Sex at the Margins: Migration, Labour Markets and the Rescue Industry

Sex at the Margins examines the intersection of migration, sex work, and what Agustín terms the "rescue industry" - social service organizations and initiatives aimed at helping sex workers. The book challenges conventional narratives about sex work and trafficking through extensive ethnographic research across Latin America and Europe. Agustín documents the complex realities of migrants who sell sex, exploring their decision-making processes and varied motivations beyond simple economic necessity. Her research reveals how anti-trafficking and social service organizations can sometimes misunderstand or misrepresent the people they aim to assist. The work draws on historical analysis, participant observation, and interviews to trace how current attitudes toward sex work and migration emerged from colonial and Victorian-era social movements. This background provides context for examining contemporary dynamics between migrants, social services, and state policies. The book presents a critical examination of how Western society constructs and responds to issues of migration, sexuality, and gender. Through its analysis, it raises fundamental questions about agency, mobility, and the unintended consequences of humanitarian intervention.

Readers appreciate Agustín's research-based challenge to common assumptions about sex work and migration. Many reviews highlight her examination of the "rescue industry" and how anti-trafficking organizations can sometimes harm the people they aim to help. Positive reviews focus on: - Clear analysis backed by fieldwork and data - Perspectives from sex workers themselves - Critique of NGOs and savior complexes - Complex view of migration and labor choices Common criticisms include: - Dense academic writing style - Limited solutions proposed - Some readers found it too theoretical - Narrow geographic focus (primarily Western Europe) Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (447 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 ratings) One reader noted: "Finally, someone addressing the agency of migrant sex workers rather than treating them as victims." Another criticized: "Important points but gets bogged down in academic language that limits its accessibility."

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🔹 Prior to becoming an author and researcher, Laura María Agustín worked as a counselor and advocate for migrant sex workers in Latin America, South East Asia, and Western Europe. 🔹 The book challenges dominant narratives about sex trafficking by revealing how the "rescue industry" often infantilizes and disempowers migrant workers while ignoring their agency and complex motivations. 🔹 Agustín coined the term "rescue industry" to describe the network of NGOs, government agencies, and social workers who sometimes perpetuate colonial attitudes while claiming to help sex workers. 🔹 The research presented in the book spans multiple countries and includes interviews with hundreds of migrants, demonstrating how sexual labor is often just one of many informal jobs taken up by people seeking better economic opportunities. 🔹 Published in 2007, the book sparked significant controversy by questioning whether all migration for sex work should be automatically categorized as trafficking, leading to important debates in feminist and migration studies.