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Cultural Dynamics, Vol. 18, No. 3,
269-292 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0921374006071615
Producing The Spectacle of Kamathipura
The Politics of Red Light Visibility in Mumbai
Svati P. Shah
New York University, USA
In this article, I discuss the ways in which prostitution in Mumbai's main red light area is produced and functions as a spectacle. I examine several instantiations of discourses on prostitution in the city, including the press, and a 2003 HIV/AIDS prevention campaign which targeted female sex workers and their clients. I argue that the spectacle of prostitution in Mumbai is framed by international discourses of trafficking, as well as the local dialectics of stigma and honor. I conclude by discussing prostitution in other parts of India, where there is a greater degree of rights-based organizing.
Key Words: HIV/AIDS • Mumbai • prostitution • sex work • spectacle
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