Sex workers fearful of their photo display<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Sex workers participating in an upcoming
\nphotography exhibition say the event is an opportunity to be part
\nof the outside world, but fear the coverage will broadcast their
\ncurrent profession to people they care about.<\/p>\n
Two women going by the aliases of Dian and Henny expressed
\nfear yesterday of press coverage which could lead their families
\nto learn of how they earn money.<\/p>\n
Dian said the exhibition of their works could help outsiders
\nunderstand more that "we are not all black inside... we also
\nlike to take part in activities like other people".<\/p>\n
Dian and her 14 friends from the only government recognized
\nred-light area in Kramat Tunggak, North Jakarta, will display
\naround 90 black and white photos.<\/p>\n
The display will take place at Ancol Dreamland's Art Market
\nfrom Oct. 25 to Nov. 2.<\/p>\n
Volunteers of the Kusuma Buana Foundation, which advocates
\nHIV\/AIDS awareness, said the prostitutes are taught very few
\nphotography techniques apart from encouraging them to take
\npictures.<\/p>\n
The foundation approached the Kramat Tunggak management, which
\nis under the city's social affairs agency, to gain approval to
\ninvolve the sex workers in activities.<\/p>\n
Dian and Henny participated in a musical performance held last
\nyear by Kusuma Buana at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center.<\/p>\n
While the they enjoyed the event, there were a few negative
\nmoments, they said. A few of the women objected to taking part in
\npreparations for the photography display, saying the "ruthless
\ncoverage" of the previous event put them off.<\/p>\n
Others bought cameras but had second thoughts about
\nparticipating and pulled out. The organizers said it was also
\nvery hard to coax Dian and Henny to attend the press conference.<\/p>\n
In the coverage of the performance last year, "The press used
\nharsh words like WTS (wanita tuna susila, women without morals;
\nthe official term for prostitutes.) As if there are no PTS (pria
\ntuna susila, men without morals)," Henny said.<\/p>\n
"Although our names weren't printed, our pictures were clear.
\nOne of my friends said the coverage by a television station
\ncaused an uproar in her hometown because her family didn't know
\nabout her job here," Henny said.<\/p>\n
Reporters were not allowed to take pictures in the press
\nconference yesterday. Henny told reporters to use the
\nabbreviation PSK, short for pekerja sex komersial (commercial sex
\nworkers).<\/p>\n
"In the kampong they don't understand PSK," Henny said.<\/p>\n
She said her boyfriend enjoys taking part in the weekly
\nphotography sessions outside the complex.<\/p>\n
The aim of the exhibition, organizer Kindy Marina said, is to
\nimprove self-esteem among the Kramat Tunggak women, particularly
\nthose now grouped in the Mutual Support for Friendship and
\nProtection.<\/p>\n
Since 1994, she said, the recruitment of dozens of HIV\/AIDS
\nvolunteers in Kramat Tunggak, officially the city's
\nrehabilitation center for prostitutes, has revealed the many
\nproblems among them.<\/p>\n
These include apathy regarding their abilities, a pessimistic
\nview of their future, and alcohol dependency.<\/p>\n
Dian and Henny revealed the difficulty in coaxing their
\ncolleagues to join activities outside the complex. "They fear
\nloss of income," said Dian, who once wanted to be a policewoman.<\/p>\n
"But I get depressed and have headaches if I stay in (the
\ncomplex) every day. I just keep drinking," she told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
"Participating in outside activities makes us understand
\nthings and adds to our experience." For example, Dian said she
\nhas now heard a lot about the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and
\nthe Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.<\/p>\n
"I also know prostitutes are not the only source of AIDS,"
\nDian said. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sex-workers-fearful-of-their-photo-display-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}