Sussex Asia Centre

Prof Andrea Cornwall

My research focuses on the everyday lives and loves of female sex workers in Maharashtra and explores the ways in which the realities of sex workers' lived experiences contest and contradict the stereotypes that present them as humiliated and oppressed objects of rescue. Part of this enquiry is into the role of sex worker collectivisation and activism in enabling women to recognise and articulate their empowerment as independent working women, and come together to fight for rights and recognition.  Amongst other projects is "Save Us From Saviours" is a film project that seeks to tell the stories of sex workers and their allies and to challenge misleading and negative representations of them, especially that promoted by the white saviour industry.