Published Paper Details:

Human Trafficking is a significant issue in the country and people are trafficked illegally through the country for the purpose of sexual exploitation. It is a contemporary issue which still prevails in the society. Trafficking of women often paves the way for prostitution. Prostitution is considered as a filthy, immoral lifestyle and prostitutes are treated as inferior and marginalized who cannot access good facilities. Due to their gender and status, sex workers are often the victims of abuse, violence and sexual exploitation from the men. When a woman is coerced into engaging in sexual activity by a third party, it is referred to as forced prostitution or compulsory prostitution. Regardless of the 'oldest profession', it is the site of the oldest type of gender-based violence, exploitation, and slavery that men have invented to enslave women and keep them at their sexual whim. Throwing light on the plight and helplessness of the sex workers, this study aims to highlight the violence raised against the sex workers and how they are forced to carry out this work in the brothels of India. The study analyzes the instances of forced prostitution in the films Lakshmi (2014) and Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022). Additionally, the problem is examined through the lens of hegemonic masculinity with a view to understand the power dynamics involved in it.