Laura María Agustín is an anthropologist who studies illegal migration, informal labor markets, trafficking, and the sex industry. Blogging and speaking publicly as the Naked Anthropologist, she is critical of the conflation of the terms "human trafficking" and "prostitution". She argues that what she calls the "rescue industry" often ascribes victim status to people (most often women) who have made conscious and rational decisions to migrate knowing they will be selling sex, and who do not consider themselves to be victims. She states that such views on prostitution originate in what she calls "fundamentalist feminism".[1] She advocates for a cultural study of commercial sex, a theoretical framework she created in the journal Sexualities in 2005.[2]
Dr.
Laura María Agustín
Other names
The Naked Anthropologist
Known for
Studying undocumented migration, informal labor markets, trafficking, and the sex industry
Agustín carried out research on migration and sex work on the Mexico/US Border, in the Caribbean, in South America, and in several European countries.[1] She did participatory research for several years with a range of social actors aiming to help migrants in Spain. She received a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies and Sociology from the Open University, United Kingdom, in 2004, with Tony Bennett as her supervisor.[2]
Her first book, Trabajar en la industria del sexo, y otros tópicos migratorios, was published in Spain in 2004 (Gakoa, ISBN84-87303-79-X). In 2007, she published her second book, Sex at the Margins: Migration, Labour Markets and the Rescue Industry (Zed Books, ISBN1-84277-860-9). In this book, she argued that contemporary anti-trafficking "crusades" have the effect of restricting international freedom of movement, and she compared today's anti-trafficking feminists with the "bourgeois women" of the 19th century who felt the need to save poor prostitutes, seeing women as weak, easily victimized, and in need of guidance. Agustín does not deny human trafficking or forced prostitution takes place, but, rather, argues that the campaigners against prostitution and undocumented migration over-estimate figures.[3]
Agustín publishes in Spanish, English, and Swedish. In 2010, she was Visiting Professor in Gender and Migration in the Swiss university system, based at the University of Neuchatel, and participated in the Battle of Ideas in London.
Referencesedit
^ abKerry Howley, The Myth of the Migrant, Reason Magazine, 26 December 2007
^ abLaura María Agustín (2005), The Cultural Study of Commercial Sex, Sexualities, Vol 8(5): 681–694
^Brendan O'Neill, The myth of trafficking, New Statesman, 27 March 2008
External linksedit
Website and Blog of Laura Agustín - the Naked Anthropologist, with list of publications
Guardian Profile
by Laura Agustín, in American Sexuality, 28 November 2007
The Shadowy World of Sex Across Borders by Laura Agustín, in The Guardian, 19 November 2008
Border Thinking by Laura Agustín, in Re-public, June 2008]
Radio interview with Agustin, 15 November 2007
(in Spanish)
Podcast of lecture - Sex at the Margins: Migration, Labour Markets and the Rescue Industry
Reviews of Sex at the Margins
The myth of trafficking, New Statesman, 27 March 2008
Exploding the myth of trafficking, Spiked Review of Books, April 2008
All You Need To Know About Sex Trafficking, Harriet 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine, The Erotic Review, issue 86, February 2008
February 15, 2024
laura, maría, agustín, anthropologist, studies, illegal, migration, informal, labor, markets, trafficking, industry, blogging, speaking, publicly, naked, anthropologist, critical, conflation, terms, human, trafficking, prostitution, argues, that, what, calls, . Laura Maria Agustin is an anthropologist who studies illegal migration informal labor markets trafficking and the sex industry Blogging and speaking publicly as the Naked Anthropologist she is critical of the conflation of the terms human trafficking and prostitution She argues that what she calls the rescue industry often ascribes victim status to people most often women who have made conscious and rational decisions to migrate knowing they will be selling sex and who do not consider themselves to be victims She states that such views on prostitution originate in what she calls fundamentalist feminism 1 She advocates for a cultural study of commercial sex a theoretical framework she created in the journal Sexualities in 2005 2 Dr Laura Maria AgustinOther namesThe Naked AnthropologistKnown forStudying undocumented migration informal labor markets trafficking and the sex industryAcademic backgroundAlma materOpen UniversityDoctoral advisorTony BennettAcademic workDisciplineAnthropologyInstitutionsUniversity of NeuchatelWebsitelauraagustin wbr comAgustin carried out research on migration and sex work on the Mexico US Border in the Caribbean in South America and in several European countries 1 She did participatory research for several years with a range of social actors aiming to help migrants in Spain She received a Ph D in Cultural Studies and Sociology from the Open University United Kingdom in 2004 with Tony Bennett as her supervisor 2 Her first book Trabajar en la industria del sexo y otros topicos migratorios was published in Spain in 2004 Gakoa ISBN 84 87303 79 X In 2007 she published her second book Sex at the Margins Migration Labour Markets and the Rescue Industry Zed Books ISBN 1 84277 860 9 In this book she argued that contemporary anti trafficking crusades have the effect of restricting international freedom of movement and she compared today s anti trafficking feminists with the bourgeois women of the 19th century who felt the need to save poor prostitutes seeing women as weak easily victimized and in need of guidance Agustin does not deny human trafficking or forced prostitution takes place but rather argues that the campaigners against prostitution and undocumented migration over estimate figures 3 Agustin publishes in Spanish English and Swedish In 2010 she was Visiting Professor in Gender and Migration in the Swiss university system based at the University of Neuchatel and participated in the Battle of Ideas in London References edit a b Kerry Howley The Myth of the Migrant Reason Magazine 26 December 2007 a b Laura Maria Agustin 2005 The Cultural Study of Commercial Sex Sexualities Vol 8 5 681 694 Brendan O Neill The myth of trafficking New Statesman 27 March 2008External links editWebsite and Blog of Laura Agustin the Naked Anthropologist with list of publications Guardian Profile The Sex in Sex Trafficking by Laura Agustin in American Sexuality 28 November 2007 The Shadowy World of Sex Across Borders by Laura Agustin in The Guardian 19 November 2008 Border Thinking by Laura Agustin in Re public June 2008 Radio interview with Agustin 15 November 2007 Review of Trabajar en la industria del sexo in Spanish Podcast of lecture Sex at the Margins Migration Labour Markets and the Rescue Industry Reviews of Sex at the Margins The myth of trafficking New Statesman 27 March 2008 Exploding the myth of trafficking Spiked Review of Books April 2008 All You Need To Know About Sex Trafficking Harriet Archived 2011 07 26 at the Wayback Machine The Erotic Review issue 86 February 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Laura Maria Agustin amp oldid 1192842384, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
