Original Article
The Mothering Experiences of Sex-Trafficked Women: Between Here and There
Einat Peled,
Ayelet Parker,
Corresponding Author
Einat Peled
Tel Aviv University
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Einat Peled, Tel Aviv University-Social Work, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. Electronic mail may be sent to [email protected].Search for more papers by this authorEinat Peled,
Ayelet Parker,
Corresponding Author
Einat Peled
Tel Aviv University
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Einat Peled, Tel Aviv University-Social Work, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. Electronic mail may be sent to [email protected].Search for more papers by this author*Correction added on 15 November 2013 after first online publication on 28 October 2013: Ayelet Parker's affiliation has been corrected.
Abstract
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.
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