A vida atrás dos riscos: uma análise antropológica da prática da prostituição na cidade de Maputo

Abstract

The present study had as its field of analysis Avenida Olof Palme, in the city of Maputo where it sought to analyze the professional practices and risks among prostitutes who in that place develop their activities. Data collection was done based on the ethnographic method combined with direct observation, semi-structured interviews and using life stories. The theory adopted for the work, was the cultural and social of the risk. The results of the study show that sex workers are aware of the risks and have a defensive culture against the risk, through their experiences in prostitution. It was also found that sex workers, despite being aware of the risks, prefer to risk their lives for several reasons, pointing out the main economic cause, which varies between unemployment, incapacity for self-support, divorce and the death of the partner; thus adopting strategies according to the real conditions and situations that the professionals are submitted to. This observation refers to the contextual character that risk is assuming as a result of different interpretations within these professionals.