Comparing Women Migrants Prostituted through Intermediaries And Those Acting Autonomously in Nevada, U.S.

Abstract

Using a qualitative methodology that includes interviews with 15 women from Mexico and Central America, the main aim of this article is to compare the situation of migrant women who have been prostituted in Nevada in closed venues through agencies and those who did so without intermediaries. The authors conclude that the women who were transported by sex trafficking networks cannot leave the bosses, to whom they have become indebted. Paradoxically, those who entered into prostitution autonomously felt empowered by their work, since it allowed them to dedicate more time to caring for their bodies, and they earned more than at other activities. Also, although the former entered into the sex trade as minors, the latter did so when they were older.