Consent and Its Discontents: On the Traffic in Words and Women. (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goldstein, Ruth
• Is Part Of: Latin American policy. Volume 5:Number 2(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 236
• Page End: 250
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: Policy sciences -- Latin America -- Periodicals; Policy sciences -- Caribbean Area -- Periodicals; Latin America -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Caribbean Area -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 320.6098
• DOI: 10.1111/lamp.12045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-7365

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>This article examines local forms of women's solidarity and political resistance in Madre de Dios, Peru, within the context of international feminist debates about freedom and "consent" in the sex industry. Through the figures of two "madams" who played integral roles in organizing the sex workers of Puerto Maldonado, the regional capital, I address issues of voice in constructing policies aimed to protect sex workers. These women's experiences both enrich and trouble analyses of "consent" in prostitution and sex‐trafficking economies, where nongovernmental organizations and the state also stand to profit, adding to the traffic in ideas about agency, power, and responsibility. From the perspective of a "middle ground" feminist, I argue that ignoring the voices of the very women affected by antiprostitution and anti‐trafficking policies only hinders efforts to create solidarity across race and class.</p> </abstract>