Page 21 - Vimarsha Volume 2

6. Discussion and Findings

6.1 The Socio-economic and Personal Reasons Which Affect Sri Lankan Women’s
Involvement into Prostitution.

This study examines different number of causes which Sri Lankan women’s

involvement into prostitution and they belong to various socio-economic
backgrounds. However, the reasons which their involvement into prostitution has

been different from one person to another with one reason or multiple reasons.
Particularly some reasons are very famous and they are commonly can see whereas
other reasons cannot seen in the society as open. According to that different reasons

which women involve into prostitution can be explore under following themes.

6.1.1 Poverty and Low-Income Family Background

Most of the researchers show that low-income family background or Poverty is the

leading cause of women incline with prostitution. Poverty is having not the capability
to fulfil their basic needs. Debt is a complex social problem. Narayan (2000) define
Poverty as “If you want to do something and have no power to do it. It called poverty”.

Poverty is a relative concept, and that can categorize as relative Poverty, absolute
Poverty and chronic Poverty. Absolute Poverty means their income is not enough to

fulfil their basic living standards. However, researchers argue that absolute Poverty
and constant poverty cause to women involve prostitution. But there are some
superior level female sex workers within the profession. According to the Poverty is

the primary motivation for women who become prostitutes; on the other hand, most
of them are from low-income families. Within the low-income family backgrounds,
the number of dependents is high, and the income earners are small. This research

also argues that Poverty affect to women to become prostitutes, because, from the ten
respondents, five of them are suffering from Poverty. Two of them are unmarried
when they go to engage as sex workers, and the other three women have been caused

the less economic background within the marriage life.

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