title: The mothering experiences of sex-trafficked women: between here and there.
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.
authors.affiliation: Tel Aviv University.
authors.forename: Einat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peled
authors.forename: Ayelet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D064410:Human Trafficking / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Israel; abuse; former Soviet Union; immigrant mothers; motherhood; prostitution; self-sacrifice; sex industry; sex-trafficked mothers; sexual exploitation