As my website group is assigned the topic of trafficking, the article concerning Thai women and sex work interested me the most. Although it did highlight the sometimes dangerous conditions that these women are subject to, the author was not quick to label the women as victims. The issue of choice, and whether or not this element even exists in sex work, is a huge and ongoing debate. On the one hand, many Thai women are being duped by brokers and are unaware at first of the role that organized crimes plays into their migration. On the other hand, many women recognize that sex work is beneficial to them and their families on a financial level, and are migrating to Japan for exactly this reason. However, because many of these workers stay in Japan after their visa has expired, the element of choice (whether or not it had existed for them at all) becomes even narrower. Not only are they involved in illegal work, but they also are now illegal immigrants in Japan. This leaves their options for protection very slim, adding more risk to their line of work. The component of a woman’s choice to enter in to this field of work really made me reconsider the traditional stigmas about sex work. Professor Michelsen had brought this blog to my attention, and I recommend that everyone read it: http://janebrazen.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/operation-cross-country-internet-extravaganza/. It offers a very different take on women and sex work that is very rarely taken in to consideration.
