Religiosity Conflict and Social Reality in the Practice of Prostitution: A Study on Female Sex Workers in Karang Dempel

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the dynamics of religiosity among female sex workers (FSWs) in Karang Dempel and how they navigate the conflict between religious beliefs and their profession. Employing a qualitative approach with a descriptive method, data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis to understand the subjective experiences of FSWs in practicing their faith amid a socially stigmatized environment. The findings indicate that despite their profession often being perceived as contradictory to religious norms, many FSWs continue to uphold aspects of religiosity, including beliefs, private worship, and spiritual experiences that provide meaning in their lives. The moral conflict experienced by FSWs is reflected in their deep inner struggles, ultimately leading to various adaptive strategies such as rationalization, selectivity in religious practices, and the separation of professional identity from religious identity. Economic and social factors also play a crucial role in their decision to remain in this profession, with limited access to alternative employment and societal stigma serving as significant barriers to exiting prostitution. The study concludes that a more inclusive and multidimensional approach is needed to address the issues of FSWs and their religiosity, taking into account spiritual, psychosocial, and economic aspects in rehabilitation programs and social policies that are more humane and reality-based.