Week 5: Tradition forces girls into prostitution

                In some Indian villages, a tradition that was once a religious obligation is now forced onto young girls because they live in poverty stricken communities. Many men do not see this as an issue and some families send their daughters to be prostitutes to relieve them of an obligation so to say. The daughters can make $20 a day and that is a lot for them because most families can live off a dollar a day. There is a ceremony called Nathni Utarna; this ceremony is for girls and they take off their nose ring. What that translates in the community is that she is now a woman and able to be sent into the sex trade. Usually these girls serve the upper class men in the community. Many families now do not like to admit they have had one of these ceremonies.

                There are now organizations trying to fight back against this. They say it is hard to change women’s mind that have already been in the trade because they get used to the money. So they are now working on preventing the younger girls from entering or being sent into the sex trade. An organization called Plan India has been working to eliminate this tradition. When the tradition started it started off as girls entertaining princes and landlords with dance and song but then this has led to prostitution. This is why the organization is trying to educate these women and show them other ways to make money. Sometimes they have no choice because the man thinks it is perfectly fine and it relieves the family of a financial obligation and she is now able to help herself out and her family. These women essentially have no choice because they do not want their family to struggle if they can help and the only other opportunity they really have is to be a farmer and they do not make alot of money at all. They do not really have any other options for education for girls but those who do are greatful for their education and it is a good opportunity for them

http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/21/tradition-forces-daughters-into-prostitution/?hpt=ias_t3