Survival techniques

Adversity comes in many forms for street based sex workers. As a result of psychosocial impediments (such as intense stigma and discrimination), legal challenges (such as criminalisation of sex work), individual acts (such as lack of self-care) and environmental challenges (such as spending long hours on the streets), sex workers face unique challenges than the general population (Boyden & Mann, 2005; Buttram, Surratt, _{& Kurtz,}

2013).

Through experience, female sex workers learn survival techniques that are useful to keep them alive on the streets (Fick, 2005). Furthermore Coutu (2002) contends that resilient people use effective survival strategies according to the situation they find themselves in, have a firm understanding of reality and fiction and the ability to improvise when a situation compels.

86 4.4.5.1. The fight, flight and freeze response

The limbic system which is located in the centre of the brain (between the brain stem and the cortex) mediates arousal and hyper arousal and also regulates survival behaviours and emotional expression of human beings (Rothschild, 1997).

The limbic system responds to extreme traumatic threat by releasing hormones that tell the body to prepare for defensive action which prepares the body for fight or flight responses (Rothschild, 1997). However, when death is imminent, or when the traumatic threat is prolonged (as with torture or rape), the limbic system can simultaneously activate the state of freezing.

The flight, fight or freeze response to stress is known as a survival reflex and when a person faces a stressful event, he or she would evaluate the situation and determine which type of survival reflex to engage in (Yuen et al., 2013).

During the interviews with participants, it appeared that these survival reflexes are used depending on the situation where the female sex workers find themselves in as seen below:

“the girl said she was helped by a car it was a distance but she said that I’m only help and she was naked because the client made her take off her clothes she said she ran and ran, they were outside and she ran God gave her strength she said” (sex worker 7, lines 96-99).

The quote above is an example of a flight response. If the limbic system ‘decides’ that there is adequate strength, time and space to escape from danger, then the body breaks into a run and that is where “God gives strength” perception from sex worker seven comes from (Rothschild, 1997).

“We entered a car wash nicely and he pulled out the gun and removed the condom. And there was no way I could scream” (sex worker 2, 57-58).

This is an example of a freeze response from sex worker 2. The limbic systemcan simultaneously release hormones to activate the peripheral nervous system and a state

87 of freezing can result in a mouse going dead when caught by a cat before the cat can even kill it (Gallup,1997).

This response is sometimes useful as the aggressor becomes less aggressive and by doing that a life can be saved.

“You will find that you are fighting with this client because they want their money back” (Sex worker 10, lines 37-38).

The above quote from sex worker ten shows that it is sometimes necessary to fight in order to save yourself from imminent danger (of losing your life) or protecting your physical being. Rothschild (1997) indicates that if the limbic system perception is that there is no sufficient time or space to flee but there is adequate strength to defend by fighting back, then the body will fight.

4.4.5.2. Safety precautions

In any situation whether serious activity (such as work) or leisure (such as having fun), safety is of paramount importance because if there is no safety, serious bodily harm could happen, even worse, loss of life.

Rutter (2012, p. 337) is quoted as saying “One of the features that particularly characterizes resilience research is the recognition of the importance of possible steeling or strengthening effects”. This means that we must look at how the situation is strengthening individuals and those groups instead of looking at impact exposure to diversity has on groups and individuals in terms of negative reactions.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCRCS, 2008) indicates that risk reduction and safety offers a major contribution to the building of safer, resilient communities, especially for individuals and groups that that are at risk such as female sex workers.

IFRCRCS (2008, p. 2) further state that safe and resilient communities can be identified as having the following key characteristics:

88  They understand the disaster risks they face, they can assess and monitor these risks and can protect and make themselves safe to minimise losses and damage when a disaster strike.

“I give them their money back because I do not want to be assaulted (laughing)” (sex worker 1, line 27).

This indicates that resilient female sex workers can assess the danger accurately and take the necessary steps to avoid harm. She might have said it jokingly but she is very aware of the dangers if she resist giving back the money.

 They can build back after a disaster and work towards ensuring that

vulnerabilities continue to be reduced for the future. More safety and resilience means less vulnerability.

“We always take vehicle number plates even if you say we are just going nearer, we take it. If I say my friend: take the vehicle number plate, they do, in case I do not come back because they abuse us” (sex worker 6, lines 215-216).

The quote above from sex worker 6 indicates that they care for each other and about their safety. The safety mechanisms such as recording a vehicle number plate has shown to be a success because some clients have been successfully prosecuted through assistance of SISONKE and Women Legal Centre.

 They understand that building safety and resilience is a long-term, continuous process that requires ongoing commitment.

“You must be obedient and think about your life, you see, you need to avoid, these people you must give them their money and you will not die” (sex worker 4, lines 64-66).

For a person to have long term plans and be able to execute them they need to be alive. A dead man cannot have plans. This example from sex worker 4 indicates long term and continuous efforts to stay alive so that she could manage to support her family.

89  They appreciate the fact that being safe and disaster resilient means that there is a greater chance of meeting development goals which, in themselves, will greatly add to their safety and resilience.

“So myself when I get a whole night I do not go with them at their place. I tell them to book the hotel” (sex worker 5, lines 84-85).

This is another safety mechanism utilised by sex workers. They have learnt from experience that for their safety they must go to a neutral place or where the client will have a lesser chance of causing harm to them.