Commercial Sex Workers as A Household Economic Resilience Strategy in The Informal Sector
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64344/hry.v2i1.103Keywords:
Commercial Sex Workers, Household Economic Resilience, Islamic Family Law, Maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah, Informal SectorAbstract
The phenomenon of commercial sex work in the informal sector is a complex social issue because it lies at the intersection of economic realities, moral constructs, family resilience, and Islamic legal norms. Until now, commercial sex work has been more often understood through the perspective of morality and social deviance, while the structural factors underlying women's involvement in this work, such as poverty, limited access to formal employment, low education, and failure to meet family needs, have not received adequate attention. This study aims to analyze commercial sex work as a strategy for household economic resilience in the informal sector through the perspective of Islamic family law and the maqāṣid al-sharī'ah approach. This study uses a normative-empirical legal research method with a socio-legal approach that integrates analysis of the concept of livelihood in Islamic family law, the socio-economic realities of marginalized communities, and the dynamics of family economic resilience. The results show that women's involvement in commercial sex work in many cases is not solely an individual choice, but rather a form of economic adaptation that arises from structural pressures and limited employment options. Although the practice of prostitution is normatively contrary to the principles of Islamic law, the Maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah approach emphasizes the importance of considering humanitarian aspects, protection of life (ḥifẓ al-nafs), protection of property (ḥifẓ al-māl), and family sustainability in understanding this phenomenon. This research emphasizes that resolving the problem of commercial sex workers cannot be achieved solely through a repressive and moralistic approach, but requires a more comprehensive strategy that includes strengthening family resilience, empowering women economically, and providing access to decent employment. This study contributes to the development of contemporary Islamic family law discourse by presenting an integrative perspective between religious norms, social realities, and economic justice for vulnerable groups.
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