Title: Cultural practices of occupation among the Bedia women: a case study of Habla hamlet of Sagar District, Madhya Pradesh, India

Authors: Usha Rana; Diwakar Sharma

Addresses: Department of Sociology and Social Work, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar 470003, Madhya Pradesh, India ' Department of Sociology and Social Work, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar 470003, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract: This paper discusses the cultural practices of prostitution as an occupation among the Bedia community. They involved in institutional prostitution from long ago. Qualitative and quantitative methods have been used to examine the source of authority and power to continue such deviant practices as an occupation. We also enlighten some factors behind the women's support to the system or justification of their natives to prostitution as a usual occupation. The analysis of data reveals that respondents consider their long history and experiences of prostitution as an ordinary occupation. They were forced to live like a nomadic group due to the relegation of the king from the kingdom. In colonial duration, British Government formatted law against them, and after the independent government still did not do something for them. Their traditional occupation has played a primary role in their survival, so Bedia managed a system to continue the tradition.

Keywords: Bedia; culture; occupation; practices; prostitution; tradition; women.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGSDS.2020.109226

International Journal of Gender Studies in Developing Societies, 2020 Vol.3 No.4, pp.293 - 303

Received: 26 Jun 2019
Accepted: 15 Sep 2019
Published online: 02 Sep 2020 *

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