TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex Workers, Stigma and Self-Image: Evidence from Kolkata Brothels
AU - Ghosal, Sayantan
AU - Mani, Anandi
AU - Jana, Smarajit
AU - Mitra, Sandip
AU - Roy, Sanchari
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank the editor and two anonymous referees for detailed and helpful comments. We also thank Oriana Bandiera, Amrita Dhillon, Maitreesh Ghatak, Rocco Macchiavello, Sharun Mukand, Biju Rao, Eldar Shafir, and Chris Woodru, as well as various seminar participants, for useful comments and feedback. We gratefully acknowledge funding from ESRC through the Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy. All errors are our own.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
PY - 2022/5
Y1 - 2022/5
N2 - This paper studies the link between self-image and behavior among those who face stigma due to poverty and social exclusion. Using a randomized field experiment with sex workers in Kolkata (India), we examine whether a psychological intervention to mitigate adverse effects of internalized stigma can induce behavior change. We find significant improvements in participants’ self-image, their savings choices, and health clinic visits. Administrative data confirm that these changes in savings and preventive health behavior persist 15 and 21 months later, respectively. Our findings highlight the potential of purely psychological interventions to improve the life choices and outcomes of marginalized groups.
AB - This paper studies the link between self-image and behavior among those who face stigma due to poverty and social exclusion. Using a randomized field experiment with sex workers in Kolkata (India), we examine whether a psychological intervention to mitigate adverse effects of internalized stigma can induce behavior change. We find significant improvements in participants’ self-image, their savings choices, and health clinic visits. Administrative data confirm that these changes in savings and preventive health behavior persist 15 and 21 months later, respectively. Our findings highlight the potential of purely psychological interventions to improve the life choices and outcomes of marginalized groups.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85132613492&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1162/rest_a_01013
DO - 10.1162/rest_a_01013
M3 - Article
SN - 0034-6535
VL - 104
SP - 431
EP - 448
JO - REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
JF - REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
IS - 3
ER -
