The Mothering Experiences of Sex‐Trafficked Women: Between Here and There

This qualitative study focuses on the mothering experiences of women from the former Soviet Union (FSU) who were sex‐trafficked to Israel. In‐depth interviews were conducted with 8 women who gave birth either in the FSU or in Israel. The women's stories reflect 3 experiential spheres, those of “the good mother,” “the sacrificing mother,” and “the mother who wants for herself.” These mothering spheres were found to exist against the backdrop of a life between 2 countries, where the women's mothering is split between “here” and “there.” Furthermore, it was found that the women's sex‐trafficking experience continually threatened to invade the 3 mothering spheres and destabilize the balance among them. The splits and conflicts among the mothering spheres are examined from a gendered perspective with emphasis on mother–daughter relationships and on the social constructions of mothering and prostitution.
Source: American Journal of Orthopsychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research