Sex Work: A Livelihood in Swaziland, Research Paper Example

Abstract

Swaziland is a small territory situated within the Southern African landscape.  Mozambique can be found in the earthen border.In the north, south and west is South Africa. Statistics show where Swaziland is the 150^th largest country in the world. Further data reveals that people living in this country are 43.5 % more likely to contract HIV/AIDS than when residing in the US. Also there is a 95.5% less access to health care than in US due to poverty; 30% lower live expectancy; 4.3% lower employment and 90% less yearly income (CIA World Factbook, 2012). This discussion embraces an analysis of Swazi presence in United States of America and their participation in the social structure when compared to life in Swaziland.

Sex Work: A livelihood in Swaziland

Introduction

Brief Historyof the minority group in Swaziland/ United States

This research embraces a study pertaining to the Swazi way of life in their country of origin and some comparisons will be made to United States where some have migrated. Influence of United States upon the country’s culture and economy will also be explored in this discussion.

Historically, Khoisan hunter-gatherers were identified as the earliest settlers in Swaziland. Later they were replaced by Bantu tribes migrating from the Great Lakes, Eastern Africa.  Historians established theirpresence through agricultural cultivation mingled with iron mining from about the 4th century. Anthropologists discovered that these early spoke languages which are associated with the contemporary Sotho and Nguni dialects of 11th century. These same Bantu people have now been classified Swazis. They developed iron foundry establishments settling as farming colonies across the Limpopo River during the 15^th century(Bonner, 1983).

By the 18^th century Swazis experienced severe economic pressures due to encroachment and rivalry with Ndwandwe clans arriving from the south. They also had to contend with Zulu clans and the impact of colonization later in the 18^th moving into 19^th century. A major influence towards their economic troublesbecame apparent when joining the Anglo Boer War beginning late into the 19^th century (Bonner, 1983).

Treatment by dominant group

Swaziland could be considered a minority country with a minority culture. According to sociologist Cohen (1986) minority philosophy emanates from a monster culture, which signifies something other than itself. Importantly, it occupies a reconciliation space between the time factors influencing an action and episodes of the moment into which it is received (Cohen, 1986). Therefore, it infuses remorse, guilt, prejudice and discriminatory manifestations.

In this research the obvious minorities are women who are forced to engage in sexual work as a livelihood.

According to humanitarian news reports 75% of women in Swaziland are beaten.  Before attaining age 18 one in every three women experience sexual assault and two out of three between ages18 to 24 are sexually battered. It was further reported quoting national survey data   between infancy to 24, 48.2% of all Swazi women experienced some form of sexual violence (IRIN, 2012).

Over the past decade there have been more accurate data, which shows a steady increase due to concerns of action groups who have decided to investigate violence against this minority group to intervene. The dominant groups are men since homosexuality is not common among Africans residing in Africa (IRIN, 2012).

Patterns of discrimination

Patterns of discrimination against women embrace continued subjugation, oppression and minority status of women in the society. This is explained as being undemocratic; patriarchaland organizedsexual violence against women. Arguments against this type of discrimination against women in the society are that these actions are perpetuated by male dominated political structures that perceive women merely as sex objects (Lee, 2011).

Oppression surfaces as closed opportunities towards obtaining basic education.Access to basic human resources such as ownership of land, employment, credit facilities and other opportunities to advance their development are with since women are considered incapable of functioning beyond the capacity of sexual gratification. Early childhood development for girls is undermined. The political structure and social services do not see girls and women as valuable human resources in the Swazi society (Lee, 2011)

Cultural patterns

The dominant cultural tradition embraces a social unit called the homestead. It is a beehive hut thatched with dry grass. This is where the family lives. Polygamous homestead unions, allow wives to live in a separate fenced yard hut. These huts contain sections for sleeping, cooking, and storage of beer. Homesteads can be built to accommodate bachelors’ quarters and guests as well. More traditional homestead structures are designed to contain a cattle byre. This is circular enclosed area made out of large logs with branches filling separated spaces. It is a symbol of wealth and prestige (Swaziland Discovery, 2011).

Swazi are predominantly black Africans with a population 97% black 3% British. SiSwati is the dominant language spoken by the Nguni clan and English is their alternative vocal expression.  However, data shows where 76,000 of the population communicate through the Zulu dialect. Tsonga and Afrikaans are other forms expression used in conversation among 19,000 of Swazilandinhabitants (Swaziland Discovery, 2011).

