The demand of undocumented migrants in Nevada’s sex industry

Abstract

There are many empirical studies on prostitution in Nevada; but most analyze legal prostitution or white and African American autochthonous populations. Research on migrant women conducted by sex smuggling networks is scarce. This article, based on a qualitative methodology that includes interviews to three Central American recruiters and fifteen women from Mexico and Central America, aims to examine the situation of these women in the industry of prostitution in Nevada. This research concludes that sex smuggling networks do not use violence; but usually transport young women, often minors, who cannot leave employers because are indebted to them. In contrast, migrant women who were not transported by sex smuggling networks and work in prostitution autonomously tend to show some empowerment.

Keywords

• prostitución
• mujeres migrantes
• redes de polleros para el comercio sexual
• violencia
• nevada