Abhisari: A Feminist Intervention for the Rights of Women in Sex Work

As part of our urban film screening programme aimed at promoting feminist ideas, Sisterhood selected Abhisari, a film that tells the story of a woman engaged in sex work. The film was screened at the Galle Heritage Hall in Galle Fort, Galle, and received a highly positive response. Notably, a group of sisters engaged in street-based sex work also participated in the screening, making it a particularly significant experience for us.

Public discussions about women engaged in sex work are often framed around morality, sexuality, and social norms. However, from a feminist perspective, the question we must ask is not whether society has the right to judge their lives, but whether it guarantees them the same rights as other human beings.

In many instances, society normalises men's sexuality while subjecting the bodies and livelihoods of women who provide sexual services to moral judgement. In a society where there is demand for sexual services, stigmatising only the women who provide them reflects deep-rooted gender inequalities. Furthermore, structural conditions such as economic inequality, poverty, and the lack of secure employment opportunities may influence decisions relating to sex work. Therefore, we cannot assume that all women engaged in sex work share the same experiences or enter the profession for the same reasons.

Reports on sex workers in Sri Lanka have also highlighted the legal, social, and economic discrimination they face, as well as their vulnerability to violence. Discussions about the rights of women engaged in sex work must therefore extend beyond access to healthcare. They must also encompass the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies, safe working conditions, healthcare services, legal assistance, protection from police violence, and the right to live with dignity, free from discrimination.

The consequences of this injustice do not end with the women themselves. Their children may also face social stigma, discrimination in educational settings, and exclusion because of their mothers' occupation. Judging a child's worth or future based on their mother's livelihood is unjustifiable. Every child deserves an education free from discrimination, adequate protection, and a childhood lived with dignity.

Sisterhood believes that the feminist struggle must not be limited to defending the rights of women who are already accepted by society. It is our responsibility to create spaces for the voices of marginalised women and to foster dialogue about their experiences and rights.

The screening of Abhisari created such a space for dialogue. Our aim is not merely to view the lives of women engaged in sex work with sympathy, but to advocate for a society that recognises their rights, listens to their voices, and protects their human dignity. True feminism means struggling for a world in which no woman is denied her rights because of her livelihood, sexuality, or social status.