More than 75% of the population is Christian. This is indicative that Christianity is the dominant religious culturein Swaziland. These Christian groups consist of Protestants; indigenous African churches and African Zionist. Theymake up 40% of religious groups classified Christians. Roman Catholics account for20%.  Islam 0.95%, Baha’i Faith 0.5%, and Hinduism (0.15%) are the alternative religious cultures present in Swaziland (Bonner, 1983).

Education is now free in Swaziland. Children in 1^st and 2^nd grades can begin school at an early age, but because education is not mandatory many girls have to remain at home to take care of younger siblings or begin their sex work tasks. Primary school enrolment in 1996 was 90.8%. A great gender disparity was observed between boys’ and girls’ enrollment. By 1998

80.5% of children reached 5th grade. Higher education is provided by the University of Swaziland. There is a national library which services community libraries throughout the country. These libraries are establishes by partnering with Fundza, African Library project, which is a non-governmental supporting agency (Swaziland Discovery, 2011).

Other dominant cultural patterns pertain to tribal customs. For example, headman is the household leader for each homestead. Usually,he has several wives who cater to him through polygamous relationships.Also, the Sangoma is a sacred position within each family. The training is known as “kwetfwasa.” This is a traditional ancestral spiritual leader who guides the family. Consultations are made for many reasons. These include cause of sickness or even death.  Diagnoses are derived from “kubhula.”  It is a communication process whereby the Sangoma contacts supernatural powers to find these answers. There after the Inyanga engages in a bone throwing mechanism the bone called “kushaya ematsambo” in determine the cause of the illness and remedial prescription (Bonner, 1983).

Other dominant patterns pertain to festivals such as Sibhaca Dance; Umhlanga or Reed Dance andIncwala Ceremony. The coat of arms, flag, choosing of a king ceremony are all important cultural traditions, which have been considered sacred and are practiced unto today.

Present Day Experience

The 20-21st century Swaziland’s economy was diversified. Agriculture, forestry and mining accounted for 13% of its gross national product; textile 37% and government services 50% (Sheba Group, 2012). Despite this apparent success Swaziland shows lower progress at a rate of 2.8% than its neighbors with regards to financial prosperity. This has been attributed to 75% of the labor force still depending on subsistence farming for a daily income (CIA World Factbook, 2012).

Reports have been that the South African trading relations have had a strong influence in Swaziland’s economic wellbeing. Swaziland derives over 90% of its imports from South African which in turn responds with approximately 70% of its exports. United States of America and the European Union are other major trading partners that engage in favorable trading relations with Swaziland under the African Growth and Development Act (CIA World Factbook, 2012).

International relationships between United States and Swaziland have been cordial ever since they received their independence from the United Kingdom in 1968 and functions as a constitutional monarchy. United States of America’s goal in this bilateral relationship is to strengthening bounds as Swaziland’s works towards instituting social justice through political and economic reform (US Department of State, 2012).

Consequently, in upholding this philosophy U.S. has become the largest bilateral donor to the Global Fund. This specifically is targeted towards Swaziland’s HIV/AIDS funding source since it is the leading nation in the world with HIV/AIDS infection. Presently, United States of America offers scholarships to 4 Swazi professionals each year emerging from public and private sectors alike. They complete master’s degrees, and about 5 others are given opportunities to complete 3-4 weeks workshops in keeping with International Visitor programs (US Department of State, 2012).

Recent World Health Organization data has declared Swaziland to have the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the world next to tits neighbor Botswana. 64% of deaths occurring in the country are AIDS related. This has reduced the life expectancy rate from 61 – 32 being the lowest in the world. 7,000 people died from AIDS in 2009. The population is 1,185,000. From these statistics 0.6% of the population is being lost through AIDS yearly (World Health Organization; 2012).

It was only in 2004 Swaziland acknowledged that HIV/AIDS existed as a deadly disease. This could have been due to their cultural beliefs about disease and their medicine man tradition.

