Reclaiming the “good women” identity: A case study of Surabaya's Muslim sex workers negotiating Islam and sex work

Abstract

Drawing on interviews with 55 Muslim sex workers in Surabaya City, Indonesia, this study challenges prevailing narratives that portray a “Third World sex worker” as a “powerless victim” by presenting their dynamic experiences in sex work. The study examines the moral conflicts and societal stigma these women endure within the context of Indonesia's Islamic moralistic stance, which condemns sex work, along with legislative restrictions inherent in the country's political Islamic structure. It also sheds light on how these women exercise agency by employing psychological and distancing strategies to navigate the inherent challenges of sex work. By incorporating an Islamic perspective into the gender analytical framework, this study provides culturally specific insight into the interplay between “Islam, sex work, and agency” in studies on sex work.