Manufacturing Freedom: Sex Work, Anti-Trafficking Rehab, and the Racial Wages of Rescue

Sex worker rescue programs that promise freedom and redemptive wages for former sex workers actually propagate a moral economy of low-wage womens work. Manufacturing Freedom is an ethnographic exploration of two American organizations that offer vocational training in jewelry production to women migrants in China and Thailand as a path out of sex work, arguing that these projects profit off persistent labor abuse and marketed narratives of redemption.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 11 April 2023
Publisher: University of California Press

Sex worker rescue programs have emerged as a central pillar of the global fight against human trafficking. While these rehabilitation initiatives promise freedom from enslavement and fair wages for former sex workers, they inadvertently perpetuate a moral economy of low-wage women's work that obscures the complex relationships of race, gender, national power, and inequality.

In her groundbreaking ethnographic study titled "Manufacturing Freedom," Elena Shih delves into the lives of two American organizations that provide vocational training in jewelry production to women migrants in China and Thailand. These organizations aim to offer a path out of sex work, providing these women with skills and opportunities for economic empowerment.

However, Shih's research reveals a troubling reality behind these rescue and rehabilitation projects. She argues that they thrive on the persistent labor abuse of women workers, who are often subjected to exploitative conditions and low wages. Moreover, these organizations carefully craft and market narratives of redemption, portraying themselves as agents of change and salvation for the women they assist.

Shih's study challenges the prevailing narratives surrounding sex work and human trafficking. She highlights the need for a more nuanced and intersectional approach that recognizes the complex factors contributing to women's vulnerability to exploitation and addresses the root causes of inequality and discrimination. By examining the experiences of women migrants who participate in these rescue and rehabilitation programs, Shih sheds light on the limitations and unintended consequences of these initiatives.

Through her ethnographic lens, Shih offers a critical analysis of the anti-trafficking rescue and rehabilitation industry. She calls for a more ethical and sustainable approach that prioritizes the rights and well-being of all workers, regardless of their occupation or background. She advocates for policies and programs that support the empowerment and economic stability of women workers, including access to education, healthcare, and legal support.

"Manufacturing Freedom" is a thought-provoking and important contribution to the field of human rights and social justice. It sheds light on the complex dynamics of sex work and human trafficking and challenges us to think beyond simplistic solutions and towards a more comprehensive and equitable approach to addressing these issues. By recognizing the intersectionality of race, gender, national power, and inequality, we can work towards creating a world where all workers, regardless of their occupation, are treated with dignity and respect and have the opportunity to thrive.

Weight: 398g
Dimension: 228 x 153 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520379701