Pekerja Seks Komersial (PSK) Tangguh Demi Membesarkan Anak: Pendekatan Autoethnography dan Motherhood

Abstract

This research was motivated by several problems, among others: Many prostitutes are mothers who must ensure that their children's basic needs are met, including education, health, and emotional well-being. They have to balance their work and motherhood roles which puts additional pressure. The prostitutes also face the duality of roles as breadwinners and child caregivers, which adds complexity and challenges to their daily lives This study used a qualitative method with an autoethnographic approach. The collection of informants used snowball sampling. Informants are prostitutes with the status of a mother. Data collection techniques in this research are observation, interview guidelines, in-depth interviews and literacy studies. The results of this study explain that women who choose to work as prostitutes are a last resort. Prostitutes often face discrimination and lack of social support, especially after becoming widows with children to support. Although working as a prostitute carries high risks, they do it to fulfill their family's needs. In addition, the demands of long distances between home and work locations make them implement parenting strategies by involving support from the nuclear family, namely husbands and extended family, especially grandmothers, in maintaining emotional relationships with their children. This study uses the concept of motherhood to explain how they navigate dual roles in the face of various challenges, economic and emotional. The results show that their decisions are often based on an urgent need to ensure the well-being of their children, as well as showing great resilience and courage in the face of difficult conditions. This approach helps uncover authentic experiences, reduce exclusion, and advocate for more equitable and inclusive policy changes.