“They don’t belong here”: Elite Reactions to Low-End Sex Work in South Delhi’s Exclusive Markets

The oldest occupation of sex work moulds itself into a new format, looming over the cultural landscape of South Delhi, an area of the capital catered to the elites. This study examines the emotional and actionable responses of the residents living in the regions, and the justifications they give to reinforce exclusion, maintain symbolic boundaries, and preserve the perceived respectability of their neighbourhood. The presence of these sex workers challenges the elite norms, exclusivity and moral values that are further examined through Bourdieu’s theory of distinction, symbolic boundaries, and Cohen’s framework of moral panic. This perceived threat was met with emotions ranging from disgust and fear to selective empathy and sadness, translating into community actions such as distancing, social resistance, and formal interventions. All of their actions were rooted in broader class anxieties, gendered fear, and elitist spatial logic that justified these hierarchies. The study contributes to pending conversations regarding the invisibility of sex workers in law, policy, and urban planning, pushing them to marginalised spaces in the outskirts of the city (into the shadows). The research calls for context-sensitive urban planning and clearer legal frameworks surrounding sex work in India.