive, and critical when necessary. I also want to thank my fellow classmates for accompanying me throughout this journey. It has been a memorable experience filled with tears, sweat and blood. Literally. The happy hour meetings were not bad either. I want to send a special shout out to Jessica and Hilton. I am not sure what I would have done without you in class. Our daily coffee and popcorn runs have been engraved in my heart. I would also like to thank my dearest, Sonia. Your support and dedication to my Diet Coke, peanut butter and popcorn habits will forever be appreciated. Thank you for driving me around in the middle of night in search of a computer cord; Thank you for printing thousand’s and thousand’s of articles; Thank you for making me eat when I had forgotten; Thank you for making space for me in your home; Thank you for reminding me of the things that matter in life; Thank you for the border runs in hopes of a visa extension; Thank you for making me laugh when I was falling apart; Thank you for the encouragement and interest that you showed in my work. I am blessed. A special thanks goes out to my scooter. You never gave up on me. All those groceries runs and trips into Hillbrow and Wits… you have been a loyal little orange and white scooter. I promise to take you on an adventure one of these days, to a place where there are no potholes or bad BMW and Mercedes drivers; a place where you can just be free to roam. I also wish to thank Rotary International for this opportunity to live and study in South Africa for a year.