Besides AIDS, chronic illnesses such as heart disease, strokes, and cancer cause fewer than 5% of deaths in Swaziland. Comparatively this is much lower than 55% of all deaths yearly due heart disease, strokes and cancer the US population. Tuberculosis has been identified a significant health problem accounting for 18% the death toll yearly. Presently the physician/ patient ratio 16 per 1,000 patients/clients and the infant mortality rate is 69 per 1000 with 47% under 5 years old are AIDS related (CIA Factbook, 2012)

Sex work

Victoria Eastwood  ( 2012)  reporting for CNN captioned a female sex worker in down town Swaziland exclaiming that there are no jobs and she sleeps with 5 men per day to make a living. Sex workers and social analysts blame this upsurge in sex worker activities on the economic situation forged upon the through political financial mismanagement (Eastwood, 2012).

Chipamaunga (2011) and colleagues conducted studies assessing sex work in Swaziland exploring barriers to and opportunities for HIV prevention among this minority group. They discovered among many astounding variables that many sex workers in Swaziland both male and female did not engage in prostitution due to poverty. It was simply a way of life. More importantly, they contend that these services were rendered without condoms for more money (Chipamaunga, 2011)

Findings were highly suggestive that ‘treating sex workers as a homogenous group that is driven into, or maintain sex work only because of poverty may be problematic, and could hamper HIV-relevant interventions aimed at reducing their vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections’(Chipamaunga, 2011).

Further reports have reveled that sex workers in Swaziland have been raped by police officers and brutalized. Alex Lushada (2010) highlighted the deadly link between police, sex work and HIV in the ‘Gender Link for Equality and Justice.’ Precise data emerging from the Swaziland Action Group against Abuse revealed that sex workers were not merely are arrested, but forced by police to offer free sex favors in exchange for their release. 27% of the sex workers are arrested for loitering.  60% are sexually and physically abused by law enforcement officer (Lushada, 2010)

Conclusion

Implications for social work

Implications for social work as it pertains to this society are insidious. There are evident dysfunctions from a social-psychological perspective. The social problem is controlling HIV/AIDS among sex workers. Most importantly, programs must be designed for sex workers as well as their clients. Their clients could be the entire community. The information regarding police brutality of sex workers then engaging in sexual activities in lieu of release is simply ridiculous for an HIV/AIDS infested community. In communicating the problem strategies must focus on valuing behaviors since it would appear that people in this community have resigned their fate to dying from AIDS.

Steps in the generalist practice intervention model

The generalist practice intervention model embraces four elements to be considered when designing an intervention. It combines social work with psychology, psychiatry and counseling. In addressing this phenomenon all four categories of skills ought to be embraced. Application of these skills embodies assessment, planning and implementation from a knowledge base paradigm. This knowledge base is derived from data collection such as being retrieved in this research document. Precisely, the focus is client empowerment through demonstrating roles of counselor, educator, broker, case manager, mobilizer, mediator, facilitator and advocate for Swaziland dying population

References

Bonner, P. (1983). Kings, Commoners and Concessionaires: The Evolution and Dissolution of the Nineteenth-Century Swazi State. Cambridge: Cambridge U. Press.

Chipamaunga, S. Muula, S., & Mataya, R. (2010).An assessment of sex work in Swaziland: barriers to and opportunities for HIV prevention among sex workers.Sahara J, 7(3), 44-50

Cohen, J. (1996) Monster Theory: Reading Culture. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.

CIA World Factbook (2012). The Work of a Nation: The Center of Intelligence. Swaziland. CIA

Daniel, S. (2009). Definition of national minorities in international law. Journal of US-China Public Administration, 6(5), 45-51

Eastwood, V. (October, 19^th 2012).Sex worker: I sleep with five men a day just to eat. CNN

IRIN (2012). Swaziland: Two-thirds of women beaten and abused. Retrieved 18^th December 2012 from http://www.irinnews.org/Report/74342/SWAZILAND-Two-thirds-of-women-beaten-and-abused

Kirst-Ashma, K., & Hull, G. (2009).Understanding Generalist Practice. New York. Brooks Cole

Lushada, A. (7^th December, 2010).The deadly link between police, sex work and HIV.Gender Link for Equality and Justice

Lee, R. (2011).Peoples Charter drafted in Swaziland. Open Society Initiative For Southern Africa

Swaziland Discovery (2012). Swaziland history, culture and tradition. Retrieved 18^th December, 2012 from http://www.swazibusiness.com/discovery/swaziland.html

Sheba group (2012). History of Swaziland. Barberton US Department of State (2012).US Relations with Swaziland. Bureau of African Affairs Fact sheet.

World Health Organization. (2012). Swaziland Country Mortality Factsheet. Geneva. WHO