Social networking and risky sexual behaviour among young female migrant workers in urban India

Ruchi Jain, National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)
Kamla Gupta, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Ajay Kumar Singh, International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)

The present study focuses on unmarried female migrant workers under 30 years of age residing in working women’s hostels in Delhi, India. The main objective of this study which was initiated in January 2005 is to explore the types of networks, identify the relative influence of social networks contributing to the risk taking behaviour (alcohol, substance use, multiple partners, and unprotected sex), knowledge and practice of safe sexual practices. Findings suggest that city life, greater independence at the place of destination and social netwoks mold their behaviour and aspire them to have lavish life styles by maintaining boy friends, acquiring expensive items like, mobile, home theatre, computer, visiting expensive restaurants, foreign visits, going to discos, clubs, and bars, attending late night parties. 20 percent of them had sex with their peers, colleagues or boss for monetary benefits or in exchange of promotion and 10 percent had multiple partner sex.