The Techniques of Advertising Sex and Signalling availability among the Adolescent Street Girls of the Harare Central Business District, Zimbabwe

Abstract

This paper problematicises some of the techniques of advertising and signalling availability of the adolescent street girls of the Harare Central Business District who engage in commercial sex work. Research findings suggest that some of them included beauty, dressing, verbal communication and kinetic behaviours, use of eyes, dance and postures, among others. The child rights and child agency perspectives were adopted
in explaining and analysing the techniques of advertising sex and signalling
availability of these children. Drawing from a child agency perspective, the techniques of advertising sex and signalling availability among street girls of the Harare Central Business District, demonstrate sexual agency of the children. However, the behaviours could be viewed as ‘ambiguous agency’ as it clashed with societal values. Conversely, from a child rights perspective, the techniques of advertising sex and signalling availability illustrate huge child rights violations prevalent in the streets of the Harare Central Business District. The study used the street ethnography approach
and qualitative research methodologies. Drawing from child rights perspectives, the paper concludes by offering a number of recommendations to reduce risks associated with techniques of advertising sex and signalling availability during trading in commercial sex work. For example, full implementation of child rights laws, policies and programmes among others.