STIGMA AND FEMALE SEX WORKERS: A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY IN ASSAM.

Abstract Sex work is one of the irresistible stereotypes depicting as immoral and psychological ill. Since past, it is either considered as necessary evil or immoral dirt of society. Their position in society is always underprivileged, invisible and outside the mainstream which resulted in being remain as ignorant aspect of society. The ignorance and underprivilege positions made them to live in more vulnerable conditions. However, stigma attach to them has always been a barrier in the path of their development. Thus, the study made an attempt to explore the stigma and their responses towards them. The study found types of stigma namely, felt stigma and enacted stigma. It has three mechanisms adopted by female sex workers as responses to stigma like internalisation, controlling of information and reframing. Keywords: Stigma, Female sex worker, internalisation, controlling the information, reframing.